For the second weekend in succession Dermot Trulock has really impressed; this time with a near race-long escape at the Leinster Autumn Classic (Photo: Sharon McFarland)

Dermot Trulock wins Leinster Autumn Classic

Dermot Trulock has continued his very strong run with victory in the Leinster Autumn Classic on Saturday.

The Lucan CRC rider, who won the John Beggs Memorial last weekend, forged clear alone today very early in the contest.

And on an undulating circuit in Bellewstown, Co Meath - with 1,700 metres of elevation in 87km - Trulock simply continued to pull away.

After a lone escape of around 70km he had a gap of some four minutes at the finish. The rest of the field split to pieces in his wake.

The race turned left at the bottom of the Snowtown climb, which features in Stamullen Road Club races, and went up a number of steep ramps; one after another.

And with seven laps of the circuit facing the riders, it was a classic wearing down course. Behind Trulock, three riders broke clear and chased him for much of the race.

They were junior Will Ryan (NRPT-Chill Insurance), Arek Klus (Stamullen Road Club) and Conor Murnane (UCD-FitzCycles.ie).

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However, that trio would be absorbed by another group on the final lap. It meant Trulock took victory, with the next group on the road numbering less than 15 riders.

Having been clear in the chase group for much of the day; Murnane was 2nd and Ryan rounded out the podium.

They were followed by Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC), Eoin Ahern (Scott Orwell) and Tim O’Regan (Killarney CC).

In the A4 race Alan Lyons (Bikeworx Celbridge) won from John Sheridan (St Tiernan’s) and Barry Greene (Scott Orwell).

Today’s racing was organised at short notice by Drogheda Wheelers in a bid to offset the holes in the calendar created by races being cancelled.