Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: July 2002
Monie Nolan Memorial, Balscadden, Co. Dublin: 1, Stephen 0'Sullivan (unattached) 45 kilometres in 1 hour 10 mins 12 secs; 2, D. Smyth (Naas Fig Rolls) at 25 secs; 3, P. Finnegan (Cycleways Lee Strand) at 29 secs; 4, S. Whelan (McNally Swords CC); 5, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand); 6, P. Dunne (Navan Avonmore RC) all same time Junior: 1, Andrew McQuaid (Emerald CC); 2, K. Daly (McNally Swords CC), Senior 3: 1, Jason Ludgate (McNally Swords CC); 2, B. Wall (Cycleways Lee Strand), Veteran: Mick Rock (McNally Swords CC), Woman: Lorraine Manning (Usher IRC) Tourmakeady Festival race: 1, Mark Scanlon (VC La Pomme Marseille); 2, N. Forde (Galway Bay CC); 3, D. Brennan (Castlebar CC) Senior 2: J. Marrey (Western Lakes CC); Senior 3: Aidan Reid (Galway Bay CC); Veteran: Kieran Dyre (Western Lakes CC); Under 16: Derek Burke (Tuam CC); under 14: Jason Joyce (Western Lakes CC); under 12: Enda Scanlon (Sligo CC) O’DONNELL RIDES WELL IN FRANCE: (By Shane Stokes July 31) Former Shay Elliot Memorial winner Mick O’Donnell has ridden well of late in Brittany . The VC Quimperois rider placed 5th in an elite 3 criterium in Quimper on July 13th, then went on to place 18th in the Elite 2 GP de La Moisson race at Moréac on July 21st. Most recently the Bray cyclist finished 9th in an Elite 3 road race at St. Jacques. He intends remaining in France until the season ends in early October. FOCUS TURNS TO GENE MORIARTY CUP: (By Shane Stokes) This Sunday Andrew Donnellon (Dublin Wheelers) will attempt to defend his slender lead at the top of Ireland’s Classic League in the seventh of nine events, which is taking place in the Kerry town of Listowel. More... McCANN 8th IN COMMONWEALTH GAMES TT: (By Shane Stokes July 28) Former national road race champion David McCann was best of the Northern Ireland team in the Commonwealth Games time trial on Saturday. The Belfast man was 8th in the four lap, 47 kilometre race against the clock, finishing 4 minutes and 31 seconds off the winning time of Australian professional Cadel Evans. Evans’ team-mates Michael Rogers and Nathan O’Neill completed a podium clean-sweep for the country. McCann’s fellow Northern Ireland riders Michael Hutchinson and Brendan Doherty placed 15th and 25th respectively. In domestic racing, Kieran McMahon (Earl of Desmond) was victorious in both the BH Raleigh and Charleville Grand Prix this weekend, with junior road race champion Páudí O’Brien finishing a excellent second in the latter event today. Simon Whelan took the Klondyke Cup in Robinstown while up North, Owen Jeffries of the Northern CC club proved best in the Ards CC 3 day in Portaferry. Whelan Takes Victory in Klondyke Cup: (By Shane Stokes July 28) Simon Whelan (McNally Swords) showed his finishing speed at the end of the Klondyke Cup in Robinstown, outkicking Stephen O’Sullivan (unattached) and St. Tiernans’ rider Brian Lennon to take a fine win. The three man breakaway reached the finish of the 60 mile race some 1 minute and 5 seconds ahead of five others, with Conor Murphy (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale) first of this chasing group in the dash for the line. Klondyke Cup, Robinstown: 1, Simon Whelan (McNally Swords CC); 2, S. O’Sullivan (unattached); 3, B. Lennon (St. Tiernans CC); 4, C. Murphy (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 5, M. Quigley (Mayo Wheelers); 6, G. Swinand (Usher IRC); 7, T. Hughes (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 8, A. McQuaid (Emerald CC) First senior B: Paul Doyle (Tile Choice CC) Senior 3, junior, veterans: 1, Paul Brady (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 2, S. Kennedy (Navan Avonmore); 3, T. Duggan (Bray Wheelers); 4, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers); 5, G. Devin (Drogheda Wheelers); 6, D. McMahon (McNally Swords) Unplaced senior 3: Andrew Watters (Garda CC); unplaced veteran: Mick Rock (McNally Swords CC) Underage: U/16: 1, Ciaran Kelly (Usher IRC); 2, R. Price (Bray Wheelers); 3, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers) U/14: Isaac Speirs (Navan Avonmore); 2, M. Daly (McNally Swords); 3, B.Hughes (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale) U/12: 1, Niall Rock (McNally Swords CC); 2, C. Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 3, C. Farrell (Hillcrest Hire) Ards CC Portaferry 3-day, Stage 1: 1, Owen Jeffries (Northern CC Dave Kane Cycles) 30 miles in 1 hour 17 mins 1 sec; 2, R. Connor (Ballymena Scott RC) at 2 secs; 3, W. Hamilton (East Antrim Audi) at 8 secs; 4, P. Marshall (Toyota North Down) at 12 secs; 5, I. Proctor (Castlereagh CC) at 17 secs; 6, P. Heverin (Castlereagh CC) same time Stage 2: 1, Paul Kane (Northern Dave Kane) 50 miles in 1 hour 54 mins 15 secs; 2, Proctor ; 3, A. Martin (Ards CC); 4, L. Kirk (Ards CC); 6, M. Greer (Maryland Whs.); 7, O. Jeffries; 8, K. Sloan (Ards CC) all same time. Stage 3 TT: 1, Jeffries 1 mile in 2 mins 25 secs; 2, Sloan 2 mins 27 secs; 3, R. Connor 2 mins 29 secs; 4, W. Hamilton and G. Cranston (Northern Dave Kane) both 2 mins 32 secs; 6, R. Aiken (Banbridge CC) 2 mins 33secs; 7, Kane 2 mins 35 secs; 8, M. Greer 2 mins 38 secs Stage 4: 1, G. Rodgers (Banbridge CC) 51 miles in 1 hour 58 mins 57 secs; 2, R. Aiken at 2 secs; 3, W. Hamilton at16 secs; 4, S. Jackson (Glasgow MTB Alpine MTB); 5, S. McGreevy (Phoenix CC); 6, M. Robinson (East Antrim Audi); 7, M. Greer; 8, P. Ferguson (Toyota North Down), all same time. Final general classification: 1, O. Jeffries 5 hours 12 mins 54 secs; 2, Hamilton at 15 secs; 3, Sloan at 30 secs; 4, Proctor at 37 secs; 5, Kane at 39 secs; 6, Martin at 46 secs; 7, Greer at 47 secs; 8, Kirk at 52 secs; 9, B. Nugent (Classic Walls) at 53 secs; 10, P. Hawkins (Castlereagh CC) at 57 secs. Charleville Grand Prix: 1, Kieran McMahon (Earl of Desmond); 2, P. O’Brien (Kanturk CC); 3, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond); 4, R. Cahill (Banteer); 5, J. O’Shea (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 6, T. Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers). Veteran: Bobby Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) BH Raleigh Grand Prix: 1, Kieran McMahon (Earl of Desmond); 2, P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond); 3, C. Murphy (McQuaid Tyres Emyvale); 4, S. O’Sullivan (unattached); 5, M. Kieran (Totalcycling.com); 6, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand) Senior c, junior, veterans: 1, Ian Ormond (Autoview CC); 2, J. Scott Lennon (Bray Wheelers); 3, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers); 4, D. Irwin (BH Racing Team); 5, G. Devin (Drogheda Wheelers CC); 6, R. Brannigan (Orwell Wheelers) Women: 1, Lorraine Manning (Usher IRC); 2, R. Kennedy (Usher IRC)
Scanlon, the current national road race champion, was previously awarded a contract with the Linda McCartney team for the 2001 season but he was forced to return to the amateur ranks after the financial collapse of the second-division outfit. Since then he has raced in Marseille with the VC La Pomme squad and recorded a number of encouraging results which, when combined with his 1998 world title, suggest that he has the potential to be the best Irish rider since Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. In addition to acting as an early role models to Scanlon, both riders have provided important guidance to the young Sligoman; indeed, Roche was instrumental in securing the apprenticeship with AG2r. ‘Stephen’s help was very important in getting the trial’, says Scanlon. ‘He spoke to the directeur sportif Vincent Lavenu on a number of occasions and the deal came about because of that. Cycling Ireland and the Irish Sports Council have also been of great help – the Sports Council provided me with funding after the Linda McCartney team collapsed and that helped me to keep racing abroad.’ Before donning the team jersey, Scanlon will compete in the European under 23 championships next week, which is one of his major goals for this season. He goes to the Italian contest motivated by his tenth place in the time trial twelve months ago, a fine effort which could have landed a podium finish had he not been hampered by a severe bout of cramp in the closing miles. ‘I am hoping to do a good ride in the time trial’, he says, ‘and will give the road race a good shot too. After that I will start my trial with the AG2r team. I am little nervous about the challenge but there is a very good chance that I will be able to get a contract for next season.’ MORE TITLES FOR SEYMOUR, OWENS: (By Shane Stokes July 21) Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens today added to their impressive tally of national titles when they won the Elite men and women’s races at the cross-country mountainbike championships in Kilruddery Estate, Bray. <Read More Here> <See Pictures and Results Here> BRACKEN CELEBRATES IN STYLE: (By Shane Stokes July 21) Twenty four hours after his 42nd birthday, veteran Usher IRC rider Sean Bracken proved that there is plenty of youth left in his legs by winning the Cycleways Lee Strand GP in Narraghmore, Co. Kildare. Bracken raced clear with Brian Lennon three miles from the end of the 70 mile race and decisively outsprinted the St. Tiernans rider to take the win, with former breakaway companions Adrian Hedderman next home. The first significant move of the day happened on the second of seven laps, when Phil Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand), Tom Hughes (Stamullen M Donnelly), Stephen O’Sullivan and Paul Doyle (both unattached) raced clear and opened a lead of 1 minutes and ten seconds over a chasing group of 9 riders. With three laps remaining Cassidy slipped back, followed by Doyle, leaving Hughes and O’Sullivan out front. Shortly afterwards O’Sullivan raced ahead alone and built a lead over the chasers, carrying an advantage of 45 seconds going onto the last lap. However five miles later this lead evaporated when Bracken, Lennon and Hedderman bridged across, paving the way for the successful attack and a fine birthday celebration for the Usher IRC rider. Cycleways Lee Strand GP: 1, Sean Bracken (Usher IRC); 2, B. Lennon (St. Tiernans); 3, A. Hedderman (Cycleways Lee Strand); 4, JP Hilliard (Dublin Skip); 5, S. O’Sullivan (unattached); 6, E. Roche (Avonmore Navan RC) Senior b: 1, Eamon Prendergast (Bray Wheelers CC); 2, T. Lavery (Usher IRC); 3, D. Duke (Usher IRC), Senior 3/Juniors/Veterans: 1, Colm Crawley (Balbriggan CC); 2, S.Lally (McNally Swords); 3, P. Brady (Emyvale), Under 12: Niall Rock (McNally Swords CC); Under 14: Isaac Speirs (Avonmore Navan RC); Under 16: Mark Nestor (Shannonside CC) Ballivor GP: 1, Robert Whelan (Avonmore Navan RC) 1 hour 19 mins 28 secs; 2, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 3, T. Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand); 4, G. Thomas (Finglas Ravens CC); 5, F. McCormack (Newbridge Cutlery CC); 6, R. Moore (Stamullen M. Donnelly) all same time Senior 2: 1, Brian Harris (Bray Wheelers); 2, D. Cunningham (Bray Wheelers), Senior 3: 1, Ken Moloney (Avonmore Navan RC); 2, J. Moran (Finglas Ravens), Junior: 1, James Lawless (Usher IRC); 2, G. Devin (Drogheda Wheelers CC), Veteran: 1, Jim Cassidy (Garda CC); 2, R. Brannigan (Orwell Wheelers)
McCann's Ireland team-mate Tommy Evans was next home in the hectic dash for the line, getting the better of Tanner's Compensation Group team- mate Mark Lovatt to repeat his third place of last season. Evans had initially gone clear on the second of three laps of the 113 mile event, getting clear of the main group with three others and then forging ahead once more with Tanner on the island's tough 13 mile climb. With just under 1 lap to go it looked as if one of these would win the race, given that they had then a lead of over two minutes, but McCann, Lovatt and his team-mate Kevin Dawson succeeded in slipping away from the other chasers and closing up to the two up front.
