Cycling Reports |
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NEW BORN (By Gerard Cromwell) They say fathers often try to live out their dreams through the lives of their sons. If that's the case, then the latest addition to the Cromwell household has a busy time ahead of him. A stage win in the FBD Milk Ras, a King of the Mountains title in the Tour De France (even in dreamland I could never actually win the Tour!), scoring a hat-trick for Liverpool in the FA Cup Final, landing a lead role in a blockbuster film, writing a best selling novel, having a number one single and an occasional fling with bond bombshell Halle Berry(well maybe her daughter) are all on the agenda. Read More Here... UNLUCKY 13th FOR SWEETMAN IN JAPAN: (By Gerard Cromwell) Friday the 13th proved unlucky for Ireland's Craig Sweetman in today's second road stage of the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan. Sweetman who only received a call-up to the team on Saturday, crashed out of the race while going through a feed zone today. "I was going through the feed zone, " said Sweetman afterwards, "when a japanesse guy just came across me and took two or three of us down. I had a musette in hand and the other hand on my handlebars but I hadn't a hope of staying up. My back, legs and arms are very cut up and the base of my spine is really sore at the moment. That was that, I suppose Friday the 13th was unlucky for me." Guess what number Sweetman was wearing at the time. Yep! 13. M. Donnelly Fun Cycle: (By Gerard Cromwell) In conjunction with Cycling Ireland's inaugural Bike Week, Stamullen M. Donnelly will promote a fun cycle in aid of Muscular Dystrophy in Clonee on Sunday September 1st. <Read More Here>
With current Irish road race champion Mark Scanlon set to make his debut in the colours of French division one outfit AG2r, Nally will join his compatriot in the pro peleton when he teams up with the Colombia Selle-Italia squad next month. Nally's name has been released on the official UCI list of stagiares for 2002. Nally and Scanlon have been closely linked over the past number of years , with the former returning home form Spain, where he has lived since his family moved there when Nally was a child, to beat Scanlon in the Irish junior Road race championships a few years back, only for Scanlon to reverse the placings the following year. The two then competed on the Irish team that saw Scanlon take the rainbow jersey of junior world champion in Holland in 1999. Last season the two competed in the under 23 World Championships in Portugal and despite a bout of illness prior to the race, Nally staged a solo breakaway for much of the day. The Corkman also replaced the injured Scanlon on this year's Ireland team for the FBD Milk Ras. Having been previously courted by the Spanish Federation, Nally now rides in Italy with the Maltinti Lampardi team and has drawn a lot of attention through his attacking style and impressive season which saw him take stage two of the U/23 Giro D'Abruzzo among other victories. The Colmbia Selle-Italia squad is made up of mostly Colombian or Spanish riders and are due to ride the three week Tour of spain on September 1st. SHOWDOWN IN SHEEFRY: (By Gerard Cromwell Aug 25) The Sheefry Pass, outside Westport in County Mayo saw the final act in this year's Cycling Ireland Clasic League series unfold. The league which takes in the toughest of Ireland's one day classics began in Carlow in March and had taken the riders to Balbriggan Co. Dublin for the Ben McKenna Memorial in April, Bray Co. Wicklow for the UCI ranked Shay Elliott Memorial and Ballyboughil Co. Dublin for the Noel Hammond Memorial in May. June saw the Noel Teggart Memorial held in Banbridge and the Sean Nolan Meath GP in Navan. The riders then went south for the Gene Moriarty Memorial in Listowel and back up North for the Tour of Armagh before arriving in Westport today for the Sheefry GP. With only two riders realistically in contention to win the league overall the stage was set for a showdown between totalcycling.com's Denis Easton and Craig Sweetman of M.Donnelly Stamullen Road Club. The 75 mile race covered 2 laps of a beautifully scenic but equally as tough course which included the back-breaking ascent of Sheefry Pass. After a mere ten miles of racing, a 13 man breakaway group went clear but following the KOM on the first lap, which was taken by Mark Quigley of the promoting Mayo Wheelers, the group was cut to a dozen when an unlucky Fintan McCormack from the Newbridge Cutlery CC punctured. By