Hawkins edges out McCann at ‘P&O Ferries Tour of North’ after day of major splits

McCann and Hawkins (both centre) just about to pounce at the finish as the NODE4s look laboured (Photo: Toby Watson)

Two of Belfast’s favourite cycling sons, Peter Hawkins and David McCann got the better of a NODE4-Giordana trio in the winning breakaway at the ‘P&O Ferries Tour of the North’ today, Saturday, taking first and second on the stage after a lead group of five arrived at the finish together in Rathfriland.

One of the NODE4 Giordana visiting English trio, James Moss has now moved into the yellow jersey.

Yesterday’s Stormont prologue TT winner Frank Niewold of the Dutch SWABO Cycling Team could manage only 20^th place today, missing the main escape and losing over six minutes on a day when the strongmen emerged and put their stamp on the general standings.

Today’s winner Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) is now third overall just one second off the lead while David McCann (RTS Racing) is loitering with intent in fifth on GC, just four seconds off the yellow jersey.

Hawkins told stickybottle he was delighted to win and said he was not disappointed to miss out on going into the yellow jersey. He said with no team mates in the race, being in the lead with two stages remaining would make the race much harder to win overall.

“Tomorrow’s stage is definitely over roads that are easier than today so it will be hard to get away from Moss and his team, but the last stage on Monday is tougher and there is a hard uphill finish so we’ll see how it goes.”

He said when some early moves went today he feared he had missed the boat but was relieved and felt strong from the point he joined the lead group just after the first of two hard climbs at Spelga Dam.

“When we were coming in the road to the finish I was expecting the attacks to come from the others because there was three of them, but that never happened. The finish was actually a bit like yesterday’s stage, it was short uphill but very steep in places so it suited me. I had a tough weekend of racing last weekend and I had trained hard the previous week. But this past week has been proper recovery and I really feel like I’m building all the time for May for some Premier Calendars and the (An Post) Ras.”

There was action from the gun today, with a breakaway of sixteen riders going clear and looking dangerous. It included Irish riders Felix English (Rapha Condor-Sharp), Fraser Duncan (Team Curran Racing) and Conor McAllister (Chain-Reaction Cycles-Vitus).

The team of GC leader Niewold decided to ride after them and while they towed the bunch along for around 25 miles the gap edged out to around two minutes.

The Dutch then decided to stop riding just before Spelga Dam, the first of the day’s two major climbs. When the bunch reached the bottom of that climb the gap to the leaders was around 1:30. Immediately the road went up, McCann saw his chance and blasted out of the bunch. Initially he took a small number of riders with him, but he shelled all of them including Moss as he powered on.

McCann then simply rode across the gap to the breakaway on his own, though the race was far from over behind. Stage winner Hawkins waited until the steeper part of the climb before he had a go and while initially a number of riders went after him, it was only one of the NODE4 riders Matt Higgins that was able to hold him. That duo then caught James Moss, who had been dropped by McCann.

Hawkins worked well with the two NODE4s and blasted across the top of the climb and down the other side, catching the early breakaway and McCann.

There then followed a lull for about ten miles as the break worked together, before they hit the second climb, Santa’s Cottage. Some of the early breakaway men were shattered at that point and got blown out. For those few who were able to hang in, the lumpy roads and attacking on the run in to the finish saw them dropped, until it was just Hawkins and McCann left with the three NODE4s – Moss, Higgins and early breakaway man Kieran Frend.

On the final run in to the finish, the three British team mates were apparently unable to work over McCann and Hawkins. The five arrived into Rathfriland after almost four hours of racing, with McCann leading out the sprint up the short but very steep finishing straight, only for Hawkins to come around him for his fifth win of the season.

Both he and McCann are riding the race with no team mates, so dislodging the NODE4 Giordana boys from the top of the GC won’t be easy. However, Hawkins said he is determined to have a go and McCann looked really strong today.

See full stage and GC results below photos.

All photos courtesy Toby Watson

The early breakaway just before it was caught on Spelga Dam

The NODE4s spot their chance and drive it forward, with David McCann second in line

Meanwhile, the camera shows some of the early breakaway going backwards on the climb

Jack Wilson (leading in grey and red) looked strong but ultimately missed the boat

