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Archives: May 2002 IARNROD EIREANN SPONSORSHIP FOR RAS TEAM: (By Shane Stokes May 13) A year after their squad placed a rider in the top ten overall and took third in the county team category of the FBD Milk Rás, Iarnrod Eireann have decided to once again back a Dublin team in the round Ireland race. Will Byrne, Sean Farrell, Dave Gardiner and Andrew Donnellan have all ridden well in recent events, with Byrne and Donnellan both placing in the top ten in yesterday’s Noel Hammond Memorial Classic League race. The fifth slot on the team will be filled by Swords rider John Peppard, replacing Mark Kiernan who is suffering with a bad chest infection. ‘We are looking forward to the race’, said Byrne. ‘The final preparations went well in the Tour of Ulster and in yesterday’s classic, four of the five finished in the top 15. Spirits are extremely high and manager Liam Walker and Pauline McKay are looking forward to the challenge.’ The Iarnrod Eireann team have set the county team category prize as their main goal for the FBD Milk Rás. Irish Veterans Cyclists Association dms, Newbridge. Race 1: 1, Dave Woods (Usher IRC) 55 miles in 2 hours 25 mins 20 secs; 2, S. Weston (Dublin Wheelers); 3, J. Lally (Dublin Wheelers) both same time; 4, T. Malone (Garda Motorway) at 8 secs; 5, D. O’Gorman (IVCA); 6, B. Redmond (IVCA) both same time Race 2: 1, Pat Blount (IVCA) 2 hours 34 mins 49 secs; 2, L. McCarthy (IVCA); 3, D. McGrath (Bray Wheelers); 4, P. Schweppe (Orwell Wheelers); 5, A. Ebbs (Usher IRC); 6, P. Halligan (Obelisk Wheelers) all same time Race 3: 1, Harry Sherratt (Usher IRC) 45 miles in 2 hours 6 mins 40 secs; 2, L. Cully (Usher IRC); 3, W. Lawlor (IVCA); 4, D. Howe (Newbridge Cutlery); 5, C. Cassidy (St. Tiernans); 6, D. Muldoon (IVCA) all same time
HEALION LEADS USHER IRC CLEAN SWEEP IN NOEL HAMMOND MEMORIAL: (By Shane Stokes May 12) Dublin team Usher IRC got the best possible confidence booster before next week’s FBD Milk Rás when they dominated today’s Noel Hammond Memorial in Ballyboughil. At the end of the 87 mile Classic League event, Paul Healion, Colm Bracken and Dave Peelo proved they are hitting form at just the right time by taking a clean sweep of the placings. <See Pictures Here> The action got underway on the first of seven laps when a 12 man break raced ahead and opened up a lead of 40 seconds. The dozen were joined by 16 others on the second lap, from which the decisive ten man selection then went clear. Usher IRC had a clear numerical advantage with five of their team present: Colm Bracken, Paul Healion, Greg Swinand, David Byrne and David Peelo all made the group, as did Stephen 0'Sullivan (Naas Fig Roll) Philip Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand), Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrisseys), Stuart Gibson (Orwell Wheelers) and Hillcrest Hire’s Willie Byrne. The ten worked well together, opening up a minute’s lead over a seven man chasing group with included Eddie O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) and Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond), clearly recovering from his recent tendonitis. Gibson and Cassidy lost contact on the penultimate lap, the latter losing his chances of retaining the title he took last year, leaving five Usher riders amongst the eight still up front. Healion was determined to improve on his second place of 2001 and took advantage of this numerical superiority when he forged clear with five miles remaining in the race. O’Sullivan, Fenlon and Byrne all tried to close the gap but failed; their efforts then paved the way for successful attacks from Bracken and Peelo which completed an impressive Usher IRC one-two-three. ‘It was great to get this win today,’ said Healion afterwards. ‘I was second last year to Phil Cassidy but was determined to be first home this time and that helped a lot. I am starting to come into peak form but felt a bit sluggish today – however, I wanted this win so much that I just dug in and went for it. I got clear with about five miles to go and was dangling out there in front of the chasers, but held on to get the win.’ ‘This is a good confidence booster before the FBD Milk Rás. My goal is to win a stage during the week – I don’t have any particular one in mind, will just do my best each day to try to get up the road.’ Third placed Dave Peelo was also happy. ‘It worked out very well for the team today. Paul went clear and got a bit of a gap. For a while it looked like they might take him back, but he held on. With five riders in the final eight, the pressure was on us to get the top placings but with Paul just in front, we had to time our effort just right so as not to endanger his lead. It worked out perfectly, we went clear at the end and didn’t get too close to him.’ Less happy was O’Sullivan. The Naas Fig Roll rider proved he is coming back into form after an-illness disrupted 2001 but was disqualified from eighth place due to the fact that he was wearing the jersey of another club, rather than his current team strip. Noel Hammond Memorial, Ballyboughil. 1, Paul Healion (Usher IRC) 87 miles in 3 hours 26 mins; 2, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 2 secs; 3, D. Peelo (Usher IRC) at 8 secs; 4, J. Fenlon (Dan Morrissey) at 10 secs; 5, W. Byrne (Hillcrest) at 15 secs; 6, G. Swinand (Usher IRC); 7, D. Byrne (Usher IRC) both same time; 8, A. Donnellon (Dublin Wheelers) at 1 min 12 secs; 9, E. O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 1 min 45 secs; 10, C. Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 11, J. Peppard (McNally Swords); 12, T. Hughes (Stamullen M. Donnelly) all same time Kelly/Roche Classic: 1, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers) 2, M. Nulty (Stamullen M. Donnelly); 3, A. McMahon (McNally Swords); 4, D. Dukes (Usher IRC); 5, P. Halpin (McNally Swords); 6, S. Kennedy (Avonmore Navan) First woman: Gillian Martin (Bray Wheelers); First unplaced junior: Shane Turner (Bann Valley); first unplaced veteran: Tosh Lavery (Garda DPC First Legal) Silver Pail GP, Fermoy: (May 12) Senior 1 race: 1, Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); 2, K. McMahon (Earl of Desmond) at 2 secs; 3, S. Kelly (Galway Bay CC) same time; 4, T. Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 3 secs; 5, R. Clarke (Cycleways Lee Strand) same time; 6, S. Lacey (Earl of Desmond) at 1 min 30 secs Other placings: Senior 3: Conor Bartley (Fermoy CC); junior: Cian Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); veteran: Sean McIllroy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); under 16: M. Lucey (Killarney CC); under 14: J. O’Sullivan (Killorglin CC); under 12: A. O’Connor (Killorglin CC) SCANLON OUT OF FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes May 12) One week before the start of the FBD Milk Rás, one of the Irish team’s strongest riders has been forced to pull out of the race due to tendonitis. Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon had suffered with the complaint since the recent Circuit Des Mines pro-am event and despite a period of rest, his ankle flared up on a training ride on Friday. ‘Mark’s ankle has been at him ever since the Circuit des Mines,’ said Team Ireland- Stena Line manager Declan Byrne. ‘His club told him to take ten days off the bike and he thought it had healed up okay. He went out on Thursday without problems, but when he tried a longer, harder spin on Friday it tightened right up again.’ ‘It is disappointing for Mark as he could have done well in the Rás. He is going to have to take more time off the bike. I think his plan is to come back from France to see his physio Gerard Hartman and get treatment.’ Scanlon’s place on the team has been taken up by Italian-based Dermot Nally. Nally has been in flying form this season, taking three wins in Italian events, and is hoping to land a professional contract later this year. Meanwhile, the squad leader for the Team Ireland – Stena Line squad has received a timely boost to his confidence before the race. Navigators professional Ciarán Power placing fifth on the third stage of the prestigious pro event, the 4 Days of Dunkirk, on Friday. POWER FIFTH ON STAGE OF FOUR DAYS OF DUNKIRK: (By Shane Stokes May 11) Twelve months after breaking his collarbone in the finishing sprint of a stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event in France, Irish rider Ciarán Power raced home an excellent fifth on stage three of the 2.1 world-ranked race. The Navigators professional finished close to winning rider Jean Patrick Nazon - and ahead of sprint specialists Jimmy Casper and Jeremy Hunt - in the bunch finish which decided the 99 kilometer stage to Douvrin. The result is his best in two years, and bodes well for his chances in next week’s FBD Milk Rás. Power will lead the five man Team Ireland-Stena Line national selection in the 8 day race..