Having merged together inside the final kilometre, the quartet adopted tactics similar to a track sprint and almost came to a halt with 400 metres to go. McCann picked his moment perfectly to start the sprint, taking Tanner and Lovatt by surprise and opening up a lead which the former was unable to peg back before the line. 'I am delighted with the performance of the team', said Team Ireland manager Declan Byrne afterwards. 'I knew going into the race that we had a very strong line-up and were capable of winning. Everything went very well and while the two Compensation Group riders were very strong on the final lap, David and Tommy were able to cover all of their attacks and then worked well together to ensure that a Team Ireland rider won.' 'It was a great day for the team. Although Mark Scanlon felt under the weather and pulled out of the race, Denis Lynch rode very strongly and was in all the early moves. I think he finished inside the top 15 in the end, making it a very good performance for us.'
The most obvious benefit of the financial injection is a return to longer distances in the race, as the organisers have been able to switch from the evening stages which have been characteristic of the more recent editions. It is thought that this will in turn ensure an even greater overseas participation this year. 'This really is important for the race, and for the sport in general', said co-organiser Phil Cassidy. 'Martin has been really supportative of cycling this year and is delighted with the response he is getting to it. His backing of the Junior Tour is enabling the race to continue and develop, and we are really grateful for his support.' The Junior Tour will begin with a 1.7 mile time trial in Dunmore East on Tuesday 6th of August, and continues with five road stages.
Nally showed his strength early on when he raced clear in a five man breakaway group on the first of four laps. Although this move was reeled in, he got clear of the bunch once more with seven others and opened up what proved to be a decisive lead. The three medallists kicked clear of their breakaway companions with eight miles remaining, paving the way for Nally’s successful solo attack shorly afterwards. The Italian-based cyclist stormed clear to finally cross the line one minute and ten seconds ahead of Lynch, who out-sprinted Conor Murphy of the promoting Emyvale club to secure silver. Nally will take particular pleasure in the victory as he was forced to drop out of the FBD Milk Rás in May with food poisoning. In the 48 mile junior event, Páidí O’Brien’s fine vein of form continued when the Corkman beat Nicolas Roche to take gold. The Kanturk CC rider finished 35 seconds ahead of Roche, son of former Tour de France winner Stephen, who had travelled from his home in Antibes for the race. Killorglin rider Barry Woods took bronze. Usher IRC’s Sean Bracken successfully defended the title he took last season when he finished ahead of Cidona Carrick’s Sean McIllroy and Kevin O’Leary (St. Finbars) at the end of a hard-fought 48 mile veteran’s championship. Bracken finished 58 seconds clear of McIllroy with O’Leary a further 20 seconds in arrears. National road race championships for under 23, junior and veteran riders, Monaghan.
