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Ronde van Namen: Perry ties for the best young rider’s jersey

August 13, 2014
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PerryNationalChampLast week, Canadian under-23 riders, Ben Perry and Sean Mackinnon raced in the five-stage Ronde van Namen for team Baguet-MIBA-Indulek. Perry, while wearing the Maple Leaf jersey as Canadian under-23 road race champion was aggressive all week, despite what seemed to be no end of adversity.

During the opening stages, Perry lost his chain only to crash in the caravan while chasing back in a stage that was absolutely marred with crashes. Despite the scenario both Mackinnon and Perry managed to finish in the second group safely and unscathed.

On the second stage Mackinnon broke his wheel and finished in the second group, while Perry managed to get in the day’s break-away. At one point during the stage Perry was the virtual race leader and it was looking like he could of taken the yellow leader’s jersey. However, his former squad, Lotto-Belisol chased the break-down to retain their race lead. Perry finished in the bunch safely, remaining in the top-10 on GC.

The third stage left the Canadians somewhat neutralized as the rain soaked day was controlled by the Vastgoedservice squad who were taking care of their leader Sander Cordeel. Perry’s sentiments were rather fitting, “we rolled around soaking wet and freezing cold for four hours and finished as a big bunch.”
The fourth and fifth stage were both races of attrition and phenomenal performances by Perry and Mackinnon. On stage four, Perry managed to make the day’s break-away and despite having a flat front wheel in the finale – he forged onwards. In the final kilometre, Perry attacked in an attempt to win the stage and managed to not crash through the final corner with a flat front wheel. When he launched his final kick to the finish line the freehub body on his rear wheel broke. Perry could only coast and watch in disarray as the five other’s in the break blasted past him. “I was full of different emotions after the finish, happy to have had such a performance. At that point I was tied for the lead in young rider, as well as being in a 3-way tie for 6th overall,” said Perry.

During the final, fifth stage, the hardest of the entire race, Perry continued to have bad luck. He broke his front wheel again – and his fellow Canadian, Mackinnon gave him his front. Mackinnon’s sacrifice was clearly warranted. Perry effectively fought the entire stage to make the lead group and suffer all the way to finish where he managed to place 12th on the stage, 9th overall and based on time, he tied for the best young rider’s jersey. Perry was officially ranked third in that category, as a result of his stage finishes throughout the race.

Perry and Mackinnon will continue their season overseas with the Baguet-MIBA-Indulek squad with hopes of gaining selection to the under-23 National men’s team this fall.