"I could hear them breathing behind me & their gears changing, but I just hung on"

Chris Reilly took a great win at the Ballivor GP with a late solo move that held off the charging bunch led by Eoin Morton (Photo: Amy-Norah Farrell)

By Brian Canty

One of the few domestic riders to make it into a breakaway at the An Post Rás in May, Chris Reilly took his first win of the season on Saturday from UCD CC's Eoin Morton at the Ballivor GP.

Starting with the scratch group, in a handicapped event open to all categories, Liquidworx-Fitscience’s Reilly said he went to the race more in hope than expectation.

And with the A4s and A3s given a generous advantage, the Navan man felt it would not be his day.

But with a number of strong teams represented in the combined A1-A2 scratch group, they slowly chipped into the deficit. Despite the steady progress it was not until around five kilometres to go that the juncture was made.

"It wasn't looking good for us," said Reilly.

"We had a number of strong guys; Aidan Crowley, Zippy Doyle, UCD were there and a few Stamullen lads. But it was a fast course and we really had to work well to bring back the limit groups."

Though Reilly missed a move that went clear of the scratch bunch and was first to merge with the A3s up ahead; along with Eoin Morton he eventually jumped across.

"My legs were good and I was feeling strong,” the eventual winner said.

“But we still had to catch the A4s so I suppose a combination of them looking around and hesitating, and a lot of guys thinking there was a win there, helped us make the catch.”

With the circuit relatively flat and the racing fast, Reilly said the race was not particularly suited to him. But he was determined to have a go for victory after riding hard all the way and only getting to the front of the race inside the final 5km.

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“I knew then it would have to be an all or nothing attack that would win it,” he said.

“I bided my time and waited until a kilometre and a half to go and just jumped away as hard as I could.

“They could all see me but I got a gap straight away and just hammered it; hard as I could. That moment of hesitation is sometimes all you need and I think I got that.

"I was closing on the line but I could hear them behind, I could hear them breathing and the gears changing but I just took it by half a bike length from Morton.

“He was very unlucky but it was just brilliant to win. I haven't won in I don't know how long so hopefully I can have a strong end to the season now."