Under 23: 1, Dermot Nally (Maltini Lompadari); 2, D. Lynch (VC La Pomme Marseille); 3, C. Murphy (Emyvale); 4, B. Ahern (Naas Fig Roll); 5, T. Hogan (Earl of Desmond); 6, G. McQuaid (Emerald); 7, M. Quigley (Naas Fig Roll); 8, D. Lynch (Kanturk CC) Juniors: 1, Páidí O’Brien (Kanturk CC); 2, N. Roche (OCCV Draguignan); 3, B. Woods (Killorglin); 4, T. Hardwick (Killorglin CC); 5, A. McQuaid (Emerald CC); 6, C. Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) Veterans: 1, Sean Bracken (Usher IRC); 2, S. McIllroy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 3, K. O’Leary (St. Finbars); 4, S. Kennedy (Navan Avonmore); 5, B. Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 6, H. Davis (Usher IRC) Team: Cidona Carrick Wheelers UK RIDERS DOMINATE IN BRAY: (By Shane Stokes July 13) Lured by the UCI points on offer, riders from the United Kingdom today dominated the Bray Festival Downhill race. The visitors recorded eight of the ten fastest times, with just Glyn O’Brien (Sombrio) and Jamie Popham of the Fiat LCV Racing team succeeding in taking world ranking points. O’Brien recorded a time of 2 minutes 17 seconds to finish third in the elite event, three seconds off the winning time, while 16 year old Popham performed beyond his years to dominate the junior contest and record the fourth fastest descent of the day; a fine time of 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Results: Elite: 1, K. Hargreaves (Cruz) 2 mins 14 secs; 2, J. Hughes (Leisure Lakes) 2 mins 15 secs; 3, G. O’Brien (Sombrio) 2 mins 17 secs. Senior: 1, C. Marshall (Ancillotti) 2 mins 21 secs; 2, C. Williams (Leisure Lakes) 2 mins 28 secs; 3, P. Smail 2 mins 29 secs Ladies: R. Atherton (BN3) 3 mins 6 secs; 2, J. Mart (Giant UK) 3 mins 9 secs; 3, P. Wiltshire (BN3). Masters: 1, J. Ward (Plush) 2 mins 35 secs; 2, M. Dickson 2 mins 41 secs; 3, C. Young 2 mins 48 secs Veterans: 1, Peter Popham (Fiat LCV Racing) 3 mins 12 secs; 2, T. Clogher (TC Racing) 3 mins 27 secs; 3, D. Cowan 3 mins 54 secs Junior: 1, Jamie Popham (Fiat LCV Racing); 2, S. Jenkinson 2 mins 27 secs; 3, C. Bradley (Bray Downhill) 2 mins 32 secs Under 16: 1, T. Frith (BN3) 2 mins 36 secs; 2, M. Nugent 2 mins 46 secs; 3, G. O’Keefe (Munster DH) 2 mins 47 secs Under 14: N. Wolfe 3 mins 4 secs; 2, D. Wolfe 3 mins 12 secs; 3, N. Byrne 3 mins 12. 6 secs STRONG TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR MANX INTERNATIONAL: (By Shane Stokes July 13) Two of the medallists from the recent Irish road race championships have been named to the Irish team for next Friday’s Manx International in the Isle of Man. The 2002 title-holder and bronze medallist Tommy Evans, both of the Marseille-based VC La Pomme squad, will join forces with their team-mate Denis Lynch and the Volksbank Ideal professional David McCann in the tough world-ranked event. Following strong displays from Irish riders in recent years, it is hoped that the four will have a real impact on the race. McCann won the prestigious contest in 1996 and was second in 2000, while Evans placed third last year. Scanlon’s recent Irish championship win shows that the 21 year old is in flying form, while Lynch finished sixth in that event and today took the silver medal in the national under 23 road race. The All-Cables Women's League 2002: (By Shane Stokes July 12) Kate Rudd of the North Tipperary Wheelers club finished as the overall winner at the end of the All Cables Women’s league, securing her place at the top of the table with a strong ride in the concluding race on the Batterstown/Dunsany circuit. Rudd was part of the scratch group which reeled in those up ahead in the closing stages of the 16 mile race, and in the sprint to the line the league leader finished second to the national road race silver medallist Lorraine Manning of Usher IRC. The Dublin-based club also netted third place on the night, through the efforts of Olivia Coady and second overall in the league with Roisin Kennedy. Marica Attoressi (Cycleways) finished third overall. Women’s league final round, Batterstown/Dunsany: 1, Lorraine Manning (Usher IRC); 2, K. Rudd (North Tipperary Wheelers); 3, O. Coady (Usher IRC); 4, G. McDarby (IMBRC); 5, G. McNally (McNally Swords); 6, R. Kennedy (Usher IRC); 7, E. Connaughton (Cycleways); 8, V. Considine (Usher IRC) Final overall standings: 1, Kate Rudd (North Tipperary Wheelers) 67 points; 2, Kennedy, 57; 3, M. Attoressi (Cycleways), 54; 4, McNally, 49; 5, Coady, 40; 6, Connaughton, 40; 7, I. Tully (Navan Avonmore) 39; 8, McDarby, 31. CONTINENTAL BASE UP AND RUNNING: (By Shane Stokes July 12) National road race champion Mark Scanlon and his VC La Pomme team mate Denis Lynch are two of the twenty Irish under 23 and junior riders who will be travelling to the new Team Ireland base in Belgium in the coming weeks. Scanlon has opted to centre much of the second half of his season around competing with the Cycling Ireland set-up, rather than with his French club, as he feels that this will enable him to benefit from a stronger programme of racing for the remainder of 2002. Scanlon and the rest of the squad of twenty will travel to Belgium after undergoing a rigorous battery of physiological tests at the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick, which should it turn result in a better assessment of each rider's own capabilities and assist in their future progress in the sport. Each cyclist will undergo another test six weeks prior to the world championships in Belgium and these findings, together with their racing results, will help select the teams to represent Ireland in the Zolder champs. 'We could have just sent them straight over but we think that it is better to get these tests done as they will help the riders considerably in the long term', said Ciaran McKenna of Cycling Ireland. 'The riders will then travel out to the new base and will have plenty of opportunity to race and train out there - it should really make a difference for them and we expect that things will go very well.' Already at the team house in Belgium are four riders - Eugene Moriarty, Paul Healion, Jonathan Dempsey and Martin O'Loughlin. Paddy Moriarty is expected to join them next week, with the other squad members due to travel out after that.
Amongst the ranks of the junior competitors, Páidí O'Brien is the most likely winner of the national title. The Gorey 3 day winner has been in excellent form this season and will be determined to perform well on Sunday. The veteran competition is a more open affair, with a number of riders in the running for the gold medal. What is certain is that the course should produce a worthy winner. Starting in Monaghan at 1 pm, the riders will compete over a hilly circuit which features a two-mile climb. The under 23 contestants face four laps of a 16 mile circuit, while the juniors and veterans will complete one lap less than this. All three races are sponsored by McElvaney Motors. TOP FIELD FOR BRAY DOWNHILL CHALLENGE: (By Shane Stokes July 12) Next Sunday week the national cross-country mountainbike championships will be held in Kilruddery, with Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens both travelling home to defend their titles, but before then the Bray area sees another genre of mountain bike riders heading to the area in search of world-ranking points. Tomorrow (Saturday) Ireland's downhill racers have their chance to boost their UCI standing in the Bray Downhill Challenge, with over 120 competitors expected to turn out for the event. Of these, twenty-five overseas entries have also been received and the organisers are confident that these will present a stiff challenge to the home contestants, who will be led by national champion John Lawlor and silver medallist Glyn O'Brien. Promising young rider Peter Popham will be gunning for victory in the junior race, but is also aiming to record a time inside the ten fastest and thus take some of the UCI points on offer. CORRECTION TO IRISH TIMES COLUMN: (By Shane Stokes July 12) The Cycleways Lee Strand GP is due to take place on Sunday 21st, not this Sunday as mistakenly reported in Friday's cycling column in the Irish Times.