the time the riders reached the climb second time around, they had over 4 minutes lead on the chasing group. At the foot of the climb, US-based professional David O'Loughlin showed he was recovered from a recent broken collarbone as he attacked and went clear on his home course. Greg Swinand from the Usher Irish Road Club was the only rider able to react, but by the KOM line, the OFOTO-Lombardi Sports professional had dropped the American and in a show of sheer class soloed to victory in Carrowkennedy where he was greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd. Some 2 minutes and 7 seconds later Swinand still managed to outsprint Stephen O'Sullivan for second place with Simon Coughlan of Dunamond Dynamos in 4th. John Peppard of McNally Joinery Swords showed he too has recovered from a broken collarbone sustained in this year's FBD Milk Ras, to take a fine 5th place on the day with Simon Kelly home from Belgium to take 6th and St. Tiernan's Brian Lennon taking 7th. Stamullen M. Donnelly's Craig Sweetman finished 8th on the day but just didn't gather enough points to take the overall Classic League title. Sweetman, still riding on a mix and match bike after his racing bike was stolen from his home, jumped to second overall in the Classic League ending up just five points behind Northern Ireland Commonwealth games rider Denis Easton of totalcycling.com. Promoting club Mayo Wheelers had Mark Quigley in 9th with Nigel Forde (Galway Bay) 10th. Results: Sheeffry GP (Final Leg of Classic League Series)
FINAL CYCLING IRELAND CLASSIC LEAGUE TABLE
The Stamullen M. Donnelly promotion attracted a field of almost 100 riders with the juniors, vets and third categorie's being given a three-minute handicap at the start. The 52 mile race, held on a tough undulating circuit saw the scratch group make contact around the halfway mark and a group of 15 go clear shortly after. With numerous primes on offer, this group soon split to leave 11 riders up front with Dunne and O'Sullivan forging ahead with just three of the thirteen laps to go. This duo opened up a gap of 30 seconds which they held to the finish line where Dunne proved the faster of the two. Aiden Crowley of Cycleways Lee-Strand led home the chasers for 3rd, with Tour of Armagh winner Conor Murphy 4th and the remarkable veteran Seamus Kennedy of Avonmore Navan in 5th. Stamullen M. Donnelly's Michelle Howard took the ladies race in her first ever competition. In the underage races, Conor Campbell - grandson of the late Brendan campbell - finished 3rd in the under 12's behind Drogheda Wheelers' teammate Benner Maguire and Swords McNally's Niall Rock. Results: Senior Race - 52 miles 1 Peter Dunne, Avonmore Navan RC 2 Stephen 0'Sullivan, Unattached 3 Aidan Crowley, Cycleways Lee Strand 4 Conor Murphy, McQuaid Tyres Emyvale CC 5 Seamus Kennedy, Avonmore Navan RC 6 Greg Swinand, Usher IRC 7 Barry Woods, Killorglin CC 8 David Peelo, Usher IRC 1st Senior B Brian Lynch, Leeside Douglas Cycles 2nd B Matt Dempsey, IMBRC 3rd B Paul Doyle, Fermoy CC 1st Senior C Adrian Crowley, St. Finbarr's CC 2nd Senior C Jason Kelly, McNally Swords CC 1st Junior, Barry Woods, Killorglin 2nd Junior George Devin, Drogheda Wheelers CC 3rd Junior Colm Crawley, Balbriggan CC 1st Vet - Seamus Kennedy, Avonmore Navan 2nd Vet - Terry Ferris, Dublin Wheelers CC 3rd Vet - Mick Nulty, Stamullen M Donnelly RC 1st Lady - Michelle Howard, Stamullen M Donnelly RC Under 12 1 Niall Rock, McNally Swords CC 2 Benner Maguire, Drogheda Wheelers 3 Conor Campbell, Drogheda Wheelers CC Under 14 1 Aaron Henry, Usher IRC 2 Michael Daly, McNally Swords CC 3 Michael Furphy, Lurgan CC Under 16 1 Ciaran Kelly, Usher IRC 2 Mark Nestor, Shannonside CC 3 Urban Monks, Bray Wheelers CC
With Philip Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) lying in second place and also announcing early retirement this year, Sunday's Tour of Armagh could see a battle between third and fourth placed Denis Easton (totalcycling.com) and Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly) respectively. Easton is just back from a strong ride in the Commonwealth Games road race in Manchester, while Sweetman is still recovering from the shock of having his bike stolen just a week ago. If either of these two manage to win the Tour of Armagh they will go into the overall lead in the league. Others to keep an eye on will be Carrick Cidona duo Martin O'Loughlin and Timmy Barry, in-form Kieran McMahon of Earl of Desmond Tralee and last week's Gene Moriarty Memorial winner, "the man in black", Stephen O'Sullivan. The race will be held over a tough 90kms course and will start at 12 noon, with sign-on and refreshments afterwards at the Craigavon Watersports Centre. For further information you can contact race organiser Maurice Bann Lavery at Contact: +44 (0) 28 38323658
