"Time to get back to doing what I love most!": Irish champion Rory Townsend returns to racing after a three-month pause

Meanwhile Unibet Rose Rockets turn their attention towards Giro d'Italia - the team's debut Grand Tour - this May, more racing takes place across Europe. That includes the Boucles de la Mayenne this week - a race important to the Irish champion Rory Townsend for whom the race marks a racing return following a nearly three-month long absence.

"While the team has been battling it out in Italy, I’ve been busy putting the final pieces together for my own return to racing. After my crash in Kuurne - Bruxelles -Kuurne, I needed some time to recover properly from my injury and rebuild step by step. It’s never easy watching races from the sofa, especially when the team is flying, but the body needed time and patience," Townsend shared via team X.

During his racing absence, Townsend also made an appearance as a Giro d'Italia analyst for TNT Sports, a role he's clearly enjoyed. "I couldn’t have had better preparation with watching the boys in the Giro d'Italia and doing some analysis about the Giro and talking about our team. I’ve always loved a breakaway, and the TNT Sports breakaway show was no different!"

The 2026 Boucles de la Mayenne kicks off on Thursday with a 5-kilometer prologue. Then there'll be two opportunities for fast riders with a much more difficult stage 2 mixed in between on Saturday. The Unibet Rose Rockets will mainly rely on their French all-rounder Clément Venturini, while the returnee Townsend will be pivotal in navigating the chaotic sprint days.

"Now, I’m happy to say the comeback is finally here. This evening I’ll return to racing at Boucles de la Mayenne, and honestly, I can’t wait to pin a number on again after almost three months. Time to get back to doing what I love most!"