Lacey victorious at punishing Rás Clár; Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes rampant

Sean Lacey takes the win in Co Clare today (Photo: Barry Sutton www.irishcyclingphotos.com)

Sean Lacey (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) has extended his winning run at Rás Clár today, Sunday; taking victory after his team mates distanced the entire field except for runner up Michael Hennessy (Fermoy CC).

Lacey’s team mate Paidi O’Brien rounded out the podium after the 155km lumpy race around the roads of the west.

The top three got clear with Joe Fenlon and Stephen Clancy (both Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) as well as Jonathan Gibbs, (Unatt) and Eddie Barry (Blarney) on the lower slopes of the day’s second climb.

When the first eight-man breakaway of the day went clear on what proved to be a very challenging course in windy conditions, Lacey and his four team mates were all presented, as were Matt Slattery (Killarney), Michael Butler (DMG-Visit Nenagh) and Barry from Blarney.

Olan Barrett (Fermoy CC) was also briefly in that first move but punctured and lost his place.

However, the field was not in the mood to let them go and they were reeled in again after building up a lead of almost one minute with one lap of three completed.

Just 10kms into the second lap, with the early escape just caught, what would prove to be winning seven-man group went clear almost immediately.

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Lacey’s aggression was constant in the breakaway, eventually forcing a split with himself, O’Brien, Gibson and Hennessy breaking clear on the third lap with around 30km remaining.

Gibson was then dropped near the top of the last climb, with the other three pushing on into the finish in the village of Barefield.

Lacey won the sprint from the three leaders by a massive margin. Clancy then won the gallop for fourth just over a minute later from Eddie Barry, with Gibson just seconds back in sixth. Joe Fenlon then took seventh just a handful of seconds further adrift.

Mike Storan was active all day for West Clare CC but had to settle for 9th in front of club mate Jarlath Hassett. Matt Slattery took the first KOH prime whilst Clancy and Lacey took the others.

The A3 race was won by Ennis rider Barry Sutton, riding for DID Dunboyne, whilst there was also local success in the A4 where Mark Shannon, Burren CC, led home from Cathal Russell for the hosts, Dolmen CC.

Some 134 riders went to post across the three races in Dolmen CC’s first competitive promotion; a useful outing for those riders looking to the Suir Valley Three Day next weekend.