George Devin of Drogheda Wheelers claimed three primes before the scratch group of senior A's got up to the front on lap five. From here, McMahon went clear with Stephen O'Sullivan and this duo were soon joined by Fintan McCormack of Newbridge Cutlery. With the bunch disintegrating in the rain and under the pressure of a hard chase, this trio contested the final sprint about thirty seconds ahead of the main field. Paul griffin took the sprint for fourth from promoting club Navan Avonmore's Robert Whelan. Results: 1 Kieran MacMahon, Earl of Desmond CC, 2 Fintan Mc Cormack, Newbridge Cutlery CC, 3 Stephen 0’Sullivan, Unattached, 4 Simon Whelan, McNally Swords CC, 5 Paul Griffin, Earl of Desmond CC, 6 Robert Whelan, Navan Avonmore RC, 1st ‘B’ David Tansey, Orwell Wheelers CC, 2nd ‘B’ Dave Elson, BH Racing Team, 1st ‘C’ Jason Kelly, McNally Swords CC, 2nd ‘C’ Ricky Geoghegan, Navan Avonmore RC, 1st Junior – George Devin, Drogheda Wheelers CC, 1st Vet – Ronnie Brannigan, Orwell Wheelers. McMahon takes Mountnugent GP: (By: Gerard Cromwell Aug 4) Stephen O'Sullivan took the prestigious Gene Moriarty Memorial in Listowel today. The 20th edition of this 70 mile classic saw continuos attacks mark the race with a ten man breakaway eventually pulling clear in the final stages. O'Sullivan, who also won the Monnie Nolan memorial in Balscadden on Tuesday and was third in the Mountnugent Festival race on Saturday night, sprinted clear of this group to take a deserved win. With Craig sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly) being the highest plced overall in the Classic League, the table alters only slightly with Sweetman moving up to fourth and Timmy Barry (Cidona Carrick) also leapfrogging a few places. Sweetman's normal sprinting ability was compromised when he discovered the bike he had put together after his racing bike was stolen from his house on Thursday was seriously undergeared for the downhill sprint. "I just didn't have a big enough gear on the bike." said the Martin Donnelly rider. "On the bike that was robbed I had an eleven sprocket on the back. Today I only had a thirteen. I just couldn't pass anyone. I was spun out of it!" In managing to finish tenth on the day, Sweetman still moved up a place in the overall standings but is under pressure to take the overall title now with just two races left. "I'm not saying I would have won on my own bike, but I would have been a lot closer and maybe got a few more points." he said afterwards. With two races to go, the Classic League is still headed by Andrew donnellan of Dublin Wheelers. GENE MORIARTY MEMORIAL (CLASSIC LEAGUE EVENT) LISTOWEL: 1 Stephen O'Sullivan, Unattached 2 Martin 0'Loughlin Unattached 3 Aidan Crowley, Cycleways Lee Strand 4 Kieran MacMahon, Earl of Desmond 5 Keelan 0'Connor, Fermoy CC 6 Vincent Gleeson, West Clare CC 7 Paul Griffin, Earl of Desmond CC 8 Tim Barry, Cidona Carrick Whlrs 9 John Horgan, St. Finbarr's CC 10 Criag Sweetman, Stamullen M Donnelly Combined Senior 'C' Junior Vets 1 Bobby Power, Cidona Carrick Wheelers CC 2 Sean McIlroy, Cidona Carrick Wheelers CC 3 Ian Ormond, Cidona Carrick Wheelers CC 4 Liam Collins, Russia 5 Sean Duignan, Galway Bay 6 Finbarr Power, Unattached
The 29 year old Airport Policeman came home from work on Thursday to find his house had been burgled. Surprisingly, all that was taken was a DVD player, some DVDs and his Colnago racing bike. "They broke the lock on the patio door." says Craig. "At first I only noticed the DVD player was gone. It took me a few minutes to cop they had taken my racing bike too." Having just moved into his house in Inse Bay in the seaside village of Laytown, Co. Meath, the former Skerries resident hadn't had time to fit an alarm, something he is rectifying immediately. "We've only been in the house six weeks." he says "Laytown seems like a quiet enough little village and this was the last thing I'd expected. To be honest I don't really care about the DVD player, but I need my bike back. I'm even willing to offer a reward for it's return!" With the next round of the Classic League on Sunday, Craig is frantically trying to put together a replacement bike from bits and pieces loaned to him by his Stamullen M. Donnelly teammates. Sweetman's consistent high placings in