Darnell Moore wins the Ulster road championships from a very strong breakaway in Co Donegal (All photos by Toby Watson)

Darnell Moore wins Ulster Road Championships

The reigning Irish elite hill climb champion, elite cyclocross champion and U23 road race champion; Darnell Moore has also captured the Ulster road title.

The Caldwell Cycles Omagh man was best on Sunday in the North Donegal CC championship race.

He got the better of Ronan McLaughlin (Viner-Caremark-Pactimo) and Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport).

An early breakaway went clear shortly after the start in Ballyliffin. And while Moore had team mate Gary Donaldson in that move, he missed it himself.

However, with eventual bronze medal winner Watson and Caolem McCarter (Donegal Bay CC) he rode across the gap before it got bigger than 30 seconds.

Another of Moore’s team mates, Craig McAuley, also later joined the escape. That made for three strong men in the move from the same team.

The escape combined well to ensure it stayed clear until the final time up the climb when the aggression really began.

McAuley put everyone under pressure up the incline before Moore and McLaughlin attacked. They were followed by Watson and a rider from Phoenix CC.

And while the leaders attacked each other for the near 10km remaining to the finish, it came to a sprint which Moore won.