Cycling Round Up |
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Archives: April 2003
The stage was won by Welshman Anthony Malarczyk, who had gone clear with eleven others earlier in the race. The Welshman was nine seconds ahead of Lee Strand/Cycleways rider Aidan Crowley at the line, and a further two clear of Surrey League rider Gary Dodd. The group had at one stage enjoyed a lead of nearly two minutes, but with Dodd then becoming race leader on the road, Dawson and his Life Repair CRT team started to bring down the gap. Dodd was an eventual third on the stage and seventh overall. Gleeson took the points classification while Brian Kenneally showed a fine return to competition by winning the King of the Mountains title. Hibernian Team Ireland and Killorglin Credit Union were winners in the International Team and Club Team categories. Credit Union Ras Mumhan, Kerry, stage 4 circuit race in Killorglin: 1, Anthony Malarczyk (4Bikes on line.com, Wales) 58 miles in 2 hours 5 mins 9 secs; 2, A. Crowley (Lee Strand/Cycleways) at 9 secs; 3, G. Dodd (Surrey League) at 11 secs; 4, C. Varley (Isle of Man) at 12 secs; 5, V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland); 6, A. Bird (Artic-Shorter Rochford RT) both same time Final overall: 1, Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT) 10 hours 1 minute 14 secs; 2, P. Moriarty (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 6 secs; 3, T. Barry (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 17 secs; 4, R. Wyley (London Irish) at 22 secs; 5, E. Moriarty (Lee Strand/Cycleways) at 26 secs; 6, A. Donnellan (Leinster) at 28 secs; 7, G. Dodd (Surrey League) at 1 min 22 secs; 8, J. Veness (Surrey League) at 1 min 38 secs; 9, R. Cahill (Killorglin Credit Union) at 1 min 42 secs; 10, A. Roche (Isle of Man) at 2 mins 38 secs Pictures of Ras Mumhan Go Here...
King of the mountains: 1, Brian Kenneally (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) 36 points; 2, Dawson, 35; 3, E. Moriarty, 34 Points: 1, Vincent Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland) 31 points; 2, Dawson, 29; 3, P. Moriarty, 25 International team: Hibernian Team Ireland. Club team: Killorglin Credit Union DAWSON BACK IN YELLOW: (Report By Shane Stokes Pictures by Gerry McManus Apr 20) British rider Kevin Dawson has moved to within one stage of repeating his 2002 victory in the Credit Union Ras Mumhan, after a strong ride on today’s third leg of the race. Dawson had won the opening prologue time trial on Friday, but lost out on Saturday’s tough 101 mile leg around the Ring of Kerry when national criterium champion Paul Doyle grabbed the stage win and took over at the top.
However, Doyle’s tenure was but a short one, as Dawson (Life Repair) bounced back today, distancing his Doyle and second-placed Vincent Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland) when he went clear in group of twenty-four riders before the ascent of the Conor Pass. Pressing on with eleven others over the top, Dawson took time out of Doyle and the main field all the way to the finish in Killorglin, where he reclaimed the yellow jersey and also took the lead in the points classification. The 91 mile Irish Ferries Conor Pass stage was won by local rider Eugene Moriarty, one of the dozen up front, who broke clear on the Slaibh Mish climb some seven miles from the finish. The Lee Strand-Cycleways rider opened up a 15 second lead and just held on to the line, with Dawson, Paddy Moriarty and Tim Barry (both Hibernian Team Ireland) finishing two seconds later. Dawson is now nine seconds clear of Hibernian Team Ireland duo Patrick Moriarty and Tim Barry, with just tomorrow’s 58 mile Western Union-sponsored stage remaining.
