Just weeks after claiming the biggest win of his career, at the 'Seamus Kennedy', Ruairi Byrne (UCD Cycling Club) has put his name on the list of winners at the Des Hanlon Memorial in Co Carlow, one of the most coveted road races on the home scene.
Byrne came down with a bout of illness just 24 hours before the event and was undecided about riding. However, his decision to go along on the day and take to the start line paid off.
Both he and Kevin McCambridge (Inspired Cycling) spoiled the day for the breakaway riders - most of whom had been up the road from the very early stages - when they caught them just before the final climb.
And having gotten up to the front runners - after junior rider Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) and Con Scully (Dan Morrissey Pissei) had looked the strongest - Byrne made his chance count.
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He went early in the sprint and had enough to hold off Scully and 3rd placed Josh Callaly (Cycling Team C5 Campana) in a group sprint after the final climb to the finish line saw a cagey final unfold among the breakaway men.
On a glorious day for racing, a breakaway went up the road shortly after the start featuring some very strong riders. However, it was soon whittled down to a handful, with a chasing group getting across to form a large breakaway.
In that group were: Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), Toby Sweetman (VC Glendale), Mark Dowling (VeloRevolution), Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC), Curtis Neill (Lyon Sprint Evolution), Con Scully, Matteo Cigala, Ciaran Maguire (all Dan Morrissey Pissei), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC) and John Buller (Banbridge CC).
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With one lap completed they had about 30 seconds on a chasing group of about 10. That chasing group included riders like Conn McDunphy (Team Skyline) and eventual winner Ruairi Byrne (UCD Cycling Club), though it was caught by what remained of the bunch.
Up front, junior rider Murphy would soon put the power down, splitting the group to pieces and pulling clear with Scully. The rest of the group fragmented into twos and threes chasing behind.
Murphy squeezed on the pedals on the second lap, up the Yellow Road climb, with Scully responding and duo going clear. O'Neill and Cigala were next on the road after the front two, followed by Smith and Maguire.
However, the gap between the leaders and what remained of the peloton was only 40 seconds. And as the race continued, there was a regrouping up front - about 10km into the third lap - with the strongest of the initial breakaway still leading all the way into the final.
In that smaller breakaway were: Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), Con Scully, Matteo Cigala, Ciaran Maguire (all Dan Morrissey Pissei), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC) and Gareth O'Neill (Athlete Nutrition Coach HD).
McCambridge and Byrne then got clear on the final lap and had caught the breakaway by the time the climb to the line began, with Byrne winning it from Scully and Josh Callaly (Team Campana), the latter having been on the attack early in the race before bridging to the breakaway very late.
O'Neill, Maguire and McCambridge were next, filling places 4th to 6th. Cigala and Smith were 7th and 8th, with Eoin Kelly (UCD Cycling Club) taking 9th after a fantastic final climb saw him latch on to the back of the breakaway.
Murphy, after taking the race by the scruff of the neck, looked like he suffered a little in the final and had to be content with 10th, with Killian O'Brien (Petrolike) taking 11th, at 15 seconds, while Joe-Nathan Matar (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club), who is due a win considering his form, has 12th on the same time.
