First of many: Jake Gray, head down in black top, takes a very close sprint to claim the Mid Ulster GP against A1 opposition (Photo with thanks to Jerry Rafferty. Homepage photo by Marian Lamb of Cycling Ulster)
Rising junior Jake Gray took his first win against A1 opposition when he beat a quality field in the Mid Ulster GP promoted by Harps CC yesterday.
The NRPT-Magnet.ie teenager won from a large lead group in a sprint that he said opened up perfectly for him.
Ironically, Gray said he wasn’t going to race after a crash midweek left him stiff and sore.
But his decision to sign on landed him his third win in two weekends, having won the opening road stage and the stage 2 time trial at the Lakeland Two Day last weekend.
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East Antrim strings it out after the groups merged to form a bunch; eventual winner Gray is keeping an eye on things, fourth in line (Photo: David McVeigh - The Belgian Project)
“There was a quality field and I honestly didn't think I'd win,” he said after yesterday’s race.
“I knew Angus (Fyffe – Omagh Wheelers) and David Hamilton (North Down CC) would be quick in the sprint but it just opened up perfectly for me.”
Indeed that trio were part of a large break, and though Gray lacked the experience of many he played it ultra-cool.
“It was quite slow at the start, nothing was getting away but then the A1s got up to us and the real racing started,” he said, referring to his starting in the A3 group as a junior rider in the handicapped event.
Three riders went up the road initially before Gray rode across with Gary Jeffers (East Tyrone CC). A dozen riders would get across in two groups in the exchanges that followed.
On the front of the key escape in the U16 Youth Tour of Scotland two years ago in his first year in that category. Riding for the FBD Talent Team 2020, he won the race outright. His team mate in this group is Michael O'Loughlin, who won the stage. The orange jerseys denote leadership of the team classification. Gray has been very classy - with a mix of speed and determination - since he first started cycling. And now in his first months as a junior he has already beaten some very good A1 opposition when victory was at stake.
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It was hectic on the run-in to the finish in Cookstown with attack after attack but Gray picked his moment.
“I just kept my cool and kept my legs fresh as I knew the sprint would suit me,” he explained.
“I didn't think I'd be fit to take on some of the top guys but I was delighted when it opened out for me.”
Gray has done well this year, crossing the line in the CicliSPort GP beside Aaron Swan earlier in the year before taking the leader’s yellow jersey after two stage wins last weekend.
He would lose the jersey in the end when Cameron McIntyre (Banbridge CC) got clear on his own to win the final stage and take the yellow jersey.
Inches separated the top three yesterday. And they are very much three young riders to watch out for. Left to right, winner Gray, 3rd placed Fyffe and 2nd placed Conor McCann (Photo: David McVeigh - The Belgian Project)
But the experience Gray banked when backed by Philip Finnegan’s charges is one that will stand to him he said.
“I’m learning all the time and I think I'm slowly but surely coming along. I’ve just been consistent.
“Last weekend I was leading the Lakeland and on the last day I chased everything and had nothing left for the end when Cameron McIntyre nipped off and won overall.
“Things like that I won't do again. But it’s all learning and I hope to do enough to be able to contend in the Junior Tour and when I’m away abroad with the team.”
Joanne Regan of Termoneeny CC winning the women's race from Carn Wheelers' Mairead McGurk and Lisa Cameron of Team Madigan (Photo with thanks to Jerry Rafferty)
Darren Hutton of Bann Wheelers takes the A4 race from Des Flanagan (Phoenix CC) and Billy Henderson of Keevan CC (Photo with thanks to Jerry Rafferty)
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