each round of the league so far have given him a great chance of taking overall glory. "The frutrating thing is, I've done well in all the other rounds." says Craig "There are only three races left to count and a lot of guys are getting tired after a long hard season and are packing it in. I've kept training hard with the aim of doing as well as possible in the league. It would be great too for Martin Donnelly, who has helped our club out a lot this year if we could win something as big as this." Sweetman's training has been disrupted already as he has had no bike to go out on since Thursday, but he remains optimistic. "I'm really hoping to get the bike back. Maybe somebody reading this knows where it is. There will be no questions asked if it's returned. It's not really any good to anyone else. It's set to my specifications and everyone in the cycling fraternity would know who owns it, so it can't really be sold." The bike in question is a 59cm Colnago Dream with Camagnolo Chorus groupset, Kysrium wheels in the colours of the Mapei professional team. It has a distinctive yellow saddle and matching handlebar tape. Anyone with information on it's wherabouts can contact Craig through us or the Gardai in Laytown. O'Sullivan takes Monnie Nolan Memorial: (By Gerard Cromwell July 29) Dubliner Stephen O'Sullivan sailed to a fine solo victory in tonight's Monnie Nolan Memorial in Balscadden Co. Dublin. Held over five laps of a rolling circuit in damp and miserable conditions, the race was handicapped with O'Sullivan overcoming a three minute deficit to take the honours. With just two laps gone, the chase group of first and second category riders had closed the gap to just under a minute to the leaders. On the next lap, O'Sullivan and former Naas Fig Rolls teammate Dave Smith had jumped clear of the chasers and were on their way across to the front group. With a lap and a half to go, Smith and O'Sullivan made contact with the leaders. This duo joined Andrew McQuaid (Emerald), Mark Cassidy (Cycleways - Lee Strand), Colm Crawley (Balbriggan), Jason Ludgate, Mick Rock and Keith Daly (all McNally Joinery Swords) at the front before some relentless driving saw them go clear again. The in-form O'Sullivan, who last week held off the whole field in the Cycleways Grand Prix for most of the race,then finished the job off in style, solo-ing to victory in front of an appreciative crowd. FIRST WIN FOR SWISS ON STAGE ONE: (By Gerard Cromwell July 7) 23-year-old Rubens Bertogliati outwitted the sprinters on today’s opening road stage of the Tour De France. Just as it looked likely to be a bunch sprint finish, the Swiss rider launched himself off the front of the speeding peleton as they went under the kilometre-to-go kite. Gritting his teeth and stomping hard on every pedal stroke Bertogliati caused confusion in the press-room as the previously unknown Lampre rider determinedly held off the marauding peleton for his first win as a professional cyclist. German sprint star and five times green jersey winner Erik Zabel (Telekom) took the bunch sprint just behind the Swiss, from Australian champion Robbie McEwan and Fabio Baldato of Fassa Bortolo. Bertogliati held on to win by 20 seconds and with a deficit of just 17 seconds beginning the stage also rode into the yellow jersey of race leader, stripping pre-Tour favourite and prologue time trial winner Lance Armstrong of his ‘golden fleece’. A pre-race chat with former Lampre teammate Robert Hunter had convinced Bertogliati that the run-in would suit him if he was prepared to give it everything and that’s exactly what he did. The fresh-faced youngster seemed unnerved to have taken his first professional win in the biggest race of them all and seemed unsure as to how to act on the podium. Bertogliati stood statue-like and gazed almost disbelievingly at each award handed to him. The Swiss rider now leads the best Under 25 rider competition as well as the general classification. Laurent Jalabert, whose CSC-Tiscali team spent most of the day on the front in an effort to secure yellow for their French hero, moved into joint second place with Armstrong by virtue of a time bonus earned on route. Huge crowds thronged the roadside in Luxembourg again today and such was the turnout that the riders almost came to a standstill on a narrow hill with 20 kilometres to go. Some of the pre-race favourites involved in crashes today were Tyler Hamilton (CSC-Tiscali) and Francis Moreau of Credit Agricole, the latter losing almost three and a half minutes by the stage end.
