Aggressive Moore too strong for breakaway men at Carn Classic

Always at the head of affairs and putting the pressure on to split the front of the race several times yesterday, Darnell Moore of Caldwell Cycles took victory in the Carn Classic (Photo: Marian Lamb)

Having had a fantastic cyclocross season during which he beat the elites for a number of wins in the Ulster Series, Darnell Moore has today matched those performances in the road by taking the Carn Classic main event.

The Caldwell Cycles-Omagh rider looked in great shape in Burt on St Patrick’s Day only to be outgunned by Ronan McLaughlin (Foyle CC) for the win.

However, he was best of the rest of the breakaway on the tough finale on that occasion to claim 2nd place.

And opting to stay local today rather than travel to Carlow for the Des Hanlon Memorial, he made not mistake to open his account for the year.

The main event in Maghera was open to A2 and A3 riders and after the handicap enjoyed by the A3s was neutralised quite early on the 14 mile circuit, eventual winner Moore was in the thick of the early exchanges.

He managed to pull clear in a three man move that included team mate Matthew O’Neill and James Wilson from Apollo CC.

Chris Lawlor of VC Glendale comes home at the head of the bunch to claim victory in the A4 event (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

Sensing the danger represented by the three leaders, the counter attacking came thick and fast off the front of the bunch behind before six riders got across too the two leaders

One of the three originally up the road, Caldwell Cycles’ O’Neill would lose his place and go back to the peloton.

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That left a breakaway comprised of: Moore, Wilson, Steven McAllister (Ballymoney CC), Barry Doyle, (Unattached), Mark Millar (Velo Cafe Magasin) and Jonny Taylor, Joe McCrory and Micky Scullion (all Carn Wheelers).

The gap quickly grew to over two minutes and when McCrory attacked and built a sizeable lead alone, Moore and McAllister attacked after him.

The two chasers closed down the lone leader to leave a three-man group up front.

They held off the chase group to contest for the win, with Moore getting the verdict on the line from McCrory, with McAllister in 3rd place.