Angus Fyffe looks comfortable up front as he pushes the pace in the break during stage one of the AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster today.The Omagh Wheelers man said he is confident about holding the race lead tomorrow (Photo: Stephen McMahon)
By Brian Canty
Angus Fyffe has expressed his sheer delight at taking the first race leader’s jersey of the AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster.
The 21-year old Omagh Wheelers man surprised many by the manner in which he won.
The soon to be An Post Chainreaction team member edged Conor Hennebry (Aquablue) at the end of today’s 144-kilometre stage, with Eoin Morton (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie) rounding out the podium for third.
“It’s definitely the best win for me,” said Fyffe.
“I’ve won Sunday races before but none on this scale. It’s a great feeling and I’m still trying to take it all in.”
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Joy in Moy: Angus Fyffe gets his two hands up as he storms home ahead of a quality breakaway for the biggest win of his fledgling career (Photo: Stephen McMahon)
Fyffe said he knew he could win when he got over the cat 1 climb at Sion Finn Mountain with the break of seven.
In there were the aforementioned pair as well as Sean Lacey (Aquablue), Christopher McGlinchey (Ballymoney CC-Biesty's Centra), Mark Dowling (ASEA-Wheelworx) and Craig McAuley (Caldwell Cycles Omagh).
“When we got over the cat 1 a couple of groups clipped off but it came back together on the descent.
“I missed the move at that stage but my teammate Marcus Christie was in between the bunch and the break; he was 15 seconds ahead of bunch and 15 seconds behind the break.
“I had to make a big effort to get across to him and we were 20 kilometres chasing the break but we got there.
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Chris McGlinchey, riding for Ballymoney CC this weekend, was in the thick of the action but for a change was forced to settle for a place just off the podium (Photo: Stephen McMahon)
“I was lucky he was there, I wouldn’t have got over to the break without him. It was the hardest part of the race getting across.
“After the last KOH I knew I could win; Dowling tried to light it up but it stayed together and past the 5k to go sign everyone was keen on riding through.
“Morton attacked with a kilometre to go and I was willing to lose at that point but Hennebry went after him.
“I was on his wheel and came off it with 200 metres to go.
"There was small rise into the town, Eoin was out there already a while and was tiring and I knew it was mine for the taking.”
Only the strong men were wearing the classification jerseys at the end of the stage. Left to right: Christopher McGlinchey in the U23 jersey, Mark Dowling in the mountains jersey, leader Fyffe and points jersey Conor Hennebry (Photo: Stephen McMahon)
There’s still a long way to go, of course, and tomorrow’s 100-mile stage is one fraught with danger.
However, all but the top eight are over two minutes back on the general standings after the opening stage.
“It’s hard to know what will happen," said Fyffe, who will join up with An Post-Chainreaction in coming weeks when his college exams are completed.
“Lots of people will be full of riding, maybe they are out of contention for GC and chasing a stage win.
“Looking at the profile the first half is hilly but it’s flat into the finish.
“If anything does go we should be able to control it, Marc Potts and Christie have massive engines.
"And we have David McFall and Gary Donaldson too. They’ll be full of riding for however long they last.”
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