Another Prize for UCD

With Ciaran riding Friday night alone and with teammates Anto and Gav on Sunday, UCD had a great chance of getting another prize to follow up the inter-club TT success from Thursday where UCD won every category they had a rider in Including Antos overall victory.

Fridays race had an avg pace of 43kmph and was very fast from the start. Ciaran made numerous attempts to get away but with a flat course with everyone so fresh it was impossible and he came one place outside the unplaced A2 prizes making the mistake of not moving far enough up coming into the final corner.

Sunday was a very different story with 6 ascents of a steep climb out of Stamullan village. Gav would represent us in the A3 race (80km) with Anto and Ciaran turning out for the main race (120km).

Anto kept his RAS preparations up by doing 6h on Saturday and cycled the 35km out and back to Sundays race. He also started with the 90sec handicapped A1 riders. Glutten for punishment!

Ciaran led the A2 group up the climb on the first lap and was feeling very strong of his chances but was taken out on a corner which resulted in the snapping of the other riders carbon frame. Luckily for all involved both riders were ok and apart from a minor buckle, Ciaran was able to fix his saddle and quickly jump into the fast approaching A1 group.

The pace was very jumpy with constant attacks but Anto was always seen on the front when the road went up. He was climbing with the best in the country and should be very happy with his performance. IN the end only 5 A1 riders caught the A2 group and they took the majority of the prizes with Ciaran coming home in the A1 bunch for second in the sprint for 11th unplaced A2 in what was (as always) a very generous prize offering by the Stamullen road club.

Anto didnt contest the sprint but was very strong in a tough race where only about 20 A1 riders finished out of approx 50 starters. Anto will be happy with his progress for this weekends training and Ciaran will be happy to finish a race that he was lucky to still be in.

In Gavins race he was active again by riding hard on the climb and pictured coming across the line on lap one stringing out the peloton. He was away for a half lap but no one came to join and he was outside the prizes as a breakaway formed. After his super effort in the club TT and with his second stage race fast approaching its time to recover for comeback Gav.

Pictures of UCD riders can be seen being very active in the race on http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_4769.shtml

Also a video of a small crash and the race finish can be seen below thanks to the people who posted these.