Craig McAuley has been a very strong up and coming rider for a number of seasons, but now an U23 he is winning big races and gaining national selection like at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, where he leads the field in the photo above by Brendan Slattery.
By Brian Canty
Craig McAuley took the biggest win of his career yesterday when he edged Ian Richardson (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie) and Conn McDunphy (Lucan CRC) in a three-up sprint to the line to claim the Waller Cup in Bohermeen.
The 19 year-old Derry man was part of a group of five that escaped on the first of seven 16.5-kilometre laps and though that break lost and gained men, McAuley was always present.
Richardson was also in the early move but several more riders bridged to make it around 10 up front.
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That new formation worked well for the next number of laps but McAuley, Richardson along with Craig Rea (Phoenix CC) took flight on the penultimate circuit.
They were reeled in by the chasers but McAuley went again on the last lap and this time the move stuck, thanks to some honest riding from the three present; Richardson, McDunphy and McAuley.
The sprint comes down to the top three, left to right: McAuley, Richardson and McDunphy, who is now constantly in the results for the ever present Lucan CRC (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Richardson attacked a kilometre out from the finish line, clearly not optimistic about the sprint but the latter two got back on and McAuley took the win – his first in two years.
“It’s nice to get the win anywhere so doing it in a race with such a rich history and against some quality riders like Ian Richardson makes it even better.
“I’ve had plenty seconds and thirds over the past year so it's nice to top it off with a win,” he said.
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The Caldwell Cycles man is now setting his sights on a debut An Post Rás next month with the Antrim team.
“I'm training away, getting about 14-15 hours a week done," he explained.
Ciaran Power takes the sprint for 5th place after the in-form Niall Clarke had come home solo for 4th. Power is training for his comeback Rás next month and in Bohermeen he beat two very good UCD-Fitzcycles.ie men in the shape of Breheny and Morton (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“I’m not really a big believer in big miles, nor do I really enjoy doing that so I just make sure the training I do is of good quality.
“I enjoy the bike as much as anything so win or lose, I don't tend to get too wound up as long as I have fun.”
McAuley raced in France and Belgium last year but decided to step away from that level of competition as he simply felt he was never going to be good enough to chase a pro contract.
“I think, in this country, a lot of people become disillusioned with what a result is in the grand scheme of things.
“Cycling is essentially a hobby for every single one of those guys that raced yesterday, me included.
“I’m hoping to join the military at some stage in the near future and right now I’m going through the selection process for that.”
An early break in yesterday's Waller Cup featured from left, eventual winner Craig McAuley (Caldwell Cycles), John Lynch (Murphy Surveyors), Ian Richardson (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie), John Murray (Navan Road Club) and Craig Rea of Phoenix CC (Picture: Sean Rowe)
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