Credit Union Ras Mumhan stage three: 1, Eugene Moriarty (Lee Strand-Cycleways); 2, K. Dawson (Life Repair CRT) at 2 secs; 3, P. Moriarty (Hibernian Team Ireland); 4, T. Barry (Hibernian Team Ireland) both same time; 5, R. Wyley (London Irish) at 6 secs; 6, A. Donnellan (Dublin Wheelers) at 9 secs Overall classification: 1, Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT); 2, P. Moriarty, at 9 secs; 3, Barry, at at 17 secs; 4, Wyley, at 22 secs; 5, E. Moriarty, at 26 secs; 6, Donnellan, at 28 secs Points: Dawson. Mountains: E. Moriarty DOYLE ON TOP IN KERRY: (Report By Shane Stokes Pictures by Gerry McManus Apr 19) National Criterium champion Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Killarney) showed his finishing speed at the end of Saturday’s Randles Nissan Ring of Kerry stage of the Credit Union Rás Mumhan, taking both the stage and the yellow jersey to boot. The Dubliner outsprinted Vincent Gleeson (Hibernian Ireland) and London Irish rider Rory Wyley at the end of the tough 101mile leg, taking over from last year’s winner Kevin Dawson at the top.
Dawson had been distanced by Doyle, Gleeson, Wyley and two others on the Coomakista Mountain, and while he initially thought the breakaway group was of no threat to his jersey, he was forced to dig deep to try to stay on terms after the gap rose to over a minute. Also present in the breakaway move were French-based Irishman Denis Lynch (Tyle Choice) and Brian Keneally (Cidona Carrick Wheelers), who had originally gone clear with Killarney CC’s Matthew Slattery after twelve miles. Riding together over the category one Ladies View and Molls Gap climbs, the break lost a bit of impetus when Slattery punctured, but once reeled in by Doyle et al Lynch and Keneally contributed for some time before finally losing contact. That left five up front, with a sixth almost joining up when local rider Eugene Moriarty closed to within ten seconds of the group with ten miles remaining. However the Lee Strand-Cycleways rider was unable to close the final metres, slipping backwards once more. At the finish in Killorglin it was Doyle who led home Gleeson and Wyley, with Adrian Bird (Artic-Rocheford) and John Veness (Surry) both finishing two seconds further back. Doyle now leads by two seconds from Gleeson, with Bird a further seven seconds in arrears. Yesterday’s prologue winner and 2002 champion Kevin Dawson slips to fifth, 12 seconds off the pace in the tough four day event. Tomorrow’s stage is 96 miles in length, taking the riders over the Conor Pass and into Dingle before finishing once again in Killorglin.
Credit Union Ras Mumhan, stage two – Randles Nissan Ring of Kerry: 1, Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Killarney) 101 miles in 3 hours 58 mins 44 secs; 2, V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland); 3, R. Wyley (London Irish) both same time; 4, A. Bird (Artic-Rocheford) at 2 secs; 5, J. Veness (Surrey) same time; 6, P. Shepard (4bikes on line.com Wales) at 18 secs Overall classification: 1, Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Killarney) 4 hours 4 mins 8 secs; 2, Gleeson, at 2 seconds; 3, Bird, at 9 secs; 5, K. Dawson (Life Repair CRT) at 12 secs; 5, R. Clarke (Lee Strand-Cycleways) at 16 secs; 6, P. Moriarty (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 17 secs Points classification: 1, Doyle, 22 points; 2, Gleeson, 20; 3, Shepard, 19 KOM overall: 1, Brian Kennealy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) 28 points; 2, D. Lynch (Tile Choice) 22; 3, M. Slattery (Killarney CC) 20 DAWSON TAKES OPENING TIME TRIAL: (By Shane Stokes Apr 18) 2002 winner Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT) started the defence of his Ras Mumhan title in the best possible way this evening when he won the 2.6 mile prologue time trial in Killorglin. The British rider sped around the course in a fine time of 5 minutes and 14 seconds, 4 seconds ahead of former national champion Ray Clarke of the Lee Strand-Cycleways team. Third place went to Denis Lynch, one second further back, who is home from racing in France and is guesting with the Tilechoice-Deeside team for duration of the tough four-day race. The action continues tomorrow with a gruelling 101-mile slog over the hills