Elsewhere in France, Ciarán Power finished in the main bunch at the end of the opening stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event. <Read More by Shane Stokes Here> IRISH TEAM OUT OF LINCOLN GP: (By Shane Stokes May 10) The Irish team due to take part in the Lincoln GP this weekend has been forced to pull out of the race after the squad was hit by illness and injury. Three of the four riders due to take part in the world-ranked British event have been temporarily sidelined due to the after-effects of the recent Circuit des Mines race in France. National road manager Declan Byrne explains that Paul Griffin has a touch of tendonitis, while David O’Loughlin and Brian Kenneally are still suffering from the flu and crash-induced injuries which led to their respective retirements from the French event. ‘It is a big pity but three of the guys have been off the bike since the Circuit des Mines. It is a pity that there will not be an Irish team in the race on Sunday, but there was little point in just throwing together a squad for a race as tough as that.’ ‘I think the three guys should be okay for the FBD Milk Rás next week. Paul is in touch with me every day about the tendonitis and hopefully it will be gone soon. Brian is still in a bit of a heap after his crash on the first stage of the Circuit des Mines but he is recovering, while David still has the after-effects of the flu.’ The Team Ireland-Stena Line national squad for the FBD Milk Rás – which starts Sunday week - is Griffin, Navigators professional Ciarán Power, Mark Scanlon, Tommy Evans and Timmy Barry. EVANS WINS STAGE OF ESSOR BRETON: (By Shane Stokes May 9) VC La Pomme rider Tommy Evans showed he is coming into good form for the FBD Milk Rás when he won the second stage of the Essor Breton in France. Evans outsprinted Jesus Vilchez of the Bretagne team and U Plouvien’s Lilian Jegou at the end of day two of the 2.12.1 race from Landivisiau-Inzinzac. Serge Oger (VC Dinan) led home the main bunch 17 seconds later. Elsewhere in France, Ciarán Power finished in the main bunch at the end of the opening stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk event. NALLY TAKES GREEN JERSEY: (By Shane Stokes May 7) Following on from his fine win on the second stage, promising young Irishman Dermot Nally secured victory in the green jersey classification of the Giro d'Abruzzo in Italy when he placed fourth on the final stage. The 21 year old Maltinti Lampadari rider was part of a seven man breakaway group which raced clear 35 kilometres from the end of stage three and swiftly built a lead of one and a half minutes. Fending off a late charge from the main bunch, the group reached the finish with 21 seconds to spare. Here Nally placed fourth in the sprint behind Italians Alessio Ciro and Luigi Bonfrate, plus the Ukrainian Maksym Rudenko, and thus took the points classification in the prestigious race. NALLY TAKES ITALIAN VICTORY: (By Shane Stokes May 6) Italian-based Irishman Dermot Nally took his third win of the season when he won the second stage of the prestigious under 23 contest, the Giro d’Abruzzo. The Maltinti Lampadari team rider instigated the decisive three man breakaway 110 kilometres into the race and at the finish in San Vito Chietino he out-sprinted Alexander Kuchinski (Belarus) and Italian Giuseppe Romano to land a fine win. Clifden GP: 1, R. Whelan (Navan); 2, S. Coughlan (Dunamond Dynamos); 3, D. Nugent (Western Lakes); 4, M. Devins (Eire Og CC); 5, M. McNena (Usher); 6, N. Forde (Galway Bay CC) Senior 2: C. Keane (Galway Bay CC); Senior 3: R. Campbell (Galway Bay CC); Junior: W. Britton (Eire Og); Veteran: T. Toole (Mayo Wheelers) Kilconly CP Festival: 1, M. O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick); 2, D. Nugent (Western Lakes); 3, R. Whelan (Navan) Senior 2: N. George (Castlebar CC); Senior 3, D. Donoghue (Western Lakes CC); Junior: W. Britton (Eire Og); Veteran: D. Woods (Western Lakes); Under 16: M. Nestor (Shannonside CC); Under 14: J. Nugent (Western Lakes); Under 12: E. Scanlon (Eire Og) IVCA CP, Black Bull: 1, Steve Flynn (Obelisk) 40 miles in 1 hour 55 mins 5 secs; 2, F. Harte (McNally Swords); 3, B. Dack (IVCA); 4, P. McInerney (Dublin Wheelers); 5, L. Williams (IVCA); 6, B. Byrne (IVCA)
