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Last Updated: Apr 30th, 2008 - 12:33:00 |
Motivated after his victory in the East Midlands International CiCLE Classic on Sunday, Ciarán Power is aiming to ride well in his next events and thus push for selection for the Olympic Games road race.
The Pezula Racing professional outsprinted Dutchman Jan Bos (Ruiter Dak Kappellen) at the finish in Melton Mowbray, with former Tour of Spain points winner Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello Racing Team), Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) and Michael Berling (Glud & Marstrand Horsens ) crossing the line 30 seconds later.
Downing was later disqualified due to towing by his team car. This declassification moved his brother Russell up to fifth, with Irish road race champion David O’Loughlin (Pezula Racing) taking sixth, one minute and five seconds after team-mate Power sprinted home.
“I am delighted with the win,” Power told www.irishcycling.com yesterday. “From here we go on to do two races in Holland then the Rás. After that, it’s Philly week [the Commerce Bank series in the US) plus the Tour de Beauce.
“That brings us up to the 15th of June and the selection date for the Olympics. So until then I will keep the pressure on and keep doing the best I can in all the races; the aim is gain selection and also to show that I should have got a grant.”
Despite finishing 13th in the last Olympic Games and being one of Ireland’s top cyclists, Power was passed over for carding this season. He has drawn considerable motivation from that, dominating the Ras Mumhan at Easter and riding strongly in international events.
His East Midlands win is the latest in that push. The 1.2-ranked event is billed as Britain’s answer to Paris-Roubaix, although the dirt track sections it covers are more reminiscent of Monte Paschi Eroica. Soon after the start, the Pezula riders stamped their authority on the race, with Power, O’Loughlin, Australian Cameron Jennings and Briton Kieran Page all making it in to the first significant break. This was sparked off just five kilometres into the event when Jennings and Dutchman Jan Bos (Ruiter De Kappellen) slipped away; the three other Pezula riders plus five breakaway companions then got across.
The move gradually reduced in size until just Power, O'Loughlin and Bos were left in front with 35 kilometres remaining. The latter attacked with two kilometres to go, being chased and then beaten by Power. O’Loughlin had eased back by this point and was passed by Elliott, Berling and the two Downing brothers. However he hung on to take sixth, ending the day satisfied with the strong team performance shown by he, Power and the other riders in blue and pink.
“I am really enjoying the season with Pezula and look forward to every race we do,” Power continued. “The team rode great. We had four riders in the break of about 12 so we kept the pressure on all day. With about fifty kilometres to go David attacked and Kieran Page, the Dutch guy and myself went across. From there on it was the three Pezula riders against the rest of the field to the line.
“They brought the gap down to one minute a couple of times but we pushed it back out to two minutes. Then with seven kilometres to go we lost Page and with three kilometres left David pulled off after doing a few really long turns. The Dutch guy attacked with two kilometres remaining; I pulled him back and set myself up for the sprint. It was a great team effort.”
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East Midlands International CiCLE Classic (1.2), Great Britain , April 27:
1, Ciaran Power (Pezula Racing) 4 hours 3 mins 8 secs
2, Jan Bos (Ruiter Dak Kappellen)
3, Malcolm Elliott (Pinarello Racing Team) at 30 secs
4, Michael Berling (Glud & Marstrand Horsens ) same time
5, Russell Downing (Pinarello Racing Team) at 59 secs
6, David O'Loughlin (Pezula Racing) at 1 min 5 secs
Other:
24, Cameron Jennings (Pezula Racing) at 3 mins 8 secs
46, Eugene Moriarty (International All Stars Mixed) at 7 mins 48 secs
Hors delai: Thomas Martin (Mixed Team 2)
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