James Gordon of Phoenix CC looks a picture of concentration as he powers his way to the C2 TT victory and into the yellow jersey with just one stage remaining (Photo: Toby Watson)
Three surviving breakaway men stole just over one minute in the morning opening stage at the C2 Carn Two Day in Derry today, Saturday. But that didn't stop the strongest riders gaining time back in the afternoon stage 2 TT.
Indeed, over the course of just 12km, James Gordon (Phoenix CC) looks like he has put down a big deposit on overall victory this weekend. He won the test, gained significant time on most of his rivals and has nudged stage 1 winner Drew McKinley (Newry Wheelers) out of the yellow jersey.
Gordon won the TT in a time of 15:25, some 30 seconds faster than runner-up Cathir Doyle (Carn Wheelers), whose comeback after an intense period of study is now gaining real momentum.
James Griffin of Waterford Racing was 3rd, but even he lost 36 seconds to Gordon in the TT, though has put himself squarely in the GC fight.
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Des Woods (Inspired Cycling) was best of the three breakaway men who arrived at the finish earlier in the day to fight it out for stage 1 victory. He was in 9th place in the TT, at 1:06. Race leader McKinley was 14th, at 1:45.
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And that means while today's stage 1 breakaway men are still in the mix, Gordon now leads the race and others who missed the opening stage breakaway are firmly back in the hunt for the final yellow jersey.
Gordon holds the race lead, with three of the stage 1 breakaway men right behind; Woods in 2nd at five seconds. Then comes Jonathan Taylor and Jimjo McCullagh, both of Carn Wheelers; now 3rd and 4th overall, at 6 and 19 seconds respectively.
Doyle - a talented rider who has competed for Ireland on the road in the past - is now up to 5th. He is just 34 seconds down and is clearly part of a strong Carn Wheelers team in their home race this weekend.
The event concludes with a road race stage tomorrow morning, when stage 1 winner McKinley will look to get up the road again and claw back the losses from the TT. He now sits in 7th at 44 seconds and will still fancy his chances.
However, with just one minute separating the top 10, the final destination of the yellow jersey is still very much unknown.
May 2nd-3rd | C3 Carn Two-Day
Promoted by Carn Wheelers
Sat May 2nd | Stage 2 TT (12.06km)
- Gordon, James Phoenix CC 15'25.08s
- Doyle, Cathir Carn Wheelers @29.86s
- Griffin, James Waterford Racing Club @36.01s
- Mc Cullagh, Jimjo Carn Wheelers @44.23s
- Lockhart, Dean Carn Wheelers @56.15s
- Considine, Caoilin Bray Wheelers @57.69s
- Nardone, Alex Bear Cycling @1'00.33s
- Clarke, Jamie North Down CC @1'05.04s
- Woods, Des Inspired Cycling @1'06.18s
- Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers @1'07.34s
- Allen, Ellis Phoenix CC @1'28.60s
- Donoghue, Damien Tuam Cycling Club @1'31.88s
- Stewart, Callum Phoenix CC @1'32.13s
- Mc Kinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC @1'45.36s
- Phillips, Jamie Velo Revolution / Speed Queen @1'46.70s
- Henry, Jason Inspired Cycling @1'54.50s
- Mc Kinley, Mark Newry Wheelers CC @1'55.43s
