No photo finish needed: Thomas Lavery wins the main event (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
Thomas Lavery (Comeragh CC) got his season off to a flying start at the Traders Cup in Dundalk, Co Louth, today (Sunday), taking a clear sprint win from a three-man escape as the rest of the field bore down on them in the closing stages.
Lavery managed to get away with two others going into the final lap, with the trio riding hard to just about stay away and contest the honours between themselves, where the 31-year-old Callan-based garda was a clear winner.
The main race was a handicapped event, featuring three groups; A3, A2 and A1. There were gaps of four minutes between the groups, with Lavery starting with the A2s.
The early part of the race belonged to national junior road race and TT champion Ryan Mullen (Planet X). He attacked the A3 group almost from the gun and stayed away for half of the race, building a lead of over four minutes at one point.
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However, as the teenager headed into the final two of five laps of the 17km circuit, the time out front alone took its toll and he faded badly.
Behind him the race was beginning to take shape, with the A2s having caught the A3s. However, the A1s were not so successful and never made the juncture.
Lavery told stickybottle he joined in some of the attacking with two laps to go, though none of those moves was let go too far by the chasing group.
However, just as the riders were coming to the finish to start the last lap, Lavery’s aggression paid off as he and David Wherity (Stamullen) pulled clear and built a small but decisive lead.
They ploughed on towards the back part of the circuit sharing the workload, with Oriel Corbo (Henry J Lyons) attacking the group behind and riding impressively across to the leading duo.
That completed the winning breakaway, which dangled off the front of the chasing A2 and A3 bunch all the way to the finish.
Lavery said he was starting to cramp in the closing kilometres but held back his effort a little to make sure he was fit to sprint.
“I ended up getting it in the end; it was a great way to start the new season,” he said.
“Ryan Mullen rode a great race and for a good while the gap up to him wasn’t really closing. But then with a couple of laps to go it came down very fast and we caught him. When I got away with the others we never had a huge gap but we just kept it going and we’d probably 20 seconds or so in the last couple of kilometres, so I knew at that stage we’d make it.”
Lavery said he had increased the volume of miles in his winter training programme but pulled back a little on the intensity compared to previous years. He also credited his enrolment in a yoga teaching course as offering him a break from training during some weekends over the winter, which appeared to aid his condition and recovery and helped him maintain consistency to his training.
“I also rode the Ras last year which probably helped. I’ll do the Gorey this year but I won’t ride the Ras; I’ll probably do it again next year. I have the European Police Championships in France in September so I’m looking forward to that.”
In the A4 race, the finish came down to a bunch sprint with Billy Cunnane (Lakeside Wheelers) taking the win from racing newcomer Niall Doggett (Navan RC).
In the third event – for women and A4 riders aged 50 years and over – Mel Spath (Cycleways) put in a good finishing kick to take a comfortable sprint win from Sara Ortiz (Black Rose) in second, and Paul Atkinson (Swords CC) third.
Karl Dolan of the promoting Cuchulainn Cycling Club said a total of 140 riders had signed on across the three races.
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Mel Spath (Cycleways) wins the race for women & A4 men aged 50 years and over (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
Billy Cunnane (Lakeside Wheelers) takes the A4 race (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
Junior champ Ryan Mullen gave it a good go (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
Super Vets: Gerry McCabe (left) and Terry Ferris (right) (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
The facial expression say it all: “That was rough” (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
(Photo: Damian Faulkner)
Main Race (A1, A2 and A3)
1st - Thomas Lavery (Comeragh)
2nd - David Wherity (Stamullen)
3rd - Oriel Corbo (Henry J Lyons)
4th - Danny Bruton (DID / Dunboyne)
5th - John Kenny (Navan RC)
6th - Javin Nulty (DID/Dunboyne)
Unplaced category prizes in main race
A1 Prize - Ryan Sherlock (Cycleways)
A2 Prize - Neil O'Leary (Garda)
A3 Prize - Eoin Ryan (Swords CC)
Junior Prize - Sean Rigley (South Dublin CC)
A4 Race
1st - Billy Cunnane (Lakeside Wheelers)
2nd - Niall Doggett (Navan RC)
3rd - Garrett Butler (Lakeside Wheelers)
4th - Damien Crowe (Dublin Wheelers)
5th - Phil O'Flaherty (Swords CC)
6th - Patrick Delaney (Drogheda Wheelers)
Women & 50+A4s
1st - Melanie Spath (Cycleways)
2nd - Sara Ortiz (Black Rose)
3rd - Paul Atkinson (Swords CC)
4th - Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers)
5th - Geraldine Gill (Bohermeen CC)
6th - Amy Brice (Phoenix)
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