Cullaigh Celebration Hands Joyce Victory

Team Wiggins rider looks forward to Tour de Yorkshire, reports Vern Pitt.

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Team Wiggins-Le Col rider Gabriel Cullaigh snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Sunday at the CiCLE Classic with a premature celebration that handed a narrow victory to Rally UHC rider Colin Joyce.

Defending champion Cullaigh had survived the narrow lanes, gravel and constantly undulating roads that characterise the most chaotic race on the British calendar and headed into the finish with a group of around 30 riders as the firm favourite.

Having been led out by team-mate Tom Pidcock, Cullaigh was out ahead but American Joyce was gaining ground and threw his bike at the line just as the Huddersfield-raised rider lifted his hands from the bars to celebrate. Millimetres separated the pair and it took race officials several minutes to declare a winner.