Dromara's CC Gavin Magowan had plenty to spare at the finish of the Tour of the Mournes in Newry (Photo: Bronagh Kirk/Cycling Ulster)
Gavin Magowan of Dromara CC took a great win at the Tour of the Mournes in wet and windy conditions yesterday. The race, a A2-A3 100km event promoted by Newry Wheelers, was characterised by some very aggressive riding in the early stages, even though the headwind heading out to Warrenpoint militated against any breakaway efforts.
While a number of escapes managed to get clear of the bunch, there were too many in that large group who wanted to keep themselves in contention, and even some very promising looking moves succeeded in getting only very small gaps of less than 30 seconds before they were reeled in.
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Among those who were very active were Marcel Kock of Phoenix CC, the trio of Kevin Lynch, Des Woods and Sean Featherstone from Newry Wheelers, Darren Lynas of West Down Wheelers and eventual winner Magowan.
Apart from a number of moves pulling clear only to be taken back very quickly, the bunch stayed mainly in tact until the speed with around 10 miles remaining, and the terrible weather conditions, took their toll on the field, with the bunch whittling down to around 40 riders as the race hurtled into the finish in Newry.
But despite that fragmentation out the back, the head of the race did not split up, though Magowan took the bull by the horns in the closing stages and blasted up the finishing straight with a good few lengths to spare over the best of the rest.
The winner survived a late scare when he sprinted for a marker that he thought was the finish line, only to find the finish was still a few yards away. He thankfully had enough in his legs to put in another effort and get over the line with plenty to spare over the fast-finishing Sean Featherstone of the promoting club.
Bobby Kane of Bann Wheelers was fourth, while the talented emerging rider Craig McAuley gave a good account of himself in the push to the line, with the VO2 Development Team teenager taking fourth place.
Tour of the Mournes 2013, Newry Wheelers
Jim Trainor Memorial Trophy
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100km A2/A3
- Gavin Magowan (Dromara CC)
- Sean Fetherstone (Newry Wheelers)
- Bobby Kane (Bann Wheelers)
- Craig McAuley (VO2 Development Team)
- Paul Shannon (East Antrim Audi)
- Paul Ferguson (North DOwn)
- Davy McKnight (Team Vision Racing)
- Drew McKinley (Newry Wheelers)
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