Charlie Prendergast took his tally of season wins to five at the Connacht Road Race Championships (Photo with thanks to Damien Conway)
Charlie Prendergast wins Connacht road race championships
Having taken several wins already this season Charlie Prendergast has now claimed the Connacht Road Race Championships.
The Castlebar CC man was best in the main championships race on home roads, taking a solo victory.
Prendergast, who won the recent Ballina GP and Claremorris Road Race among five victories in 2018, missed the initial escape in the title race.
That move contained Chris Troy (Castlebar CC), David Brennan (Castlebar CC), Joe Moran (Westport Covey Wheelers), Cathal Dillane (Unattached) and Ruairi Geraghty (Galway Bay CC), among others.
They broke clear around 15km into the 80km race. And as they pulled out a gap of about 20 seconds, the eventual winner attacked in pursuit.
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Showing strong form, Charlie Prendergast got across to the breakaway quickly. And working together they soon had a gap of almost 1½ minutes.
However, the peloton never gave up and never looked out of the contest. The race took the riders from Castlebar out to Pontoon for two laps of Lahardaun before finishing about 2km from Windy Gap.
Up front the attacking out of the breakaway began a long way from the finish. Brennan jumped hard and got clear solo with 20km remaining.
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The bunch behind were showing signs of closing in on the escape ss Brennan pulled out a gap on the breakaway.
Eventual winner Prendergast then attacked after Brennan and caught him, making for two strong men leading the race.
The Castlebar CC duo, riding what was a home event, then pressed on up front. However, Prendergast’s superiority soon showed and he left Brennan after about 10km.
The lone leader rode the last 10km flat out, to win solo by over a minute. Behind him, the breakaway he had been in was caught, as was Brennan.
David Brody and David Walshe, both riding for Castlebar CC, took A1 silver and bronze respectively.
Sat, Aug 25: Connacht Champs
Promoted by Castlebar CC
Castlebar, Co Mayo
A1 Podium
- Charlie Prendergast Castlebar CC
- David Brody Castlebar CC
- David Walshe Castlebar CC
A2 Podium
- Stephen Murphy Black Rose Racing
- David Brennan Castlebar CC
- Joe Moran Westport Covey Wheelers
A3 Podium
- John Kelly Ballintubber CC
- Aidan Kelly Galway Bay CC
- David Coleman Ballina CC
A4 Podium
- Eoin McGreal Castlebar CC
- Patrick Murtagh Ox Mountain
- Robert Coakley Westport Covey Wheelers
M40 Podium
- Alan Concannon Belmullet CC
- Chris Troy Castlebar CC
- Ruaidhri Geraghty Galway Bay CC
Junior Podium
- Cian Dolan Unattached
- Calum Kenny Galway Bay CC
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