Eoin Morton wins big atop Divis Mountain in 'National Series'

The biggest road race in Ireland today may have finished at the top of Divis Mountain overlooking Belfast but it came down to this close sprint between two very strong men (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

Eoin Morton has taken the latest round of the National Road Series at the Bobby Crilly Memorial in Co Down.

The UCD CC man was among the main breakaway of the day. And with the race finishing atop Divis Mountain overlooking Belfast, there was never going to be any hiding place in the final.

Morton proved too powerful for the others, pulling clear with another really strong man of the domestic scene in the shape of Ali Macaulay (Team ASEA).

And in what was Morton’s first visit north of the border since losing the Tour of Ulster on the final stage to Mark Dowling (DID Electrical) last month, he beat Macaulay to take victory.

It was Morton’s second win of the season; the first also coming in Ulster, at the CicliSport GP in Co Tyrone at the end of March.

Given his form at the Tour of Ulster, Morton enjoyed what was perhaps a lower key An Post Rás last month than many would have expected.

Macaulay and Hawkins lead what was a quality escape that went from broke from the very early stages of the main event (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

But his return to the top of the podium today, especially capturing victory on such a difficult finish, signals his intent and condition for the long portion of the season still to come.

The A1 and A2 riders in the main event took in four laps of a 10 mile circuit before leaving that loop to head in the direction of Divis for the summit finish after 70 miles.

Soon after the start a group of riders willing and able to ride for the finish from the gun pulled clear.

Eventual winner Morton was in there as was Macaulay along with Peter Hawkins (CT Tomacc), Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles), Tony Brady (CVC-Franco), Craig Rea (Phoenix CC) and Lindsay Watson (Plush MTB).

By the second of the four laps a chase group had taken flight from the main bunch and set off in pursuit of the strong breakaway at the head of affairs.

In that chase group were junior rider Jake Gray (NRPT-Magnet.ie), David Hamilton (North Down CC), Ryan Reilly (AC Bisontine), Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) and Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne).