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Last Updated: 6 Apr 2018 - 3:10:13 PM |
JUNIOR TOUR DAY 3 - MAXGEAR TEAM KEEP JERSEY AND WIN STAGE
By Tommy Campbell
13 Jul 2012,
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Magnificent! Is the only word to describe Jacob Ragan's defence of the leaders yellow jersey on the third stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland from Castlebar to Ballycastle a distance of 113 kilometers yesterday.
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| Hugh McCarthy (Maxgear Champion Systems) winning stage 3 into the village of Ballycastle on the north Mayo coastline. |
Faced with the prospect of losing the lead to a breakaway group of nine including two of his team mates. He certainly played Russian roulette as he wanted the team Maxgear Champion Systems to copper fasten their advantage by having three in the top 20. Thus leaving the opposition with a mountain to climb.
In the end he went for broke as the lead started to dwindle in the last twenty kilometers. Jacob along with the main group caught the leaders who had skipped away after 12 kms of racing. The bunch made the junction with five kms to go, but in the meantime his team colleague Hugh Carthy had flown the nest and duly won the stage.
I queried Jacob's tactics and he was very forthcoming. “I know I was part the chase, but the main item on my agenda is that the team Maxgear Champion Systems are in the reckoning. This is a team effort and I shall continue to make sure that we have the cards to play when the pressure comes on us over the next three days. We are only at the half way point. The focus is all abut the team and the management under Wayne Greenlagh.” said Jacob as he played down his defence of the jersey.
Interesting that Castlebar club's, Liam Corcoran finished third on the stage into Ballycastle. Not far behind him was Danny Bruton of Cycling Leinster in fifth place.
To think that they were part of the bunch who literally clawed back over two minutes in the final ten kilometers was an enhancing performance and must have pleased their respective camps.
Whilst in the overall placings, Irish hopes are still regarded as very high. Cormac Clarke of Stena Line Ireland could be the one! Clarke has produced outstanding results this season and despite just been off the pace of the overall leader by 51 seconds. He is sufficiently capable of keeping the fries within burning. Further down the standings and not by means within shouting distance of the race lead is Dylan Foley also on the Irish team. So, the dream is still there of enhancing Irish cycling with an overall win.
Unquestionably the dice may favour the visitors, but where there is a will! There is a way.
Todays' stage 4 sets off from Mulranny for a 98kms test which includes Achill Island and particularly that climb at Minaun (which would justice to a TdF).
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| The race presentation podium after stage 3 |
Junior Tour of Ireland - Stage 3 Results
Castlebar, Bangor-on-Erris, Ballycastle (113kms).
1 Hugh McCarthy (Maxgear Champion Systems), 2hrs.59mins.17secs;
2 Ryan Gibbons (Mr. Price SA), @12secs;
3 Liam Corcoran (Castlebar CC), same time;
4 Ansel Dickey (K.M.S Cycling Academy), st;
5 Danny Bruton (Leinster Cycling), st;
6 Marcus Smith (Team Specialised Racing), st.
OVERALL
1 Jacob Ragan (Maxgear Champion Systems), 6.05.42;
2 Colin Joyce (Hot Tubes), @4secs;
3 Marcus Smith (Team Specialised Racing), @7;
4 Hugh McCarthy (Maxgear Champion Systems), @26;
5 Brendan Rheim (K.M.S. Cycling Academy), @46;
6 Cormac Clarke (Stena Line Ireland), @55.
Team: Maxgear Champion Systems.
Points and Mountains: Hugh McCarthy.
Race leader and Best Young Rider: Jacob Ragan.
Photos courtesy of Stephen McMahon
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