Eoin Morton has been one of the top domestic riders over the last number of years and just gets better and better as the seasons go by. He has been close to winning the VisitNenagh Classic in the past but made no mistake today, pulling the trigger with 25 kilometres to go and soloing to victory (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Eoin Morton took a barnstorming victory in the VisitNenagh Classic yesterday when he soloed away from the field to celebrate a memorable win – and it’s a win he reckons he’ll savour for a long time to come.
He’s had others, of course, and he’s already been successful this season, but coming into the line alone before a large gathering in a town centre is something he said he’ll cherish for many years.
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“It’s definitely the one that I pressed myself the most,” he said of his latest victory.
“I’ve never done that before but I was climbing well and I was able to solo away; I’ve never won a race in that manner before.
“I was suffering like a dog but I got huge support from the neutral service car and Rene (Van Dam – race director).
“Coming into the town I was high-fiving the crowd, it was a super experience. And just as I crossed the line my left leg cramped!”
Morton was clearly delighted to take a big win front of a crowd gathered in the town; the way racing should be (Photo: Eoin Morton)
Morton was in the break that escaped after around 10 kilometres and with five others they knuckled down to work straight away.
He took the sprint after 19.16 kilometres and mopped up enough KOH points to take home that classification as well – but he was only eyeing the win after finishing second last year.
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“The break went after 10-12 kilometres and I’ve no idea how it happened,” he laughed.
“I looked around and we had a gap, someone didn’t hold the wheel and we were gone.”
With Sean Lacey and Anthony Walsh from Aquablue present in the move, Morton knew he had a willing coalition .
But when the latter punctured out of the move, things took a turn.
“We rode very well, really honestly and we just manipulated the time gap a bit.
“We got it out to three minutes at one stage and started riding a bit easier, then we’d hear Dowling was coming across so we’d turn on the gas a bit more.
“The break worked really well but the numbers dropped and fatigue set in.”
But that wasn’t why he decided to attack when he did at 25 kilometres to go.
“I attacked at the top of the last KOM because Dowling was 30 seconds back and I knew if he caught us it’d be cat and mouse and the boys with him would be super fresh.
“Everybody had tired legs in our group so I just gave it some gas on the climb and the Dutch guy (Adrie Lindeman) let the wheel go and I knew it was time to go.
“I didn’t mean to attack so early, I’d never done that before and I was in unknown territory.
“It was sore after that; the last 12-13 kilometres were headwind and I was praying they wouldn’t start working behind.”
Alas, Morton had enough in the tank to stay clear and with five kilometres to go he knew he could ease up and savour it.
“What a cool race and what a cool way to win a race,” he said gleefully.
“It’s the coolest race going, it’s up there with the Elliott, just such an enjoyable bike race.”
See full results here
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