O’Sullivan (unattached) was part of a 4 man break that went clear after 20 miles of racing. He was soon joined by Timmy Barry (Cidona Carrick), Paul Healion (Usher IRC) and John Horgan from the Earl of Desmond CC in Tralee. This quartet worked well together and built up a lmaximum lead of 1 minute 30 seconds but some hard chasing in the main field saw the gap come down on the KOM climb of Griggins. O’Sullivan launcehd a solo attack on the climb and on the twisting descent he was joined by OFOTO-Lombardi Sports professional and Dave O'Loughlin. Racing on his home roads O'Loughlin stormed across the gap from the main field and these two stayed clear to the finish where O'Sullivan took the stage win and O'Loughlin rode into the yellow jersey of race leader. Denis Easton (Totalcycling.com) took the bunch sprint for 3rd place, just 28 seconds back from Davey Gardiner (Apollo CC) and Emerald's Gary McQuaid . O'Loughlin now faces a time trial this evening and this years silver medal winner in the national time trial championships should hold onto the jersey at least until stage four tomorrow morning. Stage 2 Results – 62.6 miles: 1 Stephen O’Sullivan, Unattached – 2:29:43 2 Dave 0’Loughlin, Ofoto Lombardi - ST, 3 Denis Easton, Totalcycling.com Team – 2:30:11, 4 David Gardiner, Apollo CC – ST, 5 Paddy Moriarty, Cork – ST, 6 Gary McQuaid, Emerald CC – ST, Overall – 1 Dave 0’Loughlin, - Ofoto Lombardi, 2nd Paul Griffin, Earl of Desmond CC, 3rd Richie Cahill, Cork Griffin set to defend title in west: (By Gerard Cromwell July 5) Paul Griffin of the Earl of Desmond Tralee club defended his title of last year in the best possible fashion when winning today's opening stage of the 3-Day ras Conachta in Cong, Co. Mayo. The undulating 50 mile stage, which took the riders along some scenic but very steep climbs saw Griffin go clear in a 13 man group tafter 19 miles of racing. This group worked well together and by the finish in the village of Cong they held alead of just over 1 minute on the main field. In the sprint to the line Griffin narrowly held off Birk Dirks from the Tempo Team in Holland, with Carrick Cidona's Eddie 0'Donoghue taking 3rd place and home favourite David O'Loughlin (OFOTO-Lombardi Sports) in 4th. Griffin will call on his strong Earl of Desmond squad to defend his race lead tommorrow over another hilly stage in the morning and a time trial in the evening. Results: 1 Paul Griffin – Earl of Desmond CC, 2 Birk Dirks, Tempo , Holland, 3 Eddie 0’Donoghue, Cidona Carrick Whlrs CC, 4 Dave 0’Loughlin, OFOTO -Lombardi Sports, 5 Richie Cahill, Cork, 6 Denis Lynch, Kanturk CC
Now while I'd much rather be getting ready to ride Meg Ryan than a 25 mile 'C' race in Stamullen, the tune comes into my head and I can't get it out. I've ridden three races so far this year. I survived all of four miles in the Dublin-Drogheda-Dublin without getting shelled (from the C bunch no less). I then waited until the weather got better (yeah right) and rode the second Bohermeen race about a month and a half later, where I survived until about three miles to go. Shift work and a will I? - won't I ? training schedule (You know the one where you stand at the window looking out to see if it's going to rain and eventually you stand there so long it gets too late to train) later I rode the Leinster RR champs last week. The idea was that Stamullen M. Donnelly would have a good chance of winning the team prize, but we would need all the bodies available to do so and I was going to help the cause. As it turned out there was only one team and they didn't give out team medals. What's the story with that? Anyway a severe pasting later, I got dropped on the last lap. But hey, at least I was training! Tonight would be my first race with just C riders. As it was in Stamullen, we were hoping to do well. I had excelled myself training-wise this week as I was on an early shift for the first time in two months and rode both the Drogheda League and the Swords League. On Wednesday there was a guy in my group and I'd say his glasses were stronger than I was. Two nights training in one week though. I should be flying!! Got out of bed this morning and had breakfast. Thought maybe I had overdone it a bit when I realised I was using my arms more than my legs to get back up the stairs. No matter how much I sat down or rested the dead feeling never went out of my legs and with the tough little climb of cottage hill each lap tonight I feared the worst. On the start line there was a good field. Around forty riders, I think. As there were five teams entered it was announced that there would be a team prize. The pressure was on. We had Noel Kelly, Mark Nulty, Shane Moss and myself. Noel has been going well recently in his second year of racing and we were hoping he might get a win tonight. Talk on the start line was of this race being the unnoficial C championships and guys were keen to get in the 'medals'. The first climb of Cottage Hill was neutralised. I was worried they might only neutralise the steep part but was relieved to see that the draggy bit at the top was controlled too. The speed went up as soon as the flag was dropped and the race was on. Noel Kelly (Stamulen M. Donnelly) got away with one other guy and they stayed away for about a lap and a half. I was just trying to stay in contention. Each time going through the finish I moved up the field. This wasn't to be seen by the crowd, but to make sure that when I drifted back on the climb I would still