Cycling Round Up

Feature: By Shane Stokes

LOVATT WINS SHAY ELLIOTT MEMORIAL

For years the Shay Elliott Memorial has been regarded as one of the most important one-day events in Ireland, but today it moved up another notch with the first running of the contest as a fully-fledged international race.

The event’s graduation to the UCI calendar this year meant that valuable world-ranking points were on offer, and the increased attractiveness of the tough competition was reflected in the domination of the foreign Compensation Group team who travelled over from England for the event. It proved a worthwhile journey for them; race winner Mark Lovatt and team-mates Kevin Dawson and John Tanner return home tonight with a large chunk of points, prizemoney, and prestige to show for their trip.

Dawson was in the thick of the action from the start of the 148 kilometre contest, racing clear in a 11 man breakaway as the race headed south from Bray. Also present in the speeding group were former FBD Milk Ras winner Andy Roche (Isle of Man), Richie Cahill (Banteer), Dave Gardiner (Apollo), Ray Clarke (Cycleways Lee Strand), JP Hilliard (Dublin Skip), Stephen Gallagher (Team Ireland), Simon Kelly (Galway Bay CC) and the Cidona Carrick trio Eddie O’Donoghue, Tim Barry and Edward Keogh.

Working well together, the group opened a decisive lead on the bunch behind. By the top of the draining Old Wicklow Gap this advantage had risen to one and a half minutes and with the main field fragmenting behind and no sign of an organised chase, it was clear that this was the winning move.

Just one rider managed to cross the gulf; Lovatt attacked over the top of the climb and rode powerfully to bridge to the leaders. Joining Dawson at the head of the escape, the two rode together with several of the other riders to further fortify their advantage before hitting the base of the steep climb up to the Elliott memorial at Drumgoff.

Dawson was the first to stretch his legs here, driving hard on the pedals and gradually drawing clear of the group. Lovatt allowed a gap of 100 metres to open before jumping clear and, grinding a large gear, closed up to his team-mate and then led up to the top of the climb.

From there to the finish it was a two-man time trial; behind, Cahill went clear on the climb, was recaptured but forged clear again on the run-in to Roundwood. However his effort was in vain – Lovatt and Dawson sped impressively on towards Ireland’s highest village, where the former comfortably outsprinted the latter to take a fine victory.

Cahill held on to take third, while John Tanner first bridged across to the chasing group and then rode clear to land fourth place, 24 seconds ahead of O’Donoghue, Roche, Moriarty and Clarke.

‘It was a good race’, said Lovatt afterwards. ‘It was quite windy out there. When the group got away at the start the racing was a bit negative behind, but I was able to get away after the first big climb and then close up on the descent. We worked well in the break, myself and Kevin rode hard and other riders like Richie Cahill and Timmy Barry were quite strong, then on the climb we went ahead and got a good gap.’

‘We rode well from there to the finish, it is always easier when it is a team-mate that you are away with. We left it to the sprint and I got that handy enough’.

Lovatt is happy with his current form, and has hopes of riding well in the FBD Milk Rás in three weeks time. ‘I think I am going better than this time last year – there had been a lot of disruptions back then because of foot and mouth, but I have got a lot more racing in this season. Hopefully the team will do well in the Rás – it would be good if it worked out like it did 2 years ago in the race, when we were strong and did a lot of attacking’.

Richie Cahill was happy with his third place on the day. ‘I am delighted with how things went’, he said. ‘I went clear on the (Drumgoff) climb near the end but got caught after the descent. I went away again closer to the finish and was happy to be able to stay away.’

‘Mark and Kevin were very good today. I think we are getting a bit closer to them (compared to the Rás Mumhan at Easter) but they are still very strong. When Mark attacked on the last climb it was something else, very impressive – maybe we could have gone with his acceleration at the start, but you’d be in big danger of blowing up. He was very strong.’

Shay Elliot memorial race, Roundwood.

1, Mark Lovatt (Compensation Group) 148 kilometres in 3 hours 39 mins 8 secs; 2, K. Dawson (Compensation Group) at 2 secs; 3, R. Cahill (Banteer) at 2 mins 36 secs; 4, J. Tanner (Compensation Group) at 3 mins 21 secs; 5, E. O’Donoghue (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 3 mins 45 secs; 6, A. Roche (Isle of Man Commonwealth Squad); 7, P. Moriarty (Team Ireland); 8, R. Clarke (Cycleways Lee Strand) all same time; 9, T. Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 3 mins 48 secs; 10, D. Easton (NI Commonwealth squad) at 6 mins 41 secs