Sean Hahessy leads the group on the road to the summit finish of The Nire on the final day at Suir Valley; a stage win this weekend continuing his emergence as one of the best young riders in the country (Photo: Dave Coleman - Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
Sean Hahessy took the biggest win of his career to date on Sunday when he edged out breakaway companion Ryan Sherlock on the second stage of the Suir Valley Three-Day into Clonmel.
Riding to victory in front of a home crowd made it extra special.
“It was just brilliant, I had my eyes on that stage from a while back as I knew the roads like the back of my hand,” said the Carrick Wheelers first year senior.
“My parents were there with 50m to go and it was a really tight finish so they only found out I won when Cian Lynch announced it,” he explained, referring to the on course commentator.
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The pair had broken away with UK rider Jonathen Creegan (Wallis Cycles) in the final 20 kilometres and stayed clear to the line, with just 23 seconds to spare on the peloton.
“It was no accident I went when I did,” said Hahessy, who has been in very good form since the season began.
“I said the night before that I was going to attack on the Rosminian's. That road is so hard and rolly that 20 seconds was more than enough with 15km to go.
“It was just a case of time trialling home after that. I was delighted that I had Ryan with me actually; he's a perfect breakaway companion.
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“We were sheltered from the headwind up until around 4km to go. But then the road opened out so that was the really hard bit; we had to keep pressing on into the headwind."
Despite enjoying a decent gap, Hahessy said he was not counting his chickens coming in the road.
“The realisation we weren't going to get caught didn't come until we went into the roundabout at 1km to go and we still had 24 seconds. But up until that it was full gas all the way.
“Creegan gave us two turns. I think he was swinging but I wasn't sure so I let Ryan lead it out through the final km.
“I asked Ryan as soon as we had built up the gap where he was on the GC, but he said he was still a good bit down so I knew I wouldn't have it handed to me.
“I was confident I'd take him in a gallop to the line; it was a headwind finish so I waited for him to kick and came around him at the last possible moment.
“I’ve been racing in Belgium the last while and it has improved my speed. Everyone over there has a decent sprint so I was almost forced to adapt to it.
“It was pretty special to win in Clonmel. I've had so many kickings on that road; I almost expect it to hurt at this stage, so it's nice to get something out of it after all those years of suffering.”
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