After a very prolific season last year, Daire Feeley looks to be on his way for 2015 after a convincing win in Mayo at the weekend (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Daire Feeley claimed his first win of 2015 at the weekend when he stormed to victory on the stage 2A time-trial of Rás Maigh Eo.
He subsequently retained the race leader’s yellow jersey on the final afternoon stage to claim overall victory.
The Irish Talented Athlete Programme (iTap) rider had it all to do in that afternoon stage because the general classification was so congested.
But with the help of a strong team and a cool head the 18-year-old won by 35 seconds from Peter Tuohy (Castlebar CC) and Dick O’Brien (Orwell Wheelers) who were 2nd and 3rd on the same time.
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And former junior international Feeley, who was also 3rd on the opening bunch sprint road stage, hailed his team for helping him achieve his first big goal of the year.
“It’s great to get back on the scorecard again and not unlike the Rás Dun na nGall win last year it was with the help of the team, both the riders and staff,” said the Roscommon man.
Feeley on his way to winning the Sunday morning time trial by 35 seconds. The same margin covered riders placed 2nd to 30th, putting the win into context (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter)
“I had two second places to (Paddy) Clarke and (Sean) McKenna already this year so I was wanting to win.
“We had Rás Maigh Eo marked as the first big goal of the year and that’s accomplished now.”
Feeley finished in the bunch on day one, but blitzed the opposition in the 7.8k time-trial on Sunday morning; seeing off O’Brien of Orwell Wheelers by a huge margin of 35 seconds, with Fergal May of St Tiernan’s 3rd, a further one second back.
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“The TT was straight forward with a tailwind so I was in the 53 x 11 and trying to ride until I went blind," said Feeley.
“That gave me the jersey but the last stage was a full-on team effort.
“Jordan McGinley has been a bit under the weather so he sacrificed himself for the first 35 to 40km, which was super.
Kit of the century; Feeley, far left, had great help from his teammates David Brody, Jordan McGinley and Darragh Bailey this weekend. The team took a stage win, the overall and had two in the top 10.
"He actually towed my across to a break and we split it but no one was going to help with me there in yellow," he explained of McGinley's role.
“After that Darragh Bailey took over the reins by riding tempo to keep attacks to a minimum and also reeling in anything that seemed to be going away.
“David Brody was 8th on GC so he would help out too.
“Two lads were up the road at around 30 seconds but we knew I had 55 seconds to spare on the nearest rider (Tuohy) and in the last few kilometres the bunch would speed up and close them down.
“That’s what happened, so win the overall, get two in the top 10 and a stage win was a great weekend.”
Feeley is now targeting a top 10 in the Des Hanlon on Sunday after which he will ride the Kerry group Rás Mumhan at Easter.
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