The National Masters Road Race Championships in Kildare-Offaly has been hit with some very unfortunate controversy after a breakaway containing some very strong riders was sent the wrong way. While that lead group - numbering about 10 riders - was eventually stopped by the motorbike marshals and turned back, they never caught the bunch again.
It appears the bunch was neutralised for a period on the 35km course around Moyvalley and Edenderry when it became clear the breakaway, which included several former Irish Masters road champions, had gone the wrong way. However, the bunch was not stopped or halted for long enough to enable the breakaway men get back onto the course and regain the bunch.
Instead, the approximate 10 riders in the breakaway were then stopped at the end of the first lap, meaning their race was over. Early indications are they were sent the wrong way - riders and motorbike marshals waved left off the course when they should have gone straight - around around 15km into the opening lap.
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The incident - which was obviously completely accidental - appears to have caused anger among some of the riders who lost their chance. It occurred on the opening lap of the Masters 50 race, which was down for two laps of the course.
A number of the riders in the breakaway, and whose race was effectively ended because of the incident, were strong contenders to win and had been crowned Irish Masters road champion in the past. They included Jason Henry, Des Woods, John Madden Nigel Watts, Shane McNeil and others.
More to come.
