Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) took victory in the main event at the Lucan GP in Co Meath today; attacking solo in the final stages before being caught and still winning the sprint from the breakaway.
His win today adds to the stage and overall win he took last weekend at Rás Mhaigh Eo, with the 27-year-old Roscommon man really hitting his stride now after telling stickybottle two weeks ago he had redoubled his efforts during the winter.
Today the Lucan CRC promotion was run off in Biblical conditions on the Green Sheds circuit in Dunsany, Co Meath, with the rain theming down on the riders from start to finish in the main events, for A1s, A2s and A3s.
On a mainly flat course, but with a few lumps and bumps here and there, the racing in the main event was aggressive from the outset, though the early moves failed to force a decisive breakaway. UCD Cycling Club were especially active; attacking again and again and also chasing down any moves they had no representation in.
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Feeley was also very active in those moves, going up the road repeatedly, with the likes of Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), Paul Kennedy (Team Skyline Cadence) and Matthew Devins (Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei) also made their presence felt.
It wasn't until the penultimate lap, of the 98km race, that the winning move went clear; a lull in the bunch allowing breakaway men establish a gap that was never closed down. And though the peloton continued to chase the leaders all the way to the line, they had about a minute of an advantage in the final.
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There were repeated attacks off the front of the first group as the finish neared, with Feeley getting clear solo very late in the race and only being caught with about one kilometre to go. However, once back in the group. Feeley steadied himself for the finish and took the win in a sprint from Kennedy.
Liam Crowley (UCD Cycling Club) rounded out the podium with Luke Smith (Moynalty CC) 4th, Michael Gammell (Burren Cycling Club) 5th, Ruairi Byrne (UCD Cycling Club) 6th, Jason Kenny (UCD Cycling Club) 7th and Bren Broekaart (Challenge CC) rounding out the top eight.
In the women's race, Annalise Murphy (Longcourt Hotel NCW Wheelers) claimed victory from Clodagh Ní Ghallchóir (UCD Cycling Club) and Abi Conway (Westport Covey Wheelers CC).
Josh Callaly of host club Lucan CRC won the A2 race - ahead of representing Ireland in the upcoming Rás Mumhan - from Mark Donnelly Orr (Lucan CRC) and Robert McKenna (Bray Wheelers).
Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) led in a junior 1-2-3 in the A3 race; the first-year junior winning from Philip O’Connor (Dungarvan Cycling Club) and Patrick O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers).
In the A4 race, Davi Silva (Clondalkin CC) claimed victory from Daire Nulty (Breffni Wheelers) and Gary Condell (Laois CC).
