All photos are by Sharon McFarland
Gareth O'Neill's fine season came to an abrupt temporary halt just before the Easter Bank Holiday when he was hit by a motorist while he was out training.
That forced the 25-year-old to miss Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. However, the Caldwell Cycles Omagh rider has put that disappointment behind him and yesterday added another victory to his growing list for 2022.
He proved best in the four-up sprint that settled the honours at the Blair International Red Hand Trophy in Broughshane, Ballymena, Co Antrim.
O'Neill, who first broke through to the top tier in Ireland in 2019, edged out Kevin McCambridge (Trinity Racing), with Paul Antoine Hagan (Banbridge CC) 3rd and a resurgent David Montgomery (Spellman Dublin Port) in 4th place.
It was a confidence booster - at least reassurance he was back on the right track - for O'Neill as he prepares for Rás Tailteann, which he will ride as part of an Ulster team that will fear nobody.
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Before yesterday's win he had already taken his third consecutive victory in the Carn Classic and also won the Boyne GP; now with three wins in the bag despite the crash-related interruption to his efforts.
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"I was hit by a jeep on April 14th and spent the afternoon in A&E," he told stickybottle. "Unfortunately that was the day before the start of Rás Mumhan and I was out doing my pre-race ride on local roads not 15 minutes from home.
"I was devastated to miss out on Rás Mumhan but had to turn my focus to recovering and getting back on the road. I've been working closely with my coach Barry Monaghan and Lee Compton my nutritionist and they've really helped me get back to peak fitness.
"So my full focus now is on the Rás with a very strong Ulster team. Everyone on the team is on form and we look to carry that form heading into it. After that it’s a quick turnaround heading into nationals."
O'Neill said he was delighted to win yesterday, on a new 16km circuit, chosen by Ballymena Road Club, featuring a climb which ensured the bunch was reducing in size on each of the seven laps.
On the penultimate lap O'Neill took the initiative and attacked hard, getting clear. He was joined by Montgomery and they very quickly pulled out around 40 seconds.
Once they were over the climb they were joined by McCambridge, who won the North Down GP last weekend, and Hagan, one of the fastest emerging U23s in the country who has just been selected for the Irish team for the Rás. Those four went to the line together, with O'Neill emerging the clear winner.
