Cycling Ulster's Adam Ward takes victory on stage 2 of the Junior Tour of Wales, with Aaron Doherty taking 3rd. Both made the winning breakaway (Photo: Huw Fairclough)
Adam Ward has taken a stage win at the Junior Tour of Wales against a strong international field.
Ward, who won the national road race title in June, sprinted in from a breakaway to take his biggest international victory.
He had already won several races in Belgium in recent weeks riding in the colours of his club Powerhouse Sport.
However, the Welsh tour is akin to the Junior Tour of Ireland in attracting quality riders from home and abroad and unearthing future champions.
And showing the strength in depth on the home scene at present, another Irish rider was also up the road today.
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Aaron Doherty (NRPT-Chill Insurance) was 3rd on the same time as Cycling Ulster’s Ward.
Today’s stage took the riders 110km from Abergavenny to Rhigos Mountain.
And while the two Irish riders were to the fore when it mattered most, it looked for a time like Ward may have missed the boat.
A strong group of nine riders broke clear very early; attacking after about 3km and pulling out two minutes.
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Irish junior champion against the watch; Ben Healy was best of the Irish in the opening stage time trial on Friday (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Archie Ryan, leading above, took 9th in yesterday's time trial; a very strong result by the young Irish rider.
Ward would be among a second wave to attack; going clear much later in a chase group.
And with about 30km remaining they made the juncture with the early breakaway. The enlarged lead group had three minutes when it came together.
While the race finished on a climb, Adam Ward decided to take flight before the road kick up.
He attacked coming down a descent, with Doherty and Alfred George (Spokes Racing) joining him.
They were still clear when the final climb began. However, there was drama for the eventual stage winner when he dropped his chain.
But he soon righted himself and got going again; arriving at the line for a three-up sprint.
Ward took the victory from George and Doherty. Mason Hollyman (Zappi Racing) led home a 16-man group eight seconds later.
The race is still led by Leo Hayter (VC Londres) after his win in Friday’s stage 1 TT. Ward is now up to 9th at 50 seconds.
Best of the Irish in the test yesterday was national TT champion Ben Healy (Zappi Racing). He claimed 5th some 25 seconds back in the 8.37km test.
Irish rider Archie Ryan (NRPT-Chill Insurance) was 9th in the time trial at 32 seconds, with Ward now best of the Irish overall.
For the results of the stage 1 TT please follow this link. The results from today's stage 2 can be viewed here. And you will find the general classification after today's stage 2 by clicking here.
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