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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
LIVE UPDATES FROM VETERAN'S ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS, CLONMEL
By Shane Stokes
23 Jun 2012,
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11.54: Hi and welcome to the Veteran’s road road race championships from Clonmel. We’ll give some updates from this and the women’s race, but we should point out now that the network coverage is somewhat patchy, so be patient!
We are a bit delayed in getting to this due to various issues. The riders have covered a little more than three out of the nine laps; each lap is 12.5 kilometres, so they’ve done approximately 40 kilometres now. The total race distance is 112.5 kilometres.
11.57: A total of 88 riders started the race. There was a very aggressive opening to things with many riders going clear, then being brought back. The most dangerous move was a nineteen man break which slipped clear, but everything is back together now.
The course is relatively flat, although there is a few drags on it. Tomorrow’s elite road race course takes in many of the same roads but also includes an extra few kilometres plus a tougher climb. Race organiser Declan Byrne believes this will have a big effect as the race goes on.
12.00: It’s been dry until now but it’s starting to rain.
Liam Curran (Curran Racing), Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain) and Robert Forest (Blarney CC) have clipped away and have 15 seconds.
12.07: Those three riders have now been caught.
12.10: Defending champion Greg Swinand (Usher IRC) and last year’s silver medallist Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey) have attacked…will be interesting to see if they can hold the gap.
12.11: They have pulled out an advantage of ten seconds.
12.18: They have 35 seconds with 50 kilometres done; given that they have over 60 kilometres left, it seems quite early. They’ll hope that other riders come across.
Just got a message from @cyclingruss on Twitter: “1992 Olympic runner Noel Berkeley racing in his first cycling national vet champs for Midleton CTC today.” Interesting!
12.19: The rain continues to fall, although it’s not too heavy.
The scenery is great here…rolling hills covered by forests. We are quite close to Carrick on Suir, the hometown of Sean Kelly. He’s not racing today…!
Three riders are now chasing: 2009 champion Rory Wyley, Tony Brady (Franco Racing) and Tom Shanahan (Limerick).
12.23: They have been joined by four more: Fergus Whelan (Cycling Pursuits), Shem Cullen (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers), Martin O’Loughlin (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers) and Martin Cullinane (Comeragh CC)
12.26: Those chasers are 45 seconds back now.
12.30: They have been joined by former winner Dave Peelo (Murphy Surveyors), John Horgan (St Finbarr’s), John Heverin (Clann Eireann) and Brendan McLoughlin (Blarney CC).
There’s now been a reshuffle, with five of those chasers now pushing ahead. They are Brady, O’Loughlin, Cullinane, Heverin and McLoughlin.
They are 56 seconds back, with the main field one minute ten seconds back.
12.41: Craig Sweetman (Stamullen M. Donnelly) has bridged to those chasers. They will collaborate to catch Swinand and Fenlon, who remain out front.
12.48: Those six chasers are 50 seconds back, with the peloton a further 30 seconds behind.
12.53: The rain continues to fall, Swinand and Fenlon continue to lead. They are finishing lap six of nine, so there’s just 37.5 kilometres remaining…
12.55: Those six chasers are still 50 seconds back, while the peloton is at one minute 20 seconds. So the leaders are doing a very good performance.
13.07: The main field now looks certain to catch those six chasers; the gap is just ten seconds and closing. So, will Swinand and Fenlon stay clear or did they play their hand too early?
13.09: The rain has stopped for now. Three kilometres until the end of this lap for the leaders…
The chasers have now been caught; just two riders out front, 47 second ahead.
13.11: Liam Curran (Curran Racing) and John Heverin (Clann Eireann) have jumped clear and are trying to make inroads into the leaders’ advantage. The latter have just gone through the 1km to go point; when they get to the line, they will have just two laps left.
13.13: Those two chasers have been caught; 44 seconds from the leaders to the peloton.
13.19: It's looking uncertain for the leaders; they are just 30 seconds ahead now, and are in sight of the peloton. Unless other riders bridge across and carry them away once more, it’s going to be very difficult. It seemed like they attacked too soon…another lap or two in the bunch would have made things more straightforward for them.
13.30: As the riders head towards the bell for the final lap, Swinand and Fenlon are 40 seconds clear. They are keeping the pressure on and will try to hang on out there. Their legs must be screaming at this point…
13.29: Jonathan Gibson (unattached) attacked just before the line and is trying to get across.
13.31: Now on the last lap, he’s 31 seconds back. Mark Kiernan (Murphy Surveyors) and Frank Dunne (Slaney CC) are 43 seconds back. The peloton is 56 seconds in arrears.
13.38: Gibson is inching closer, being just 22 seconds back. Kiernan and Dunne are 35 seconds behind and the peloton a further ten seconds back. It’s all closing up…but have they left it too late?
13.41: Swinand attacked Fenlon, but he was able to cover it.
Swinand goes again and gets a small advantage. Gibson has slipped to 34 seconds back.
13.43: Fenlon gets back to Swinand. They are riding really well, and it now looks more likely they will do it and stay clear..
13.47: We are at the finish waiting for the riders…
13.48: With three kilometres to go, the gap is down to 23 seconds…cripes, this will be close…
13.50: The gap is down to ten seconds...it's going to be a big sprint...
13.51: Joe Fenlon just holds on! Martin O'Loughlin drew alongside him, with the rest of the bunch just behind, but he couldn't quite get by...very, very close.
13.52: Tried to get a video of the finish but the flag blocked the camera. Frustrating, but there'll be photos later, and we'll get video interviews.
Just waiting for confirmation of third, then we'll have to leave it there for the vets race - women's race about to start any moment.
Swinand held on for third....so O'Loughlin jumped across to the two leaders and nabbed second. The bunch was right behind.
Ok, we'll leave it there for now - we'll start the women's coverage in 30 minutes or so; need to get interviews now. The races are being held very close together, which makes it tough.
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