be in contact with the bunch. With everybody at much the same level, the race was action-packed. There were attacks and counter attacks galore and with one lap to go the field were all together. I was beginning to struggle on the hill and Shane Moss had noticed and told me to make sure I was in front of him for the climb. That way, he could give me a shove if necessary. on the climb I look up and Shane is about ten places ahead of me. Great! Over the steep bit and I'm hanging on. Up the draggy bit and it's hurting a lot now. I'm doing all the deep breathing and everything. It's starting to level out and I'm beggining to get dropped. CRASH!. The whole field has just fallen in front of me. There is a gap on the left and I ride through it. I have to grab people's jerseys and pull myself past. If I stop and put my foot down I won't get going again. I don't know what happened but about ten guys fell and the rest were held up. There is a split in the field and the front portion are riding away. I can't see properly but there are two Stamullen M. Donnelly jerseys up there. Shane is at the front of this group and I get back on with the crash victims. It's an ill wind that blows no good. Into Bascadden and down into Gormanston and the group ahead are stalling. We're coming back and there is a chance we might catch them, although I'm still knackered and don't really care if they stay away. Across the bridge into Stamullen and it looks as though the ten in front will stay away and the prizes are gone. All that's left is the team prize. I know we have two riders up there, but am going to sprint as there are three to count in the team prize. Up the road Jonathon Cruise from Bray Wheelers is sprinting clear of the rest to take a well-earned win. It's great to see him come back after an injury and then an accident at work put him off the bike for a few years. He had plenty of support on the hill tonight. It was like Alpe d'Huez with them all shouting and cheering. Great atmosphere. Ken Moloney from Navan Avonmore is dangling just ahead with another guy. I'm sitting in second place in the bunch with about a kilometre to go and thinking ' I hope he doesn't sit up now and leave me at the front!'. Just as he does, Brendan Caffrey of Cycleways Lee Strand storms by. I jump across and halfway up the hill sprint past. expecting numerous others to do the same to me. Nobody does. 'Caff' punctures just after the line.and we win the team prize. Three guys who never got a prize before finish in the top eight. That's what it's all about. Without the vets and juniors there tonights race saw everybody riding at the same level. Guys starting out. Guys who don't have as much time to train as others. Guys who just want to race for the fun of it. Be part of a team. Keep fit. Nobody cares that you don't get 200 euros for winning. They'd probably ride if there was only medals for the first eight instead of money. I hope there are more 'C only ' races. The riders are there. I'm glad I rode the race now. Although I'd still much prefer Meg Ryan!!!! CALLING ALL 3rd CATS: (By Gerard Cromwell June 25) While the national road race championships will be the main focus for the Senior A and B riders this weekend, Stamullen M. Donnelly promote a third category only race in Stamullen the night before. The race will be held on the same circuit as the Brendan Carroll Memorial and it is hoped that the relatively short distance of the race will encourage as many newcomers or C riders to take part as possible. With racing for U12, U14, and U16 also on Saturday evening, the 7.30pm start of the senior race ( 6.30pm for underage) is to try and faciltate those with work or travel commitments on the day. The Senior C race will be approx 30 miles. To encourage third category riders to ride as a team and to develop their tactical awareness there is the possibility of a team prize on offer, if more than one team (three riders to count) starts the race. With most of the teams for the championships expected to travel to Stamullen on the Saturday a big crowd is expected in the village on the night. So come on third cats why not make a weekend out of it. Come to Stamullen for the C race and stay for the road race championships on Sunday. For details of the National Championships entries to date, course, accomodation listings, prizes etc. check out www.swordscc.com McCann 12th on stage in Austria: (By Gerard Cromwell June 16) David McCAnn showed today that he is coming into form at the right time to defend his national champions jersey with a strogn ride in the 2.2 ranked Austria Bank Tour in Austria. McCann, riding for the Volksbank Ideal team was part of a 15 man breakaway on the 200km stage from St. Michael to Lungau-Graz. In the move also were Claudio Astolfi (Acqua & Sapone), Alessandro Guerra (Index Alexia), Evgeni Petrov and Dmitriy Muravyev (Mapei-Quick Step), Andrey Mizurov (Mercatone Uno), Dennis Haueisen (Lta-Quattro Logistics), Harald Morscher and Jürgen Werner (Nürnberger), Jørgen Bo Petersen and Scott Sunderland (EDS-fakta), Boris Premuzic (Perutnina Ptuj), Fabio Bulgarelli and Ondrej Fadrny (De Nardi), Bernhard Kohl (Elk Haus) and Martin Moser (Team Gericom Bikedrive). On a stage which included mountains , incessant rain and a "seriously dangerous descent" Australian Scott Sunderland (EDS Fakta) took the win with Gerrit Glomser of Saeco securing the final yellow jersey on the day y a mere two seconds from Han-Peter Obwaller of the austrian National Team.