The finish climb in Rathfriland was a tough one

Stage 2 Rathfriland – Rathfriland, 73.4miles/117.95km

1 Hawkins,Peter IG Sigma Sport 2h45’53″
2 McCann,David RTS
3 Moss,James Node4-Giordana
4 Higgins,Matt Node4-Giordana
5 Frend,Keiran Node4-Giordana
6 Bustard,Tommy Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes @14″
7 Nicholson,Michael Scotland Under 23 @17″
8 Baxter,Simon Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes @01’16″
9 Sampson,James Node4-Giordana @01’17″
10 Sherriffs,Chris Team Bglobal @01’30″
11 Hawdon,Andrew Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes @ s/t
12 Wardell,Rab Scotland Under 23 @01’32″
13 Been,Wouter WTOS Delft. Holland @ s/t
14 Drake,Giles Team Elite @01’36″
15 McAllister,Conor Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus @01’38″
16 Grivell-Mellor,Luke Rapha Condor Sharp @01’40″
17 Duncan,Fraser Team Curran Racing @ s/t
18 English,Felix Rapha Condor Sharp @05’20″
19 Koop,Jos WTOS Delft. Holland @06’02″
20 Niewold,Frank SWABO Cycling Team @ s/t
21 Dean,Ben Team Bglobal @06’05″
22 Gerts,Floris SWABO Cycling Team @ s/t
23 Johnstone,Taylor Scotland Under 23 @ s/t
24 Bethell,Paul Team Elite @ s/t
25 Henry,Jason Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus @ s/t
26 Pilkington,Matt Team Bglobal @ s/t
27 Buskermolen,Jordy SWABO Cycling Team @ s/t
28 Addis,Eddy VC Ecosse @ s/t
29 Rietrboek,Jesper SWABO Cycling Team @ s/t
30 Sweetman,Craig Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 2h51’58″ @ s/t
31 Bracegirdle,Tom Team Elite 2h51’58″ @ s/t
32 Buchanan,Mark Donegal Four Masters 2h51’58″ @ s/t
33 McDonald,Richard Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h51’58″ @ s/t
34 Devlin,Rory Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h51’58″ @ s/t
35 McAllister,Leo Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h51’58″ @ s/t
36 Whitehall,Andrew VC Ecosse 2h52’10″ @06’17″
37 Stewart,Sean Donegal Four Masters 2h52’10″ @ s/t
38 Wilson,Jack East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h52’10″ @ s/t
39 Clarke,Cormac Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h52’10″ @ s/t
40 Foley,Desi Phoenix CC 2h52’10″ @ s/t
41 Gott,Andy West Pennine Road Club 2h52’10″ @ s/t
42 Smyth,Cathal Phoenix CC 2h52’10″ @ s/t
43 McKee,Gareth Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h52’10″ @ s/t
44 Spruit,John WTOS Delft. Holland 2h52’10″ @ s/t
45 Kennaugh,Tim Rapha Condor Sharp 2h52’10″ @ s/t
46 Borst,Rene WTOS Delft. Holland 2h52’10″ @ s/t
47 Finnegan,Derek West Pennine Road Club 2h52’10″ @ s/t
48 Deane,Aaron East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h52’10″ @ s/t
49 Hey,Peter West Pennine Road Club 2h52’10″ @ s/t
50 Stewart,Daniel Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h52’10″ @ s/t
51 Cranston,Gary East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h52’10″ @ s/t
52 Semple,Rich Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h52’10″ @ s/t
53 Beattie,Chris Ballymena Road Club 2h52’10″ @ s/t
54 Rennie,Paul Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h52’10″ @ s/t
55 Featherstone,Sean Phoenix CC 2h52’10″ @ s/t
56 Oliphant,Lewis VC Ecosse 2h52’10″ @ s/t
57 Williams,Simon Team Curran Racing 2h52’10″ @ s/t
58 Inglis,Ian Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h52’21″ @06’28″
59 Cutsforth,Jack Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 2h52’21″ @ s/t
60 McCafferty,Pauric Donegal Four Masters 2h52’21″ @ s/t
61 Barrett,Jack Scotland Under 23 2h52’21″ @ s/t
62 Madden,John Team Curran Racing 2h52’21″ @ s/t
63 Fidler,Steve Team Elite 2h52’21″ @ s/t
64 McHugh,Jason Donegal Four Masters 2h52’21″ @ s/t
65 Harrison,Mike West Pennine Road Club 2h52’21″ @ s/t
66 Battersby,Craig Team Bglobal 2h52’21″ @ s/t
67 Larmour,Willy East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h52’21″ @ s/t
68 Wherity,David Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 2h52’21″ @ s/t
69 Jansen,Luuk WTOS Delft. Holland 2h52’21″ @ s/t
70 O`Connor,Frank Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 2h52’21″ @ s/t
71 Cole,Kyle Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h52’21″ @ s/t
72 Houston,Kyle Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h52’21″ @ s/t
73 Laverty,Colm Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 2h52’21″ @ s/t
74 McWilliams,Stephen Phoenix CC 2h52’21″ @ s/t
75 Taggart,Simon Ballymena Road Club 2h52’21″ @ s/t
76 Jeffries,Owen VC Ecosse 2h52’21″ @ s/t
77 Dempsey,Jonathan East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h52’21″ @ s/t
78 Wilson,Peter Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h52’21″ @ s/t
79 Meenan,Chris Phoenix CC 2h52’21″ @ s/t
80 Rooney,Fergus Phoenix CC 2h52’21″ @ s/t
81 Foppen,Tim SWABO Cycling Team 2h52’21″ @ s/t
82 Lonie,Martin Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h52’21″ @ s/t
83 Curran,Liam Team Curran Racing 2h52’36″ @06’43″
84 McMaster,James Team Curran Racing 2h52’36″ @ s/t
85 Wilbraham,Pete Team Elite 2h52’40″ @06’47″
86 Van der Niet,Rob SWABO Cycling Team 2h52’47″ @06’54″
87 Middendorp,Jelle WTOS Delft. Holland 2h56’40″ @10’47″
88 Irvine,Mark Team Curran Racing 3h06’23″ @20’30″
89 McCann,Chris Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 3h06’30″ @20’37″
90 Kennedy,Peter East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 3h09’06″ @23’13″
91 Hey,Jon West Pennine Road Club 3h11’17″ @25’24″
92 Dolan,Liam Unattached 3h11’17″ @ s/t
93 Bott,Richard Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 3h17’01″ @31’08″
94 Brennan,Matthew Ballymena Road Club 3h19’55″ @34’02″
95 Bankhead,Ryan Ballymena Road Club 3h22’07″ @36’14″
96 Brown,Greg Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 3h25’42″ @39’49″
97 Sweeney,Eddie Donegal Four Masters 3h30’00″ @44’07″
98 Robinson,Colin Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 3h30’00″ @ s/t
99 Gorman,Gary Stamullen-M Donnelly FastShip 3h30’00″ @ s/t
100 McAllister,Stephen Ballymena Road Club 3h30’00″ @ s/t

