Dominant Sherlock comes out best after crosswinds split field in Batterstown

Sherlock and Kiernan rode well together but the Cycleways man was too strong in the end (Photo: Graham Healy)

By Graham Healy

Ryan Sherlock put in a very strong performance at the Lucan GP in Co Meath this morning, Saturday, spending almost a lap out front alone before being caught and escaping again to take victory.

Veteran rider Mark Kiernan (Murphy Surveyors) also had a great ride, initiating the winning two-man move and working well with Sherlock throughout the last lap before being beaten by his breakaway companion at the finish.

Sherlock, who won the Wallace Caldwell RR in Co Antrim with a solo victory two weeks ago, said he felt strong throughout and was delighted to take another win.

“I think it takes the pressure off a little bit ahead of the Des Hanlon in Carlow tomorrow,” he told stickybottle.

He added while the 17km circuit at the ‘Green Sheds’ near Batterstown was flat, the breeze meant the open spaces and draggy stretches on the four laps were decisive.

While the A2s were given a one minute start on the A1 riders, the 20 or so scratch men were organised and determined from the gun and closed down the 60 or so A2s within a couple of miles of the Batterstown start.

“Once we caught them there was a lot of jumping, a lot of small groups going away; the wind meant it actually broke up into groups quite a bit. Just going onto the second last lap I somehow found myself up the road on the my own. There was still a long way to go at that stage and with such a big race tomorrow I didn’t really want to commit on my own.”

“But I ended up staying away for about two thirds of that lap before I was caught. Then on the long wide straight going onto the last lap I knew there was absolutely no shelter there for anyone so I went on the front and rode hard and lined it out a bit. I could see there was a lot of splits and then Mark Kiernan attacked and got away.”

“I went after him and the two of us got around 15 seconds going onto the last lap. After that we worked well together and we must have pulled out anywhere between 40 seconds a minute by the finish. I was probably a bit stronger than Mark on the last lap and at the finish I was able to beat him.”

A crash in the main group behind – which had been whittled down to around 20 riders even by the time the winning duo made their move – meant the riders came home in small groups after Sherlock and Kiernan.

Colm Laverty (Stamullen) and John Dempsey (Carrick Wheelers) were next to arrive at the finish, with Laverty taking the sprint for the final podium place. What remained of the bunch then came home, with Willie Byrne (Murphy Surveyors) taking the sprint for fifth ahead of Michael Barry (Cuchulainn CC).

A combination of some hard attacking and crosswinds conspired to split the A3 race in the same fashion as the main event, with Mick Hennessy (Fixx Coffee House) taking the sprint from a breakaway to win ahead of Barry Dunne (Orwell Wheelers).

In the A4 race a large group arrived in tact at the finish with comeback rider Joe Christian (South East RC) leading it out early and holding off Mark Kelly (U/A) and Martin Gilbert (Swords CC).

See full results for all races below and some photos under the results. We’ll have more photos later.