The 50 kilometre event held at Balrothery attracted a large entry and with the third cats and vets getting a three minute handicap at the start the race was liveley from the gun. With the Cycleways and M. Donnelly squads trying ot cover every move breaks were being formed and reformed each lap. With one lap to go Mark Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly) and his namesake Mark Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) attacked going through the finish area nad looked like staying away before a strng reaction from the field brought them back in the final miles. Just when it looked like a bunch sprint was on the cards, with just 1 mile of racing left, Stephen 0'Sullivan (Unattached), Philip Finnegan and Aidan Crowley (both Cycleways Lee Strand) attacked and held off a charging bunch to contest the race between them. In a thrilling sprint across the finish line, 27 year old Aidan Crowle beat Cycleways teammate Philip Finnegan to the chequered flag with Stephen 0'Sullivan in 3rd place. Just ten seconds later, Simon Whelan from McNally Swords C.C. outsprinted Craig Sweetman from Stamullen M.Donnelly and Gearoid Loughnane of McNally sowrds for 4th across the line. Mark Nulty of Stamullen M. Donnelly took the third category race with local man Colm Crawley (Balbriggan) winning the Junior race and Cycleways Lee Strand taking the 'B', vets and ladies prizes with Tim Cassidy, Phil Cassidy and Mareka Attoresi taking respectiveley. Results 1 Aidan Crowley, Cycleways Lee Strand Team 2 Philip Finnegan, Cycleways Lee Strand Team 3 Stephen 0'Sullivan, Unattached 4th Simon Whelan, McNally Swords C.C. 5th Craig Sweetman, Stamullen M Donnelly RC 6th Gearoid Loughnane, McNally Swords C.C. 7th Conor Murphy, McQuaid Tyres Emyvale CC 8th Brian Taaffe, Dublin Wheelers C.C. 1st 'B' Tim Cassidy, Cycleways Lee Strand Team 1st 'C' Mark Nulty, Stamullen M Donnelly RC 1st 'J' Colm Crawley, Balbriggan C.C. 1st Vet Philip Cassidy, Cycleways Lee Strand Team. 1st Lady - Marica Attoressi, Cycleways Lee Strand Team ALL IRELAND ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS: (By Gerard Cromwell June 11) Sunday June 30th will see cycling’s national road race championships take place in the village of Stamullen, Co. Meath. Sponsored by Ideal Bikes and BBB Bike Parts, the race will be co-promoted by the Stamullen M. Donnelly Cycling Team and McNally Joinery Swords Cycling Club. The championships will be held on a tough 12-mile circuit, which includes the climb of Snowtown on each of the eight laps. The undulating course will be well known to Irish cyclists as it has been used for the Stamullen Grand Prix for the past 15 years and is recognised as one of the hardest on the Irish calendar. Indeed the race always produces a quality winner and former FBD Milk Ras winners Philip Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) and American based professional Ciaran Power (Navigators) as well as former junior world champion Mark Scanlon have all tasted victory in Stamullen previously. The course was also used for the national junior road race championships. As well as a top prize of 200 euros for first across the line, this year’s championships will see all of Ireland’s professional riders take part in search of the valuable UCI points on offer. Ciaran Power will make the long trip home from America as will former Irish U/23 champion David O’Loughlin and his OFOTO-Lombardia Sports teammate James Hodnett. Last year’s winner David McCann from Belfast will be hoping to make it a record three wins in a row. McCann will be returning from his base in Austria where he rides for the professional Volksbank Ideal team to defend the title he won on his home course in Belfast last year. As usual the home-based riders will be looking to upset the professionals and competition will be strong for the highly regarded team prize. With the first three riders from each team to count towards the prize some of the favourites will be last year’s winners Cycleways Lee Strand (Ray Clarke, Phil Cassidy, Eugene Moriarty), Totalcycling.com (Denis Easton, Brendan Docherty), Carrick Cidona (Brian Kenneally, Eddie O’Donoghue, Martin O’Loughlin, Timmy Barry) Usher IRC (Paul Healion, Dave Peelo, Colm Bracken), Stamullen M. Donnelly (Craig Sweetman , Tom Hughes, Robert Moore), Earl of Desmond Tralee (Paul Griffin, Kieran McMahon, Thomas Hogan), VC La Pomme (Tommy Evans, Mark Scanlon, Denis Lynch) and McNally Joinery Swords (John Lally, Simon Whelan, Gearoid Loughnane). The race gets underway at 1.00pm with the ladies championships starting shortly after the men. Here, French-based Meath rider Geraldine Gill will be looking to make it an incredible fourth win in a row in the road race. Gill will have some tough opposition from Italian-based professional Tarja Owens and US-based Lorraine Manning (Atlanta Velo). Also due to ride will be former champion Susan O’Meara (Letchworth Velo), now based in England. Australian-based Sarah White of the promoting Stamullen M. Donnelly team is unfortunately unable to ride due to track racing commitments in Australia. Home-based riders such as Mareka Attoresi and Elsa Connaughton of Cycleways, Louise Moriarty (Dublin Skip), Kate Rudd (North Tipperary) and Claire Moore (Usher Insulations) will be looking to cause an upset on the day.
