"One hundred and one riders across all categories signed on for last weekends testing Ballinrobe 2 day stage race. Stage one was a tough 90km circuit taking in two sprint primes and five KOH primes. The Combined C, Vet, Junior and ladies bunch were give a 5 minute handicap over the B bunch who were given a further 3 minute head start over the A bunch.
Coming over the final climb the C pack still held a 1 minute lead. The climb proved too tough for most with the bunch splitting in two with 16 riders escaping up the road thankfully I had the legs to make the split. Good work from South Dublin, UCD and West Clare, meant that we managed to stay away and finish the stage 35 seconds ahead of the main bunch. Unfortunately my sprint let me down and I finished in 16th place. Ciaran came home well up in the main bunch sprint.
Stage two was the 8km time trial. Riders were sent off at 1 minute intervals according to their placing in stage one. This meant UCD were off among the last few riders. The absence of the experienced tester Colm Cassidy meant that the TT was won by Mark Dowling from engrave.ie in a time of 9:17. Ciaran finished in a time 11:02 and Niall with 10.58.
Sunday afternoon's stage 3 was a 2 lap circuit adding up to 85km of racing. Taking in two KOH primes and a further two sprint primes. The handicap was reduced in an attempt to allow the A and B riders bridge the gap and make the race more competitive. Despite the handicap reduction the C bunch were successful in holding off the chasing riders. Niall placed just outside the top 20 in an aggressive sprint finish with Ciaran finishing 15 seconds back in the combined A, B bunch. The overall winner was former Meath inter county footballer Colm Laverty the points jersey was won by local veteran Gerard Hack with the mountains jersey going to South Dublin’s Nick Cosgrave."
Picture courtesy of www.picsure.ie.
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