CiarAn Power was best of the Irish team, 13th, in the European under-23 road race championship at Upsala in Sweden on Saturday. The title went to Zoran Klemencic of Slovenia with Andy Vits (Belgium) second and Raphael Schweda (Germany) third.
Power's placing is the best by an Irishman in European or World championships in recent years. He has been racing in France since he won the FBD Milk Ras in May and he held a prominent position throughout the 180km, fought out at a furious pace over 12 laps of a fast circuit.
Of the other Irish racers, Aidan Duff was involved in a crash on lap 10 and sustained injuries which ruled him out, Colm Farrell finished 59th and Michael McNena was 111th and David O'Loughlin lost contact on the last lap and was 117th.