SHARKEY SPRINTS TO VICTORY IN DUNBOYNE: (By Gerard Cromwell June 2) Peter Sharkey of Stamullen M. Donnelly Cycling Team took stage three of the Dunboyne 3-Day today. After an early morning time-trial saw former Tour de France rider Laurence Roche (BH Raleigh) hold onto his yellow jersey of race leadership, a 57 mile stage faced the field in the afternoon. Based on an undulating circuit, to be covered three times around Dunboyne the stage was marked by constant attacking as teams tried to prise the yellow jersey off the back of Roche. In accordance with a pre-race plan Noel Kelly and Mick Nulty (both Stamullen M. Donnelly) were soon involved in the action and were part of a six-man breakaway group, which was only reeled in on the run-in to the finish after constant chasing by the yellow jersey and his team.
“Noel (Kelly) and Mick (Nulty) were away earlier on and when they got caught I decided to give it a go” said Sharkey afterwards. “It’s not very often you get a bunch sprint nowadays and with 200 metres to go the Ireland guy went flat-out and with maybe 75 metres left I just managed to kick around him. It was a real last-minute job!” Sharkey was clearly delighted at having won on his sponsor’s home territory. “Martin Donnelly actually just lives down the road, so it’s great to get the win for him. He’s put a lot into our team and it’s good to be able to do something for him. Last year Robert Moore won overall, so it seems to be a good race for Stamullen M. Donnelly at the moment.” DUNBOYNE 3-DAY Stage Three. Results: 1st Peter Sharkey (Stamullen M. Donnelly) 57 miles in 2hrs 13’ 26”, 2nd Theo Hardwicke (Team Ireland), 3rd Seamus Kennedy (Navan Avonmore), 4th Philip Lee (St. Tiernan’s), 5th Shane Connaughton (Cycleways Lee Strand), 6th Gary Spencely (Lakes CC), 7th Gerard Loughnane (McNally Swords) |
NALLY
GETS STAGIARE CONTRACT: (By Gerard Cromwell Aug 25)
As reported here on IrishCycling.com at the beginning of
the season, Cork's Dermot Nally has become the second
Irish amateur cyclist to have been offered a stagiare (triallist)
contract with a professional team for 2002.
DUNNE
TAKES BRENDAN CAMPBELL MEMORIAL IN DONORE: (By Gerard Cromwell Aug
17) Navan Avonmore's Peter Dunne outsprinted Stephen
O'Sullivan for a fine win in today's Brendan Campbell
Memorial in Donore.
CLASSIC
LEAGUE COUNTDOWN BEGINS:
(By Gerard Cromwell Aug 11) With just two
events left in the Cycling Ireland Classic League,
Andrew Donnellan of Dublin Wheelers remains at the top
of the leaderboard, despite a break from racing which
saw him get married and go on honeymoon.
O'Sullivan
takes Gene Moriarty Classic: (By Gerard Cromwell Aug
4) In-form Earl of Desmond duo Kieran McMahon and Paul
Griffin made the long trip from Tralee worthwhile last
night when taking first and fifth places respectively in
the Mountnugent Grand Prix. In front of a big crowd in
rain soaked Mounnugent, the race was held over ten laps
of an undulating four mile circuit.
Sweetman
has bike stolen before classic league event:
(By Gerard Cromwell Aug 3) Craig Sweetman is currently
ranked 4th in the Cycling Ireland Classic League. The
series of tough one-day races continues on Sunday with
the Gene Moriarty Memorial in Listowel, Co. Kerry and
with just three more events to count, the Stamullen M.
Donnelly rider is on target to take the a high overall
finish. There is just one problem - his bike has just
been stolen.
O'Loughlin
in yellow in home town: (By
Gerard Cromwell July 6) Today's second stage of Ras
Connachta saw Dubliner Stephen O'Sullivan fulfill his
promising form of late to capture a fine stage win.
Jonathon
Cruises to victory in Glenside Hotel GP in Stamullen: (By
Gerard Cromwell June 29) Sleepless in Seattle. Tom Hanks
is in his kitchen, he's getting ready to go on his first
date in years and the soundtrack is blaring out the old
country and western number 'Back In The Saddle Again'.
HARRY
REYNOLDS MEMORIAL: (By
Gerard Cromwell June 11) The annual Harry Reynolds
Memorial Race, held in honour of Ireland's first ever
world cycling champion saw Corkman Aiden Crowley of
Cycleways Lee Strand sprint to victory from a three man
breakaway group which formed in the final miles.
With
the finish line in sight, Peter Sharkey kicked clear of
a marauding bunch of almost 170 riders to score a fine
victory in the new colours of the Stamullen M. Donnelly
squad. Team Ireland’s recent winner of the Cork 3-Day
theo Hardwicke finished second with former FBD Milk Ras
winner Seamus Kennedy (Navan Avonmore) third.