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Last Updated: Sep 9th, 2010 - 19:42:42 |
Adare 2-Day, Stage 3
Stephen Halpin, the second-year junior from Swords CC, was the overall winner of the 2006 Adare 2-Day. Following the morning time-trial, Halpin began the final stage with a three-second deficit behind Alan Carey (Ena Loakman), but he drove an early break which turned out to be the decisive move of the day and earned him the overall prize.
Halpin credited his winning strategy with what he had learned during the year as part of the Irish Junior panel: “Dan Curtin (Irish Junior Manager) has been looking after me for a while now in Irish teams and he is good at encouraging you to go from the gun. He advised me to do that this morning and that’s what I did – it worked a few other times as well during the year! It was a very hard stage.”
Niall Brosnan (Earl of Desmond) and Philip Meagher (Laois) were involved with Halpin in driving that early break that maintained a 30-second gap from the main field along the wide, exposed road between Adare and Newcastlewest. A group of eight chasers formed up and when these two groups merged after Newcastlewest (16 miles), the pattern of the race changed little for the rest of the day.
This leading group was made up of Michael Redden (Galway Bay CC), Fergus Keogh (Cycleways/MyHome.ie), Alan Loftus (Limerick CC), Philip Meagher (Laois), Conor McCarthy, (Earl of Desmond), Barry Sutton (Unattached), Niall Brosnan (Earl of Desmond), Michael Storan (Clare CC), Joe Dunworth (Limerick CC), Richie Malone (Ena Loakman), Seamus Kelly (Ena Loakman) and Stephen Halpin (Swords CC). Dylan Rafter (St. Tiernan’s) punctured out of the break.
The break worked well together and held off a concerted chase that had the bunch lined out for mile after mile. Amongst those doing most of the pulling at the front of the bunch were Eldan Looney (St. Finbarr’s), Barry Flanagan (Kanturk CU), Jeff Hanrahan (Clonmel), John Lyons (South Dublin), Paddy Ennis (Orwell Dundrum), Stephen Surdival (Orwell Dundrum) and Brian Hammond (Usher IRC).
Three riders broke out of the bunch and maintained a 45-second advantage until the line. These were Don Feighery (Comeragh CC), Laurent Dumolin (Kanturk CU) and Thomas O’Flaherty (Earl of Desmond).
The sprint was won by Alan Loftus (Limerick CC).
Some pictures of the event taken by Tom Daly
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| The Limerick CC winning team with Race Director, Brian Jordan |
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| From left: Second - Michael Reddin (Galway Bay CC); First - Stephen Halpin (Swords CC); Alan Loftus (Limerick CC); Brian Jordan - Race Director |
Adare 2-Day Stage 3. 53 miles. Average speed 27 mph.
1 Alan Loftus (Limerick CC)
2 Barry Sutton (Unattached),
3 Niall Brosnan (Earl of Desmond),
4 Michael Storan (Clare CC),
5 Philip Meagher (Laois),
6 Conor McCarthy (Earl of Desmond),
7 Michael Redden (Galway Bay CC),
8 Fergus Keogh (Cycleways/MyHome.ie)
Final GC
1 Stephen Halpin (Swords CC)
2 Michael Redden (Galway Bay CC) @ 5 sec
3 Alan Loftus (Limerick CC) same time
4 Fergus Keogh (Cycleways/MyHome.ie) @ 7 sec
5 Seamus Kelly (Ena Loakman) same time
6 Philip Meagher (Laois) @ 11 sec
7 Michael Storan (Clare CC) @ 18 sec
8 Joe Dunworth (Limerick CC) @ 20 sec
9 Conor McCarthy (Earl of Desmond) @ 23 sec
10 Barry Sutton (Unattached) @ 26 sec
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Adare 2-Day, Stage 2. Time Trial (Distance: 2 miles 3.2 Km)
1. Alan Carey (Ena Loakman) 3.28.82
2. Stephen Halpin (Swords CC) 3.31.56
3. Frank O’Leary (Bray Wheelers) 3.33.05
4. Chris Troy (TF Royal Castlebar) 3.33.36
5. Eamon Perigrine (St. Tiernans CC) 3.34.44
6. John Duggan (Cycling Pursuits) 3.33.26
7. Michael Redden (Galway Bay CC) 3.36.53
8. Russell Treacy (St. Finbars CC) 3.37.03
GC after Stage 2.