Other features include a national 'On The Spot Challenge', which will see groups of cyclists around the country riding static bikes in order to raise funds for charity. There will also be a two-day leisure cycle from Dublin to Galway and back. These measures, and the overall concept of the Hibernian National Bike Week are part of Cycling Ireland's four-year strategic plan to increase the numbers of people cycling in Ireland. While the governing body has previously focused on the competitive side of the sport, there is also a growing awareness of the need to promote other aspects such as leisure cycling and commuting. Commenting at the launch, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue gave his thumbs up to the project. "This is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted to be involved with it. If we can boost the number of people cycling for leisure then the amount cycling for 'utility' purposes - such as going to work or school - will naturally grow. National Bike Week is an excellent vehicle to promote this and it has my full support". Cycling Ireland PJ Nolan expressed his belief that the initiative would be a successful one. "Cycling is an effective response to many of Ireland's congested cities and towns. Through a variety of events, Hibernian National Bike Week will project the message that using a bicycle to commute to work or schools, for business or errands can be practical, healthy and enjoyable." More details are available from Elsa Connaughton at 01-8551522 or at www.cyclingireland.org MARIE KEATING FOUNDATION CHARITY TOUR: (By Shane Stokes July 11) The Marie Keating Foundation and Naas CPC are combining to host a charity cycling tour of Kildare on Sunday August 11th 2002. The leisure event will take place over distances of 100 and 30 kilometres, with the cycles starting from Superquinn car park at 9.30 and 11.30 am respectively. For further information please contact Linda at the Marie Keating Foundation on 01-6246314. NATIONAL UNDERAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS: (By Shane Stokes July 11) While most of Ireland's national titles are settled by a single race, the riders competing in the underage championships last weekend had to put in several separate efforts to earn their medals. The programme of racing began on Saturday with a prologue time trial along the promenade in Bray and a criterium based around a circuit of just over half a mile along the seafront. Sunday's road race in Roundwood was the third and final decider, the undulating 7.2 mile circuit providing ample opportunity for strong riders to attack in the hunt for medals.
In the remaining two categories, Clonmel CC's Gavin Pyke broke the Killorglin/Kanturk monopoly in the under 13 race and Shane O'Halloran (Duhallow Wheelers) took gold in the under 16 event. The promoting club Bray Wheelers took the team award. Race organiser Urban Monks was happy with how things went. 'Things were very good - nearly 150 riders turned up, about 20 more than last year. Everything went to plan and the quality of racing was great, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves too.' National underage championships, Bray/Roundwood: Under 11: 1, James Coffey (Killorglin CC); 2, P. Williams (Orchard Wheelers); 3, L, Keane (Kanturk CC). Team: Killorglin CC Under 12: 1, Anthony Lynch (Kanturk CC); 2, D. Coffey (Killorglin CC); 3, A. O’Connor (Killorglin CC). Team: Killorglin CC Under 13: 1, Gavin Pyke (Clonmel CC); 2, C. Jensen (Sorrento CC); 3, P. Ahern (Kanturk CC). Team: Killorglin CC Under 14: 1, Kieran Enright (Kanturk CC); 2, J. O’Sullivan (Killorglin CC); 3, G. Browne (Kanturk CC). Team: Kanturk CC Under 15: 1, Cian Lanigan (Killorglin CC); 2, A. Petrie Armstrong (Northern CC); 3, T. Jensen (Sorrento CC). Team: Killorglin CC) Under 16: 1, Shane O’Halloran (Duhallow Wheelers); 2, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers); 3, D. Watson (Dave Kane Northern CC). Team: Bray Wheelers