Riders of the calibre of Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) missed the move but despite a big effort to close the gap, he and the rest of the field were forced to play a supporting role today. With the break working well together the bunch quickly lost time, slipping to three minutes down by the halfway point and then fading further afterwards. Tim Ahern (UCD) forged ahead with two laps to go but was hauled back; other attacks followed but failed to stay clear, paving the way for a sprint of 13 riders at the end of the race. Farrell beat Thomas and Moran to take the victory, with Tim Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand) and Dylan Rafter (St. Tiernans) next home. In the other races, Dublin Wheelers rider Pat Byrne won the combined Senior 3/Junior/Veteran event while Marie Reilly (Bohermeen) took the women’s trophy. Conor Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers), Michael Daly (Swords CC) and Mark Nestor (Shannonside) won the under 12, under 14 and under 16 events. Waller Cup, Bohermeen: Senior 1&2 race: 1, Colm Farrell (Navan Avonmore); 2, G. Thomas (Finglas Ravens); 3, A. Moran (Finglas Ravens); 4, T. Cassidy (Cycleways Lee Strand); 5, D. Rafter (St.Tiernans); 6, T. Ahern (UCD); 7, D. Ryan (Staggs Lucan); 8, S. Corrigan (Dublin Wheelers); 9, D. Tansey (Orwell Wheelers); 10, S. Gibson (Orwell Wheelers) all same time First senior 2: Moran Senior 3/Junior/Veterans: 1, Pat Byrne (Dublin Wheelers); 2, J. Kelly (McNally Swords); 3, P. Brady (Emyvale); 4, S. Turner (BVRC); 5, K. Daly (McNally Swords); 6, T. Ferris (Dublin Wheelers); 7, S. Kennedy (Navan Avonmore); 8, R.Cullen (Autoview); 9, C. Crowley (Balbriggan); 10, K. Gallagher (DPC First Legal) Women: 1, Marie Reilly (Bohermeen); 2, L. Moriarty (Dublin Skip); 3, O. Coady (Usher IRC); 4, S. Lavery (DPC First Legal) Underage: u/12: 1, Conor Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers); 2, D. Murphy (Newry Wheelers); 3, A. Benner (Drogheda Wheelers). U/14: 1, Michael Daly (Swords CC); 2, C. Murphy (Newry); 3, M. McAree (Emyvale CC); 4, J. Kane (Emyvale); 5, E. Lynskey (Navan); 6, D. Browne (Navan). U/16: 1, Mark Nestor (Shannonside); 2, P. McMahon (Bray Wheelers); 3, A. Coyle (Shannonside); 4, D. Dunlop (Lakeland); 5, U. Monks (Bray); 6, M. McGirr (Lakeland); 7, P. Nolan (Shannonside); 8, J. Whelan (Swords); 9, R. Price (Bray); 10, M. Scott-Lennon (Bray)
Colm Bracken (Usher IRC) led home the main field 1 minute and 5 seconds later. The race continues tomorrow with two stages; a hilly 71 mile road stage and a 3.6 mile evening time trial. Results: 1, Brendan Doherty (Total Cycling.com) 39 miles in 3 hours 2 mins 14 secs; 2, R. Holden (Isle of Man) at 1 sec; 3, D. Easton (Total Cycling.com) same time; 4, D. Gardiner (Apollo CC) at 3 secs; 5, T. Hogan (Earl of Desmond); 6, A. Roche (Isle of Man) both same time; 7, P. Kane (Dave Kane Norther) at 1 min 2 secs; 8, C. Bracken (Usher IRC) at 1 min 5 secs; 9, E. O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) ; 10, R. Blaney (NICF) both same time. <Full Results Here>
Meanwhile in the Circuit des Mines, Paul Griffin and Martin O’Loughlin were the sole finishers of an Irish team decimated by illness and injury. Griffin finished 23rd and 64th on yesterday’s two stages to end the race in 59th place, while O’Loughlin finished 67th and 68th for an eventual final position of 68th. Mapei-Quickstep rider Gian Paolo Cheula was the final winner of the event. 'It was a hard race but good preparation for the FBD Millk Ras', said Griffin afterwards. 'I was a bit disappointed with the way I was going - I think I was stronger three weeks ago. I feel I went into the race a bit tired, and at this level it is very important to be on top form'. After his strong ride earlier this year in the Tour of Saudi Arabia, Griffin was hoping to further impress the Collstrop pro team at the Circuit des Mines. Although he didn't perform as he wished, the Earl of Desmond rider is not panicking. 'There is a lot of time left in the year - I plan on racing abroad with Team Ireland for much of June and July and hopefully I can do something then. I am still in contact with them so we will see how things go'. Ruban Granitier, stage 6. 1, Barrie Clarke (Great Britain)
3 hours 32 mins 44 secs; 2, C. Meneghetti (VC Roubaix); 3, B. Legrix
(Normandie) both same time; Other: 39, A. Duff (Panorimmo 23), at 36
secs Circuit
des Mines. Stage 7: 1, Jimmy Casper (La Francaise Des Jeux) 2
hours 1 min 25 secs; 2, L. Bak (EDS Fakta) at 1 sec; 3, A. Davis (Mapei-Quickstep)
same time. Irish: 23, P. Griffin, same time; 67,
M. O’Loughlin, at 1 min 7 secs Major Sponsorship Deal Imminent: (By Shane Stokes May 3) The national governing body, Cycling Ireland, is to receive the substantial boost of a major sponsorship deal, to be announced shortly. Read the full story in the Irish Times >> |
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WINS STAGE OF ESSOR BRETON: (By
FARRELL TAKES WALLER CUP:
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TAKES OPENING STAGE OF TOUR OF ULSTER: (By