1 Alan Carey (Ena Loakman)
2 Stephen Halpin (Swords CC) @ 3 sec
3 Frank O’Leary (Bray Wheelers) @ 5 sec
4 Chris Troy (TF Royal Castlebar) @ 5 sec
5 Eamon Perigrine (St. Tiernans CC) @ 6 sec
6 John Duggan (Cycling Pursuits) @ 7 sec
7 Michael Redden (Galway Bay CC) @ 8 sec
8 Russell Treacy (St. Finbars CC) @ 9 sec
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Adare 2-Day, Stage 1.
Forty-three miles of aggressive racing failed to split the 86 riders in the first stage of the Adare 2-Day, and Maurice O’Brien from Kanturk CU won the bunch sprint.
It was a sweet victory for O’Brien as it marks his return to form following his recovery from a serious accident in training last March.
Racing was hectic throughout the stage, with an average speed of 26.2 mph. The attacks were launched and countered without respite and an early break had developed after three miles, comprising of Michael Storan (Clare CC), Eddie Maher (Carrick), Fergus Keogh (Cyclewasy/MyHome), Maurice O’Brien (Kanturk CU), Marcus Tracy (Murphy Gunn), Thomas O’Flaherty (Earl of Desmond).
Another promising four-man break had formed up after seven miles – Don Feighery (Comeragh), Pat Kenneally (Dan Morrissey), Aidan Gallagher (Limerick CC) and Eamon Perigrine (St. Tiernan’s). However, like all promising moves during the stage, it never got more than 20 seconds from the bunch and was reeled in before Newcastlewest.
Eamon Perigrine (St. Tiernans), Seamus Kelly (Ena Loakman), Stephen Halpin (Swords), Paddy Ennis (Orwell, Dundrum) had go at 14 miles
Another promising break was misdirected by a steward on leaving Newcastlewest and Nial Brosnan (Earl of Desmond) was one of the unfortunate riders that was affected.
Sean Colgan (Cycling Pursuit) made solo effort at 15, and Aidan Gallager (Limerick CC) launched a counter-attack at 23 miles.
Lauren Dumolin (Kanturk CU), Eddy Kelly (St. Finbarrs) and Mark Kane (Galway) were reeled in at 29 miles after a sustained effort.
Maurice Heartery (Dan Morrissey) and Stephen Halpin (Swords) made a determined effort at 44 miles
Entering the crucial stage on leaving Croom after 40 miles, Marcus Tracy (Murphy Gunn) and Aidan Gallagher (Limerick CC) made what looked like a dangerous move, but these were also reeled in.
Perhaps the most frustrated rider after the stage is Alan Carey (Ena Loakman) who broke away from the bunch with just two miles to go, held a ten-second lead until within sight of the line, only to be swallowed up in the final gallop.
Racing continues on Sunday morning with a morning time-trial and an early-afternoon 53-mile race.
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| Maurice O'Brien (Kanturk CU) winning stage 1 |
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| Maurice O'Brien (Kanturk CU) |
Adare 2-Day. (43 miles in 1.34.04. Average speed 26.2 mph)
1 Maurice O’Brien – S2 (Kanturk CUCC). 1.34.04
2 Treacy Russell - S2 (St. Finbarr’s) – same time
3 Gergus Keogh – Jun (Cyclewasy/MyHome.ie) – same time
4 Gavin Browne – Jun (Mayo Wheelers) – same time
5 Barry Sutton – S2 (Unattached) – same time
6 Michael Redden – S3 (Galway Bay) – same time
7 Aongus O’Heocha – S3 (Galway Bay) – same time
8 Pat Ahern – Jun (St. Finbarrs) – same time
9 Gerard Ivery – Vet (Bray Wheelers) – same time
10 Frank O'Leary – S2 (Bray Wheelers) – same time
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