- Davenport, James Velo Revolution / Speed Queen @1'57.60s
- Kelly, Conor VC Glendale @2'11.96s
- Knapcock, Patrick Inspired Cycling @2'14.56s
- Coen, Jonathan Dromore CC @2'16.94s
- Mc Grady, Mark Velo Cafe Magasin @2'19.79s
- Carroll, Brian Gaeltacht.cc @2'22.63s
- Magowan, Gavin Dromara Cycling Club @2'24.47s
- Scullion, Michael Carn Wheelers @2'36.60s
- Smyth, Ronnie Dromara Cycling Club @2'38.11s
- Lynch, Matt Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club @2'44.02s
- Nulty, Daire Breffni Wheelers @2'44.32s
- Meegan, Cormac Velo Revolution / Speed Queen @2'45.60s
- Morrison, Peter Velo Cafe Magasin @2'51.05s
- Mc Cauley, Jay Strabane Lifford Cycling Club @2'56.26s
- Larmour, William Ards CC @2'57.97s
- Donaldson, Gary Caldwell Powerhouse Racing @3'01.56s
- Mc Kee, Conal Phoenix CC @3'01.77s
- Scott, Mark Phoenix CC @3'08.33s
- Black, Niall Phoenix CC @3'10.38s
- Walsh, Courtney McConvey Cycles @3'19.19s
- Mc Cullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster @3'39.39s
- Gibson, Nigel Carn Wheelers @3'41.13s
- Watt, Nigel Inspired Cycling @4'21.99s
General Classification
- Gordon, James Phoenix CC 2h31m28s
- Woods, Des Inspired Cycling 2h31m33s @5s
- Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers 2h31m34s @6s
- Mc Cullagh, Jimjo Carn Wheelers 2h31m47s @19s
- Doyle, Cathir Carn Wheelers 2h32m02s @34s
- Griffin, James Waterford Racing Club 2h32m09s @41s
- Mc Kinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 2h32m12s @44s
- Considine, Caoilin Bray Wheelers 2h32m30s @1m02s
- Nardone, Alex Bear Cycling 2h32m33s @1m05s
- Clarke, Jamie North Down CC 2h32m38s @1m10s
- Lockhart, Dean Carn Wheelers 2h32m38s @s/t
- Donoghue, Damien Tuam Cycling Club 2h33m04s @1m36s
- Stewart, Callum Phoenix CC 2h33m05s @1m37s
- Phillips, Jamie Velo Revolution / Speed Queen 2h33m12s @1m44s
- Allen, Ellis Phoenix CC 2h33m16s @1m48s
- Henry, Jason Inspired Cycling 2h33m27s @1m59s
- Davenport, James Velo Revolution / Speed Queen 2h33m30s @2m02s
- Mc Kinley, Mark Newry Wheelers CC 2h33m37s @2m09s
- Kelly, Conor VC Glendale 2h33m40s @2m12s
- Knapcock, Patrick Inspired Cycling 2h33m47s @2m19s
- Coen, Jonathan Dromore CC 2h33m50s @2m22s
- Mc Grady, Mark Velo Cafe Magasin 2h33m52s @2m24s
- Carroll, Brian Gaeltacht.cc 2h33m55s @2m27s
- Magowan, Gavin Dromara Cycling Club 2h33m57s @2m29s
- Scullion, Michael Carn Wheelers 2h34m09s @2m41s
- Smyth, Ronnie Dromara Cycling Club 2h34m11s @2m43s
- Nulty, Daire Breffni Wheelers 2h34m15s @2m47s
- Lynch, Matt Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 2h34m17s @2m49s
- Meegan, Cormac Velo Revolution / Speed Queen 2h34m18s @2m50s
- Larmour, William Ards CC 2h34m24s @2m56s
- Morrison, Peter Velo Cafe Magasin 2h34m24s @s/t
- Mc Cauley, Jay Strabane Lifford Cycling Club 2h34m29s @3m01s
- Mc Kee, Conal Phoenix CC 2h34m34s @3m06s
- Scott, Mark Phoenix CC 2h34m41s @3m13s
- Black, Niall Phoenix CC 2h34m43s @3m15s
- Donaldson, Gary Caldwell Powerhouse Racing 2h34m43s @s/t
- Walsh, Courtney McConvey Cycles 2h34m52s @3m24s
- Mc Cullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster 2h35m12s @3m44s
- Gibson, Nigel Carn Wheelers 2h35m14s @3m46s
- Watt, Nigel Inspired Cycling 2h36m04s @4m36s