O'Loughlin was part of a 13 man breakaway group which went clear early on in Saturday's opening 50 mile stage and stayed clear to the finish, where Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond CC) proved fastest in the sprint. Fourth in the dash for the line then, O'Loughlin moved into pole position the following day when he slipped clear of the yellow jersey and finished second in the sprint to stage winner Stephen O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan had gone clear with 3 riders - Timmy Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers), Paul Healion (Usher IRC) and Earl of Desmond's John Horgan - then pressed ahead alone as the main group closed the gap. O'Loughlin was the only rider able to successfully bridge across, and showed this solo strength again when he consolidated his race lead with a victory in the stage 3 time trial. Yesterday's final stage was won by Emerald CC rider Gary McQuaid, who went clear with Dutch rider Birk Dirks (Tempo Team) and Totalcycling.com's Mark Kiernan towards the end of the mountainous 70 mile race. O'Loughlin finished safely in the main bunch to win overall by one minute and six seconds from VC La Pomme rider Denis Lynch, who had made a last-gasp effort to win the race during the stage. Lynch went clear with Cork's Paddy Moriarty after ten miles, and while he opened up enough of a gap to become race leader on the road, the duo were hauled back in with twelve miles remaining. RAS CONNACHTA: Stage 1: Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond CC); 2, B. Dirks (Tempo); 3, E. O'Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 4, D. O'Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardi Sports); 5, R. Cahilll (Cork); 6, D. Lynch (VC La Pomme) Stage 2: 1, S. O'Sullivan (unattached) 63 miles in 2 hours 29 mins 43 secs; 2, O'Loughlin same time; 3, D. Easton (Totalcycling.com) at 28 secs; 4, D. Gardiner (Apollo CC); 5, P. Moriarty (Cork); 6, G. McQuaid (Emerald CC) all same time Stage 3: 1, David O'Loughlin; 2, J. Dempsey (Classic Walls); 3, A. Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers); 4, Moriarty; 5, Lynch; 6, B. Dirks (Tempo - Holland) Stage 4: 1, Gary McQuaid (Emerald CC); 2, Dirks; 3, M. Kieran (Totalcycling.com); 4, A. Crowley (Cycleways Lee Strand); 5, Griffin Final overall: 1, O'Loughlin; 2, Lynch at 1 min 6 secs; 3, M. O'Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 1 min 24 secs; 4, Cahill at 1 min 27 secs; 5, Griffin at 1 min 29 secs IVCA Founder Cup age standard CP: (July 7) 1, Sean Lally (McNally Swords) 50 miles in 2 hours 20 mins 30 secs; 2, B. Monaghan (Newry Wheelers); 3, D. McGrath (Bray Wheelers) both same time; 4, S. Kennedy (Navan Avonmore) at 45 secs; 5, H. Davis (Usher IRC); 6, J. Lally (Dublin Wheelers) both same time SEYMOUR 9th IN E2 EVENT: (By Shane Stokes Juul 7) Irish cross country champion Robin Seymour continued his strong Italian season yesterday, finishing 9th of 4000 starters in the world ranked Dolomiti Superbike mountain bike race in Val Posteria. The 110 kilometre E2 event was won by Full Dynamics rider Mauro Bettin in a time of 4 hours and 49 minutes, with Seymour finishing 9th and best of his Mapei team some 16 minutes later. Seymour has had some encouraging results this season and is clear favourite to once again retain his national title this summer. ARMSTRONG CHASES FOURTH TOUR WIN: (By Shane Stokes July 5) Lance Armstrong continues his ambitious march towards joining the illustrious club of five-times Tour de France winners tomorrow, when the 2002 Tour de France gets under way in Luxembourg. Winner in 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Texan has been in impressive form this season and the expectation that he will build on his Midi-Libre and Dauphiné Libéré-winning condition should see him once more as the dominant rider in the Tour peloton. More... |
O’SULLIVAN BEST IN MONIE
NOLAN MEMORIAL: (By
Mc
Joining together three miles into the final ascent
of the climb, Dawson slipped backwards as the Team Ireland duo and the two
Compensation Group riders started their tussle for victory towards the top of
the mountain. Attack and counter-attack followed, with each team successfully
marked the moves of the other, and with five kilometres to go McCann and Tanner
raced ahead and opened a large gap. However, conscious that Tanner would be
faster in a two-man gallop for the line, McCann opted to stall for Evans in
order to maximise the chances of a Team Ireland rider winning the race.
MARTIN
DONNELLY TO BACK JUNIOR TOUR: (By
NATIONAL UNDER 23, JUNIOR
AND VETERAN CHAMPS: (By
LYNCH, NALLY AND O'BRIEN
FAVOURITES FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: (By
HIBERNIAN NATIONAL BIKE
WEEK: (By
Killorglin CC were the star performers at the
championships, taking a total of five medals and winning the team award in four
out of the six categories. Gold medals went to James Coffey (under 11 race) and
Cian Lanigan (under 15), while Kanturk CC also took two national titles; their
rider Anthony Lynch was fastest in the under 12 contest while Kieran Enright led
the field home in the under 14 race. The club also won the team award in the
latter event.