Former world junior champion Mark Scanlon in his Ag2r days; he has returned to racing and rode a criterium in Sligo last night, Thursday.
By Brian Canty
Dave Nugent won the third round of the Connacht Criterium Series in Sligo town last night, Thursday. The Seven Springs CC rider was victorious from a four-man breakaway.
He just edged Liquidworx-Fitscience man Gareth McCormack, with Daragh McCarter of Omagh Wheelers rounding out the podium
McCormack's teammate Paddy Clarke came home in the bunch and thus retained the race leader's yellow jersey for the five-race series, while Valerio Di Bacco leads the A2 jersey classification.
The race was handicapped but came back together very quickly as the Liquidworx-Fitscience trio of McCormack, Clarke and Jason Prendergast went to work at the front alongside Castlebar strongmen David Brennan and Chris Troy.
Advertisement
Nugent and McCarter escaped early on and worked very well initially before McCormack joined them, taking Aidan Reade (Black Rose Racing) with him.
That quartet stayed away to the finish over the 50-minute and three lap event with Barry Meade (Unattached) leading in the peloton.
Related News
But the big talking point was the return to racing of former Junior World Road Race Champion Mark Scanlon.
Representing the host club Eire Og CC, Scanlon was active all night and though he missed the split that got away midway through the race, he was at the head of affairs for much of the event.
While the Sligo man's plans for the rest of the season and beyond are unclear his return to any form of racing will be welcomed by the cycling community.
He was a top junior rider, winning a huge number of races at home and abroad before the world title in 1998. He initially turned pro for Rabobank and later rode for Ag2r for four seasons to the end of 2006.
He signed for US-based Toyota-United in 2007 but never actually rode for them after giving up racing.
He was national road champion three times; twice as an elite rider and one as a junior. He represented Ireland in the Athens Olympics and rode the Tour de France in 2004.
Sligo Town Criterium
1: Dave Nugent, Seven Springs
2: Gareth McCormick, Liquidworx
3: Daragh McCarter, Omagh Wheelers
4: Aidan Reade, Black Rose Racing
5: Barry Meade, Unattached
6: Valerio DiBacco, Unattached
Topics
