Stephen Murray took an excellent win in the Cyclesports GP in Dungarvan on Sunday, jumping clear of the breakaway in the final kilometres and holding on to the line (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Stephen Murray was a popular winner of the Cyclesports GP in Dungarvan on Sunday; the Strata3-VeloRevolution man coming in ahead of his fellow breakaway companions after a typically attacking ride.
It was his first win as an A1 rider after many near misses, including at the same race last year when Sean McKenna (Aquablue) pipped him.
And Murray joked the same stretch of road was where he had a near miss of a different kind last year at the Suir Valley.
On that ocassion he crashed hard and ended up in hospital with some nasty wounds.
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Murray at the Suir Valley Three Day last year before he came a cropper on the same road where he won so impressively on Sunday (Photo: John Colemen DC Images)
“I’ve finally won a cat one race,” he told stickybottle last night. “Last year McKenna beat me into second but you can’t complain about losing to a man like him.
“I’ve had a fair few seconds and thirds and near misses and the biggest near miss was nearly killing myself at the Suir Valley last year!”
Yesterday, Murray was one of the first riders to get any significant daylight on the bunch when he went clear over the top of the hill at Colligan on the first lap.
He was soon joined by Dungarvan CC’s Michael Aherne and they rode the next of three laps together.
“The first time up the climb it was hard and I attacked over the top,” said Murray, who has emerged in recent seasons as one of the country's top road riders.
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“Myself and Mick Aherne from Dungarvan got away and rode the majority of a lap together.
“Then five or six more came across with two Dungarvan lads in that, John Hodge and Damien Travers.”
Cathal Purcell also enjoyed a terrific win yesterday in Dungarvan; another very strong talent like Murray coming good (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Eventually, there would be eight up front, with Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing Club), Stephen Shanahan (ASEA-Wheelworx), Shane O’Neill (Aquablue) and Jamie Blanchfield (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) amongst those riders who merged.
“We rode a lap and a half together, just kept it ticking over,” said Murray.
“Everyone was expecting it to come down to the last hill and it was crawling up to the finish.
“Travers attacked first. I waited for the next one (attack) to go.
“I waited for someone and then I countered straight away and rode like a maniac to the line for maybe a kilometre and a half.”
He’d have a few seconds to spare on Shanahan – but it was more than enough,
“I’m starting to come good; last week at Rás Mumhan my legs weren’t fantastic but the (power) numbers are creeping up this week.
“I messed up last week on the final stage in the break; I should have just watched Dowling (eventual winner) and sat on him instead of trying to go by myself.
“I definitely would have done fairly well if I sat in but I suppose this makes up for it today.”
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