of the Ring of Kerry. The Ras Mumhan is one of Ireland's most important stage races and this year features what is arguably the strongest-ever lineup for the event. Ras Mumhan, stage one time trial: 1, Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT) 2.6 miles in 5 minutes 14 seconds; 2, R. Clarke (Lee Strand-Cycleways) 5 mins 18 secs; 3, D. Lynch (Tylechoice-Deeside) 5 mins 19 secs; 4, A. Roche (Isle of Man) same time; 5, P. Moriarty (Hibernian Team Ireland) 5 mins 21 secs; 6, E. O’Donoghue (Usher IRC) 5 mins 22 secs; 7, P. Sheppard (Wales-4bikes on line.com) 5 mins 26 secs; 8, T. Barry (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 5 mins 28 secs; 9, P. Doyle (Tilechoice-Deeside) at 5 mins 29 secs; 10, V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland) at 5 mins 29 secs Pictures of Ras Mumhan Go Here... CREDIT UNION RAS MUMHAN/DUBLIN SKIP GOREY 3 DAY PREVIEW: (By Shane Stokes Apr 17) This weekend’s Tour of Munster is set to be a cracker of a race, with a tough course and impressively strong field combining to ensure a spectacular clash. The foreign charge will be led by last year's winner Kevin Dawson of the Life Repair CRT squad, with the Dutch B.R.C. Kennemerland team, the Welsh national selection, the Isle of Man team and a number of UK squads all doing their utmost to carry off the spoils. Aiming to foil them is a Team Ireland line-up comprising Paul Griffin, Paddy Moriarty, Tim Barry, Vincent Gleeson and Kieran McMahon, plus a large number of other domestic teams. The race begins tomorrow with a 2.6 mile time trial and continues with three tough road-race stages. Saturday’s tough 101mile leg takes the riders over the climbs of the Ring of Kerry, while Easter Sunday’s action sees the field scrap it out over 91 difficult miles, including the ascent of the Conor Pass. The race ends with a 58 mile circuit race in Killorglin on Monday. Last year’s event was dominated by the Compensation Group team, with riders Kevin Dawson and Mark Lovatt finishing four minutes clear of the field at the end of the second stage and maintaining their first and second places overall to the end of the race. Both took stage wins, while Phil Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) flew the home flag by winning the prologue and final stage. Both Dawson and Cassidy are back this year and will be aiming for further success. Meanwhile many senior 2 and 3 riders, plus juniors, veterans and ladies will be lining out in the Dublin Skip Gorey 3 day this weekend. Starting in Brittas on Saturday, the field will cover 65 miles as they race down through Wicklow to Gorey. Sunday’s action begins with a 4 mile time trial and then continues in the afternoon with four laps of a 15 mile circuit near Gorey. The race concludes with a 60 mile road race back towards Brittas. As always a large field is set to contest the race, which has been won in the past by riders such as Stephen Roche and Mark Scanlon. 176 have signed up for the event, including riders from the UK, a team from New York and also two women’s teams; an Irish national selection and a Leinster squad. This too should prove to be a hard-fought and exciting contest. Leinster teams: Ras Mumhan: Andrew Donnellan, Graham Thomas, Eugene Murtagh, Brian Ahern, Robert Whelan. Dublin Skip Gorey 3 day: Tom Duggan, Andrey Mohay, Joe McGill, Mark McLeavy, Derek Irwin Women’s team: Louise Moriarty, Beth McClusky, Gillian McDarby, Karen Bothwell, Rebecca O’Connell. National women’s team for Gorey 3 day: Marie Reilly, Debbie Booth, Colette Swift, Kate Rudd, Roisin Kennedy.
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DAWSON
HOLDS OFF LATE CHARGE BY MORIARTY: (Report
By Shane Stokes Pictures by Gerry McManus Apr 21)
Defending champion Kevin Dawson today succeeded in his efforts to win the 2003
Ras Mumhan in Kerry, limiting his losses to just three seconds over closest
rival Paddy Moriarty of the Hibernian Team Ireland squad and ending the four-day
event six seconds clear. Moriarty staged a last-gasp effort to overhaul the
English Life Repair rider, jumping clear in the closing stages of the 58 mile
circuit race but was unable to gain sufficient advantage to move into yellow. He
finished second overall with team-mate Tim Barry in third.
