After a large group of almost 30 riders rode away from the rest of the field, Conn McDunphy had too much poke for the others to contend with in the closing stages. He claimed stage 1 at the Tour of Ulster and leads the race with two stages remaining (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Graham Gillespie
Conn McDunphy has followed up on his midweek Mondello Series victory by winning the first stage of the Victus Tour of Ulster.
Riding for Holdsworth Pro Cycling this year, but guesting with his old club Lucan CRC this weekend, he claimed a strong solo win.
Having stepped up to Continental level halfway through the season last year; today's victory was the best of McDunphy's career.
At 180km in length and run off at eye-watering speeds, the stage was a very hard one. McDunphy comprehensively beat a field packed with most of the best riders in the country.
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He crossed the finish line in Banbridge 33 seconds ahead of Matteo Cigala (Viner-Caremark-Pactimo).
William Harper (St Piran) was another 14 seconds back. The British rider led home a four man group all on the same time.
Also with him was Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), Conor Hennebry (Viner Caremark-Pactimo) and Scott Auld (VC Toucy). Jake Gray (VC Toucy) was next, in 7th place another three seconds back.
And a further three seconds behind him, and 53 seconds off McDunphy, came Charlie Prendergast (Burren CC), John Buller (Banbridge CC) and Wilfried Canales (VC Toucy).
They were all part of a large group, containing 26 riders, that broke clear very early in the stage; a gap of minutes opening.
But as the miles ticked by that would be whittled down to a group of 10, from which the key attacks would come in the closing stages.
In that 10-man group with McDunphy in the pointy end of the stage were John Buller (Banbridge CC), Charles Prendergast (Burren CC) and William Harper (St Piran).
James Davenport (Strata3-VeloRevolution) was also there as well as Toni Ballester Llobera (Sportactive Racing), Matteo Cigala (Viner Caremark Pactimo) and Jake Gray (VC Toucy).
And completing what was a very strong front group was Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport) and Conor Hennebry (Viner Caremark Pactimo).
Those 10 had a lead of 2 minutes and 25 seconds on a chase group with about 20 kilometres to go. Around that point, McDunphy launched his first solo attack in an effort to pull clear.
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Unfortunately for him that effort was quickly shut down by the rest of the leading group.
However, with ten kilometres to go, McDunphy attacked again. This time he would be successful.
He gradually pulled clear and had opened up a ten-second advantage with five kilometres left in the race.
Cigala did his best to bridge the gap to Conn McDunphy. But he could not catch him and had to be content with the runner-up spot; a bout of cramps while chasing alone for 15km not helping his cause.
The earlier stages of the race had some vital points on offer in the king of the hills classification; four categorised climbs to be crested in all.
Cameron Jeffers, in particular, would have a fruitful day on the climbs. The Irish man, now riding for UK team St Piran, made the most of the climbs.
He took the first ascent of the day; finishing ahead of Scott Auld of VC Toucy and Powerhouse Sport's Lindsay Watson on the category three at Maghaberry.
Jeffers almost took the second climb of the race a little later. But Strata3-VeloRevolution's James Davenport managed to beat him to the line at Roguery; also a category three.
Scott Auld picked up more points on this climb, rounding out the top three.
The group of 26 leaders rode into the third category three climb of the day intact. And again Jeffers took the maximum ten points on offer.
His St Piran teammate Joe Evans would get second place whilst Davenport finished third.
The eventual stage winner, McDunphy would take the final category two climb ahead of Watson, Cigala and Hennebry.
However, Jeffers still holds an 11 point lead in the climbers’ classification at the end of day one.
St Piran as a team had quite an active day. Along with the success of Jeffers, William Harper launched a solo attack after about 71 miles from the leading group.
Harper led the race on his own for a period, before being joined at the front by others.
They included Prendergast, Watson, Oli Maxwell (St Piran), Philip Lavery (Strata3-VeloRevolution), Cigala, Gray and Auld.
However, there would be a regrouping and more attacks to whittle down the front group until McDunphy took control to win the day.
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