Paddy Clarke and Daire Feeley at the end of the West Coast Wheelers Open Race in Loughrea, Co Galway. The Fitscience and iTap riders both look to have winter well and look ready for a good year (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter)
Paddy Clarke made it back-to-back wins in the West Coast Wheelers Open Race in Loughrea, Co Galway, on Sunday.
He outsprinted near race-long breakaway partner Daire Feeley (iTap) to the line at the end of the 85-kilometre event.
The pair had it all to do as they started with the A1-A2 group a sizeable six minutes behind the A3 group.
And with a strong headwind section for the opening portion of the race they knew they’d have their work cut out to bridge across.
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But they wasted no time and by the first big climb after 25 kilometres they were clear of the scratch group and making good time on the fragmenting bunch up ahead.
“Daire and Mike Storan (Fitscience) had gotten away before the climb so I jumped across," said Clarke.
"We rode as hard as we could to catch the A3s up ahead. Mike tailed off at that stage so it was just myself and Daire then."
Riding in the breakaway at the T Bourke Grand Prix in Co Mayo last summer; Clarke, right, is always an honest rider and along with emerging man Daire Feeley looked very strong on Sunday (Photo: Pawel Sadowski – Shutterstills.com)
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They would be back on level terms with the limit men before long but weren’t content to stay put.
“We were both as strong as each other so the logical thing was to try and get away and keep working,” continued the Ballina man.
“Daire was very strong and very honest and we had help from a guy from Laois CC as well.
"But the two of us pulled clear again. We weren’t hanging around.
“Coming into the sprint I was confident because I’d just have that extra power I think.
"And thankfully when I kicked at around 400 to go I managed to get a gap and hold him off.
"So it was brilliant, especially to beat a man like Feeley who I know will have a very good season.”
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