Ryan Reilly: “It’s been a stop-start season so far but hopefully this result can be the start of something for me.” Above, pushing the pace yesterday just ahead of older more established riders Bryan McCrystal and Eoin Morton (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Four weeks after breaking his arm, Ryan Reilly almost won the biggest race of his career yesterday.
But had to settle for second to Martyn Irvine (Madison Genesis) in the Joey Whyte Memorial Cup in Stamullen, Co Meath.
The AC Bisontine rider had a cast removed from his forearm so he could ride the Tour of the North last weekend.
And after suffering through that and training hard all last week he was one of the strongest men in yesterday's event in Stamullen.
“It’s definitely the best result of the season so far for me,” he said afterwards.
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At the head of the quality escape before it split, when himself, Martyn Irvine and another emerging young rider Darnell Moore pulled clear to fill the podium on the day (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“It’s been a stop-start season so far but hopefully today’s result can be the start of something for me.”
Reilly, who is riding for French outfit AC Bisontine this season, was part of the day’s 11-man break that went away after a sustained period of early attacking.
And with a stiff climb on the 24-kilometre circuit he felt at the start he could do something.
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“Eoin Morton and Darnell Moore clipped off the front after the first climb and the rest of the break joined then," he said.
“We rode together until about 30k to go when Bryan McCrystal attacked and tried to get away,” he added in reference to the flying Team ASEA man who took the queen stage and 2nd overall at Rás Mumhan last weekend.
Hard to beat: Irvine takes his second win in as many days from Reilly, left, and Moore at the end of a tough and aggressive race (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“But he was closed down pretty quickly so then Darnell attacked over the climb, I went with him and then Martyn came across.”
The trio would ride to the finish together, with former world champion and general track powerhouse Irvine taking the gallop for first place.
“Martyn was unbelievably strong,” continued Reilly.
“I don’t think he suffered at all, he rode across to me and Darnell by himself and that was very impressive.
“But I’m happy myself; it’s my best result of the season and a month after breaking my arm I have to be happy.”
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