Laurence Pithie. Photo: photosport
New Zealand's Laurence Pithie has continued his impressive form on the road cycling World Tour, finishing seventh at the Paris-Roubaix one-day race in France despite a crash.
Pithie was leading a small group chasing down eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel before he crashed heavily on the race's famed cobble roads over the closing stages.
The 21-year-old - the youngest finisher among the top 40 - returned to his seat and powered home to complete the gruelling 260 kilometre race which includes 29 cobbled sections.
"I came too fast in a gravel corner. I misjudged it, and it took me out of the group," Groupama team rider Pithie said.
"It was a silly mistake that ruined my race. The plan was to have numbers in front, and we executed it. Unfortunately, we were never got to play our cards because of my crash.
"When I look back on it, I will be happy with seventh, but I think I could have fought for the podium I had very good legs, and for now, it's just disappointing."
Groupama's sporting director Frédéric Guesdon was nevertheless glowing in his praise of Pithie, who has produced a string of impressive results this year.
"He amazes me from race to race. It was his first Roubaix among the pros, and he was there in the final. And if he hadn't crashed, the podium was on the line," Guesdon said.
"For us, it's a satisfying Paris-Roubaix. It's good to finish on a high note, especially on Paris-Roubaix, which is a Monument that really matters to us. Putting two men in the top-10 is perfect."