Stage 1 winner and race leader Damien Shaw was one of a number of fallers before today's stage 2 of the Tour of Ulster was halted (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
Riders in the Tour of Ulster faced a very unusual scenario this afternoon when stage 2 was cancelled mid way through the race. The weather conditions were regarded as a hazard to safety.
With wind, rain, sleet and snow battering the riders in freezing conditions, some of those racing had already taken the decision to climb off their bikes before the race was stopped near Kilkeel, just over half way through the 150km stage.
Race leader Damien Shaw (Team ASEA) was one of a number of fallers before the race was stopped.
And the bunch had gone off course, with the racing halted and restarted to correct that mistake, before it was abandoned due to the weather.
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The good news for them this evening is that anyone who signed on for today’s stage can start tomorrow, even if they had left the race before it was halted.
However, there was bad news for those riders who had taken on the elements and were leading the event when it was stopped.
None of those off the front gains any time advantage because the stage has been completely cancelled and no result from it is being applied to the general classification.
And there is a similar situation for those who took points in the sprint primes and the climbers’ primes at the top of the ascents.
Three climbs had been crested, including the testing Spelga Dam, when the race was stopped and the riders had also fought it out at two sprint points.
Those classifications are significant because there were no points on offer for either of them in yesterday’s prologue time trial in Belfast.
So while the jerseys were presented to the riders who filled the top five in the TT, nobody had scored any points in those competitions at the start today.
Sporting the signs of a crash on his right hip, Chris McGlinchey leads Sean McKenna, both of the Irish Development Team. McGlinchey had won the first climbers' prime after his spill but those points, and the sprint prime points, now count for nothing (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
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For that reason, and even if the wider stage result was understandably cancelled, many would have felt the points at the sprint points and on the climbs should have been applied to the general standings in those classifications, if only to give them both a clear leader.
Instead, the race goes into its third stage tomorrow with those classifications not even begun.
Andrew Gregg of North Down CC had taken the first sprint prime after 13 miles from Martyn Irvine of the Irish Development Team and Greg Swinand of Aquablue.
At the second sprint, after 19 miles Patrick Clarke (Clare Alarms) won it from Sean Lacey (Team Aquablue) and Ali McAulay (Team Asea).
If those points counted, it means Gregg and Clarke would lead the sprints competition jointly on 10 points apiece from Irvine and Lacey, who would be joint 2nd on eight points each.
Similarly, three climbs were contested, with Christopher McGlinchey (Irish Development Team) taking the first from Bryan McCrystal (Team Asea) and Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne).
The second ascent was won by McCrystal from Dowling and Sean Hahessy (Irish Development Team).
And while the results of the third climb were not confirmed before the race was halted, there was still sufficient scoring to put some order on that classification.
A communiqué from the commissaries, who seemed to have no choice but to abandon the race, said calling a halt to proceedings had been done in conjunction with the race organisers.
“(It) took place on grounds of rider safety and welfare not being guaranteed as a result of inclement weather conditions”.
It also confirmed: the general classification will be as per the completion of stage 1l; all riders who signed on at the start of stage 2 are entitled to start stage 3; all sprints and climbers’ primes covered on stage 2 are null and void with all classification jersey wearers from stage 1 wearing the same jerseys for stage 3.
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