General Classification

1 Moss,James Node4-Giordana 2h47’45″
2 Higgins,Matt Node4-Giordana 2h47’46″ @01″
3 Hawkins,Peter IM Sigma Sport 2h47’46″ = s/t
4 Frend,Keiran Node4-Giordana 2h47’47″ @02″
5 McCann,David RTS 2h47’49″ @04″
6 Bustard,Tommy Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 2h47’58″ @13″
7 Nicholson,Michael Scotland Under 23 2h48’03″ @18″
8 Baxter,Simon Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 2h49’10″ @01’25″
9 Sampson,James Node4-Giordana 2h49’10″ = s/t
10 Sherriffs,Chris Team Bglobal 2h49’21″ @01’36″
11 Hawdon,Andrew Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 2h49’24″ @01’39″
12 Been,Wouter WTOS Delft. Holland 2h49’24″ = s/t
13 Drake,Giles Team Elite 2h49’27″ @01’42″
14 Duncan,Fraser Team Curran Racing 2h49’29″ @01’44″
15 Wardell,Rab Scotland Under 23 2h49’31″ @01’46″
16 Grivell-Mellor,Luke Rapha Condor Sharp 2h49’31″ = s/t
17 McAllister,Conor Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h49’32″ @01’47″
18 English,Felix Rapha Condor Sharp 2h53’06″ @05’21″
19 Niewold,Frank SWABO Cycling Team 2h53’45″ @06’00″
20 Henry,Jason Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h53’50″ @06’05″
21 Pilkington,Matt Team Bglobal 2h53’52″ @06’07″
22 Dean,Ben Team Bglobal 2h53’52″ = s/t
23 Buskermolen,Jordy SWABO Cycling Team 2h53’52″ = s/t
24 Buchanan,Mark Donegal Four Masters 2h53’55″ @06’10″
25 Gerts,Floris SWABO Cycling Team 2h53’57″ @06’12″
26 Bethell,Paul Team Elite 2h53’57″ = s/t
27 Addis,Eddy VC Ecosse 2h53’59″ @06’14″
28 Bracegirdle,Tom Team Elite 2h54’02″ @06’17″
29 Rietrboek,Jesper SWABO Cycling Team 2h54’02″ = s/t
30 Koop,Jos WTOS Delft. Holland 2h54’02″ = s/t
31 McAllister,Leo Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h54’03″ @06’18″
32 McDonald,Richard Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h54’04″ @06’19″
33 Johnstone,Taylor Scotland Under 23 2h54’06″ @06’21″
34 Sweetman,Craig Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 2h54’06″ = s/t
35 Devlin,Rory Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’06″ = s/t
36 Wilson,Jack East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h54’08″ @06’23″
37 Cranston,Gary East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h54’09″ @06’24″
38 Oliphant,Lewis VC Ecosse 2h54’10″ @06’25″
39 McKee,Gareth Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h54’11″ @06’26″
40 Clarke,Cormac Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’12″ @06’27″
41 Deane,Aaron East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h54’12″ = s/t
42 Spruit,John WTOS Delft. Holland 2h54’12″ = s/t
43 Foley,Desi Phoenix CC 2h54’12″ = s/t
44 Williams,Simon Team Curran Racing 2h54’12″ = s/t
45 Stewart,Daniel Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’13″ @06’28″
46 Cutsforth,Jack Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 2h54’13″ = s/t
47 Kennaugh,Tim Rapha Condor Sharp 2h54’13″ = s/t
48 Semple,Rich Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h54’14″ @06’29″
49 Smyth,Cathal Phoenix CC 2h54’15″ @06’30″
