Craig McAuley and Mark McClure finish out front in the main event; a 1-2 for Caldwell Cycles Omagh which also dominated the results behind the leading pair (All photos by Sharon McFarland)
Caldwell Cycles made the most of its trip to the Bann Valley today; taking a clean sweep of the podium in the Bann Wheelers Open Race.
Craig McAuley, one of the best U23 riders in the country, opened his account for 2018. He took victory in the main event just ahead of team mate Mark McClure.
They were well ahead of the rest, with their team mates Darnell Moore and Angus Fyffe taking the next two placings.
What would prove to be a decisive breakaway went clear inside the first 10km of the race. And with five laps of a course between Garvagh-Coleraine to be negotiated the leaders were never seen again.
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Caldwell Cycles managed to put their four, aforementioned, men in the move. It was a composition that added real purpose to the group.
All nine riders cooperated up front and the gap went out over the first two laps. The lead group would then split; six men pushing on from the original nine.
Phoenix CC take the A4 race and A3-Junior race via McDonald and Nicholson respectively.
The four Caldwell riders were there in the leading six along with Ronan McLaughlin (Viner-Caremark-Pactimo).
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Jody Wright also made the cut; the Phoenix CC man in very good form of late. He took 3rd and 5th in the recent Coombes-Connor and Carn Classic respectively.
With around 20km remaining it was McClure who seized the day. He forged clear solo and pulling out a gap on the other five.
On the last passage of the climb on the course McLaughlin took flight after McClure. And McAuley also sprang from the group.
However, while McLaughlin was riding very strongly he had the misfortune of puncturing.
That left McClure leading solo with McAuley on his own behind. Those two joined up before the finish where McAuley took victory.
Both he and McClure crossed the line celebrating their 1-2. Behind them Moore took the sprint for 3rd from the three survivors, with Moore next and then Wright.
Top, McClure wins the Masters. Ronan McLaughlin sorts himself out after his puncture out of the breakaway in the main event.
Sat, April 28: Bann Wheelers Open Race
Garvagh-Coleraine, Derry
A1-A2 Race
- Craig McAuley Caldwell Cycles
- Mark McClure Caldwell Cycles
- Darnell Moore Caldwell Cycles
- Angus Fyffe Caldwell Cycles
- Jody Wright Phoenix CC
A3 Race
- Andrew Nicholson Phoenix CC
- Shay Donley NRPT-Chill Insurance
- Liam Clarke UCD-FitzCycles.ie
- Kevin McCambridge Mellow Velo
A4 Race
- Michael McDonald Phoenix CC
- Barry Patton Keevan Cycling Club
- Roman Sarvas Ards CC
- Peter Batey Dromore CC
Masters & Women’s Race
- Ian McClure Dave Kane Cycles
- John Rafferty Ards CC
- Colin McCloskey Apollo CC
Leading Woman
- Samantha Convery Carn Wheelers
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