One of the best juniors in the country last year and already a top elite rider in his first season, Dean Harvey has taken a breakthrough win at the Shay Elliott Classic in Co Wicklow.
The 19-year-old riding for Spellman Dublin Port got the better of his breakaway companions in the Bray Wheelers promotion today, with Mark Dowling (All human-VeloRevolution) in 2nd place and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) in 3rd.
That very strong podium line-up emerged after aggressive racing on what was a bright and sunny day for one of the most prestigious races in the country. The leading trio were part of a larger group but pushed on from those riders in the last third of the race.
While the A1-A2 riders faced 155km - six laps of a circuit before turning off to finish atop the Shay Elliott climb - the speed was on from the start after the roll-out from the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Centre n Laragh, Co Wicklow.
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A crash early in the race took out some of the fancied riders including Kerry Group Rás Mumhan winner Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), Matteo Cigala (Dan Morrissey-Pactimo) and Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution), among others.
While the opening laps were relentless, with moves getting clear only to be brought back - Caldwell Cycles and All human-VeloRevolution especially active - the key move did not got until the race had four laps of the circuit completed.
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At that point a group or around 10 or 12 got clear, containing the eventual top three. When the leaders moved onto the final lap, it was Moore who instigated what would prove to be the move that decided the final podium.
The Caldwell Cycles rider went clear, with Spellman Dublin Port's Harvey going after him. Those two were then joined by Mark Dowling of All human-VeloRevolution.
However, JB Murphy (EvoPro Racing) and Gareth O'Neill (Caldwell Cycles) also managed to get clear of the original breakaway and they set off in pursuit of the leading trio. Just before they hit the base of the climb, Murphy and O'Neill were onto the back of Dowling, Harvey and Moore.
Once the climb began Harvey took the initiative; a first acceleration about 1km from the start of the climb dispatching of Moore and then a second burst on a steep section of the ascent getting rid of Dowling.
Harvey then continued to power away out front on his own all the way up to the top of the climb and the finish line for a great win, with Dowling finishing on his own in 2nd, then Moore 3rd, followed by Murphy and O'Neill in 4th and 5th.
Lots more to come.
