Winner of the A2 category at the Suir Valley Three Day, David McCarthy climbed well but also put in a very good ride in the criterium; continuing his clear development this season. Seen here on The Nire final stage summit finish (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
David McCarthy is one rider whose stock has really risen in 2014. From his debut An Post Rás to winning the A2 jersey at the Suir Valley at the weekend, the first-year U23 is showing some real signs of his promise.
The Corkman, riding for the Standard Life Nicolas Roche performance Team, took the jersey on Sunday; wrapping it up yesterday with an 11th place stage finish and 10th overall – 21 seconds ahead of Jonathen Creegan (Wallis Cycles).
“I’m delighted to have won it,” he said.
Advertisement
“It was a bit of a goal going into the weekend so to actually wear it home is a great feeling. It just shows what hard work and dedication can do.
“My coach, Stephen Barrett has been working really hard with me this year and we aimed at trying to be as consistent as much as possible and to finish off the year with some good form. Stephen's been a massive part of my year so I'm very thankful to him.”
McCarthy is one of a group of riders to have benefitted hugely under the guidance of Philip Finegan at the Nicolas Roche Performance Team-Standard Life over the last two seasons. Seen here third in line during Sunday's criterium in Clonmel behind team mates Aaron Swan and Darragh Long (Photo: Dave Coleman - Dc Images)
McCarthy took the jersey on stage one but lost it on stage two by 20 seconds before regaining it during Sunday evening’s criterium and holding it on the concluding leg.
Related News
“I had to be very alert yesterday because in the early stages Sean Hahessy was trying to get away and he was only 52 seconds behind me,” he said.
“And after the Colligan (cat 2 climb) Jonathan was trying to get away and I had to chase everything. Then once we hit the Nire I followed him until three kilometres to go and then rode away from him solo to the finish. So I was delighted to put time into second place.
“What gave me as much satisfaction as anything though was probably the crit on Sunday night; I don’t really know where that came from,” he said of his 4th place finish behind winner Ken Tobin (Cycling Leinster), yellow jersey Dillon Byrne (Champion System) and fast man Zippy Doyle (VeloRevolution).
“I thought that's where I'd lose time but at the start of the stage I just said to myself ‘right, I need to stay in the top 10 all night’. And then with one lap to go I lost about five positions and it stalled up before the last corner so I just took a flyer and led it out.
“I thought I had it but I died with 100 meters left. It was a great race though it was really physical and great racing I really enjoyed it.”
Final A2 General Classification
1.MCCARTHY David Nicolas Roche Performance Team A2 8:46:04
2.CREGEEN Jonathan Team Wallis CHH A2 8:47:40 1:36
3.HAHESSEY Sean Iverk Carrick Wheelers “A” A2 8:48:11 2:07
4.HODGE John Dungarvan Cycling Club “A” A2 8:50:05 4:01
5.REILLY Dave South Dublin CC Team “A” A2 8:50:16 4:12
6.LONG Bryan St. Finbarrs Centra A2 8:50:52 4:48
7.RIGBY John Champion Systems – Maxgear A2 8:51:47 5:43
8.CREAN Kieran Blarney CC A2 8:53:11 7:07
9.O’SHEA Ronan Team iBike A2 8:53:46 7:42
10.FINN Keith Shannonside Planet X A2 8:54:53 8:49
11.CAMPBELL CROGAN Ross South Dublin CC Team “B” A2 8:55:30 9:26
12.MCDONOUGH Richard Kilcullen CC A2 8:56:06 10:02
13.MOLONEY Brendan South Dublin CC Team “A” A2 9:00:12 14:08
14.DEMPSEY John Iverk Carrick Wheelers “A” A2 9:10:30 24:26
15.BREHENY Joseph UCD Cycling Club Team “B” A2 9:10:44 24:40
16.CROWLEY Michael Osbourne Meats / The Edge Sports A2 9:10:52 24:48
17.MCGUIRE Luke Wexford Wheelers A2 9:12:41 26:37
18.HORGAN Barry Tralee Manor West BC A2 9:12:56 26:52
19.GOUGH Dermot Dungarvan Cycling Club “B” A2 9:14:30 28:26
20.MCCABE William DID Dunboyne Cycling Club A2 9:15:22 29:18
21.CARROLL David Team Bikeworx A2 9:15:58 29:54
22.HURLEY Graham Orwell Wheelers A2 9:18:51 32:47
23.LYNCH Eoin Shannonside Planet X A2 9:46:35 1:00:31
24.MEEHAN Fran Team Aqua Blue “B” A2 10:19:02 1:32:58
Topics
