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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
M DONNELLY JUNIOR TOUR: IRISH STAGE WIN & BONSER RETAINS LEAD
By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent
15 Jul 2006,
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Adam Bonser from Ashton-Under Lyne in Manchester is poised to add his name to an illustrious list of winners of the JT Trophy now sponsored by M Donnelly. The same gentleman has a deep love of sport in general. For those who are avid followers of out national games hurling and football, you would often see his name as a sponsor. The penultimate stage certainly caused a stir, shortly after the start on the main road out of Castlebar. A group of ten detached themselves from the main group, but the irony was that all the jersies, were still contained within the bunch.
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| The early breakaway |
It was unusual to see a break go clear within minutes of the start and to add further fuel to the fire it was a main road with little or no shelter. Leading the charge from the front were, Stephen Halpin and Conor McAllistair of Stenaline-Ireland, Dana Minnie, Tshepo Merumo, Siphine Sowelaq, Ruan Benson all from South Africa, Andrew Whitehall of Scotland, Sam Webster of Scotland, Stephen Coyle and Allastair Fiddles both of Icomic.ie and Simon Williams of Cycling Ulster. None of the ten man group was remotely within striking distance of Bonser and those around him on general classification.
There was no sense of urgency by anybody in the bunch to make any attempt to roll back the time that was being banked by the 10 leaders. More or less, as long as the Yellow Jersey was within the confines of the bunch and the fact that nobody was in any trouble was one sure indicator, nothing was amiss.
Little did the competitors know that as they passed the village of Bohola on the main road that this area can lay claim to being the place in Ireland that most of the millionaires started their life in this village. The advantage to the ten leaders was now approaching the minute mark.
Still, by Foxford which has its own piece of history the time gap had been increased significantly. Mainly due to the commitment of the ten who were all applying their skills to stay ahead of the posse. But back to Foxford which is well known throughout the world for its Woollen Mills. The mills were founded in 1892 by Mother Agnes Morrogh Bernard. If the entourage with the tour could have taken the time, they could have watched skill crafts people produce world famous Foxford tweeds, rugs and blankets. Enough of the history! Let’s get back to the running order of the day and the cyclists who are serving up a joy to watch as they shimmy along the roads of Co. Mayo with the sun beaming down on them.
For the last few days, we witnessed a young Mancunian who simply like turning s tap could exert his authority on a fairly competitive bunch of promising juniors who in time hopefully will go on to make fine cyclists, whether it be as a professional or those who wished to support the sport in any form.
There was no wilting for the lead group of ten in the midday sun as they kept to the task on hand with the lead gaining by the miles.
And, still we waited for the engine to roar in to action and more or less annihilate the break, but what was happening on the road! Two races were being fought out. The break was composing itself in the knowledge that the bunch was plain happy to give then the leeway. Whist the bunch which included all the jerseys. They were playing out their battles.
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| The bunch chasing at two minutes |
The First Year junior section was developing into a regal battle between the Dave Rayner Team, Hot Tubes USA and North West who despite holding the yellow were also attempting a double hammy. Tactics were brilliant between the three teams and all the time this was playing poker where the bluffing is the secret. Knowing when to do it!
Now as we passed the famous Pontoon Bridge Hotel and with the gap growing, it was as if somebody switched on the light.
On the first passage over the Windygap, the break were starting to feel the pressure of leading from the front and the bunch was looking as though it had put through a wringer with bodies all over the place.
On the descent back down into the Castlebar, the leaders were over three minutes ahead of a chasing group of twelve which included Bonser who evidently said enough was enough! They were followed closely by a group of 18 who were still interested in making the junction
They did and the effort of the Hot Tube USA was the difference in success and failure. Through the finish line at the Gap, eight of the ten made it to the line without ever seeing the bunch for the duration of the stage
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| Stephen Halpin winning stage 5 on Windy Gap |
It was celebrations all round on the finishing line as Stephen Halpin of the Stenaline-Ireland team came through for the stage with Siphine Sowela of South Africa taking over the Mountains jersey in second place with Scotlands Andrew Whitehall in third place.
The race leader came across the line one minute and forty two seconds in arrears with the knowledge that he had survived the penultimate day of the JT.
In years past the race leader has never lost out and there is no earthly reason why it will happen on the road in this year M Donnelly Junior Tour.
History was also in the making when Siphine Sowela took over as the leader in one of the categorised sections (mountains). Siphine also made a little bit of history as he is the colour of the ace of spades and can now lay claim to achieving this prize in an international event as a black person.
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| Siphine Sowela of South Africa took over as the leader of the King of the Mountains competition |
Whilst Siphine was toasting his success, the big loser was Jake Griffin of Sinngeboun Wilterteam who must have regretted a puncture on Thursday at the Ceide Fields which simply sapped all his reserves and the marathon chase after three wheel changes to make the junction to the bunch.
M Donnelly Junior Tour, stage five –Castlebar/Windygap/Castlebar/Windygap, 66 miles.
Details:
1 Stephen Halpin (Stenaline-Ireland), 2hrs.44mins.08secs;
2 S. Sowela (South Africa), same time;
3 A. Whitehall (Scotland), @15;
4 D. Minne (South Africa), @41secs;
5 S. Coyle (Iconic.ie),51;
6 R. Benson (South Africa), 53;
Overall after five stages.
1 A. Bonser, (North West), 11.13.59;
2 L. Rowe (Dave Rayner Team), @1.17;
3 B. King (Hot Tubes USA), @1.20;
4 G. van der Geert, Team Tempo BMV Veldhoven @1.25;
5 S. Holt (West Midalnds), @1.43;
6 J. McEvoy (North West), @1.44.
Mountains-Sowela.
Points-Holt.
1st Year Junior-L. Rowe (Dave Rayner).
Team-North West.
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