50 Stewart,Sean Donegal Four Masters 2h54’15″ = s/t
51 Rennie,Paul Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h54’16″ @06’31″
52 Fidler,Steve Team Elite 2h54’18″ @06’33″
53 Beattie,Chris Ballymena Road Club 2h54’18″ = s/t
54 Finnegan,Derek West Pennine Road Club 2h54’20″ @06’35″
55 Gott,Andy West Pennine Road Club 2h54’21″ @06’36″
56 Whitehall,Andrew VC Ecosse 2h54’21″ = s/t
57 Borst,Rene WTOS Delft. Holland 2h54’21″ = s/t
58 Lonie,Martin Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 2h54’22″ @06’37″
59 Wilson,Peter Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’22″ = s/t
60 Inglis,Ian Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’23″ @06’38″
61 Hey,Peter West Pennine Road Club 2h54’24″ @06’39″
62 Jeffries,Owen VC Ecosse 2h54’25″ @06’40″
63 Taggart,Simon Ballymena Road Club 2h54’25″ = s/t
64 Harrison,Mike West Pennine Road Club 2h54’25″ = s/t
65 Laverty,Colm Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 2h54’26″ @06’41″
66 Battersby,Craig Team Bglobal 2h54’27″ @06’42″
67 Foppen,Tim SWABO Cycling Team 2h54’27″ = s/t
68 Houston,Kyle Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 2h54’27″ = s/t
69 Wherity,David Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 2h54’28″ @06’43″
70 Cole,Kyle Cycling Ulster-Slane Cycles 2h54’28″ = s/t
71 Featherstone,Sean Phoenix CC 2h54’29″ @06’44″
72 Dempsey,Jonathan East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h54’29″ = s/t
73 Jansen,Luuk WTOS Delft. Holland 2h54’31″ @06’46″
74 Madden,John Team Curran Racing 2h54’31″ = s/t
75 Larmour,Willy East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 2h54’31″ = s/t
76 Meenan,Chris Phoenix CC 2h54’34″ @06’49″
77 McHugh,Jason Donegal Four Masters 2h54’34″ = s/t
78 Rooney,Fergus Phoenix CC 2h54’35″ @06’50″
79 McCafferty,Pauric Donegal Four Masters 2h54’35″ = s/t
80 McWilliams,Stephen Phoenix CC 2h54’35″ = s/t
81 O`Connor,Frank Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 2h54’39″ @06’54″
82 Barrett,Jack Scotland Under 23 2h54’39″ = s/t
83 Van der Niet,Rob SWABO Cycling Team 2h54’41″ @06’56″
84 Wilbraham,Pete Team Elite 2h54’44″ @06’59″
85 McMaster,James Team Curran Racing 2h54’47″ @07’02″
86 Curran,Liam Team Curran Racing 2h54’59″ @07’14″
87 Middendorp,Jelle WTOS Delft. Holland 2h58’39″ @10’54″
88 Irvine,Mark Team Curran Racing 3h08’27″ @20’42″
89 McCann,Chris Chain Reaction Cycles-Vitus 3h08’42″ @20’57″
90 Kennedy,Peter East Antrim CC-Agnew Audi 3h11’21″ @23’36″
91 Hey,Jon West Pennine Road Club 3h13’26″ @25’41″
92 Dolan,Liam Unattached 3h14’02″ @26’17″
93 Bott,Richard Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes 3h18’55″ @31’10″
94 Brennan,Matthew Ballymena Road Club 3h22’06″ @34’21″
95 Bankhead,Ryan Ballymena Road Club 3h24’44″ @36’59″
96 Brown,Greg Dooleys Cycles.co.uk 3h27’44″ @39’59″
97 Sweeney,Eddie Donegal Four Masters 3h32’07″ @44’22″
98 McAllister,Stephen Ballymena Road Club 3h32’09″ @44’24″
99 Gorman,Gary Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 3h32’17″ @44’32″
100 Robinson,Colin Stamullen-M Donnelly Fast 3h32’19″ @44’34″