James Curry was in absolutely blistering form all weekend, taking 2nd on stages 2 and 3, victory on stage 4 as well as the overall at Rás Dun na nGall. The win sets him up nicely for the UCI mountain-bike world championships in less than a month (Photo credit: Tommy Heaney)
By Brian Canty
James Curry proved he’s much more than an off-road rider when he claimed a fabulous overall victory at the Four Masters CC-promoted Rás Dun na nGall over the weekend.
The Banbridge man – still only 18 years old - carried the yellow jersey into the final stage yesterday.
The manner of his performance in Donegal coupled with his road rides in recent years suggests national selection on the road cannot be too far away.
He made sure he kept yellow yesterday with a stage win to go along with the two second places he got on Saturday morning and afternoon, respectively.
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In the latter he was pipped by then overall leader Adam Stenson (Bikeworx Celbridge) while Kevin McKinney (Velo Café Magasin) edged him in the sprint later that evening.
It mattered little as Curry took a slender 16-second advantage into yesterday’s 93-kilometre trek which finished atop Glengesh Pass.
“I was just trying to mark everything dangerous and try not to let any breaks get too much of a gap,” said Curry of the final stage.
“I hadn’t a lot of team members with Cormac Keaney being injured but Cameron McIntyre and Matt Adair were pushing the pace on and helping me out as best they could.”
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Curry hailed the efforts of Cameron McIntyre, left, and Matt Adair, right, for helping him secure the victory yesterday. Both rode superbly for the eventual winner.
An early break got away on the first lap but that was reeled back in, only for another more dangerous move to go clear.
Adam Stenson started the day sixth on GC at 1’55” and when the break he was part of had 1’30” Curry began to worry.
“Cameron worked hard to bring it back and I towed it up Glengesh," he said.
"The move stayed away right until Glengesh but we caught the last rider at 200 metres to go.
“Once we got to Glengesh it was down to 20 seconds so I was just sitting at the front keeping the pace high and when the attacks came I just followed.
“I saw Adam ahead of me and I attacked, rode on up past him right to the line. It felt class just to get the stage win and the overall it made it even better.
“It’s a big boost to the confidence with the summer months ahead and some big goals too, one of which is the mountain-bike World Championships in the Czech Republic in three weeks.”
Curry will also do the road nationals and in his own words will “give it everything”, though stopped short of saying a medal was possible, given he’s still got three more years as an U23.
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