Peter Hawkins conquered the mountain and the elements for a great win (Photo: Marian Lamb – Cycling Ulster)
Peter Hawkins emerged victorious atop Divis Mountain just outside Belfast City today, Saturday, to take a solo win in the Bobby Crilly Classic.
The IG Sigma Sport rider started the tough ascent with the small peloton that split up the punishing climb to the finish.
Towards the end he rode away from the others with Thomas Martin (Eurocycles). With around 300 metres remaining he distanced Martin to take the win in wet and misty conditions by around ten seconds.
The 50 mile race, which started just outside Crumlin, saw some attacking riding on the three flat circuits the riders negotiated before turning up the narrow track up the climb to the finish. Hawkins said while he was pleased to take another win, he “didn’t feel great” and was glad to have distanced Martin before the finish.
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“He was going very well and I wasn’t feeling overly confident for a sprint finish so it was good to get there on my own,” he told stickybottle.
Martin hung on for a well deserved second place, with Cathal Smyth (Phoenix CC) taking third.
“I tried to get away a few times on the circuits but it was pretty clear everything was being brought back so after a while it was just a case of making sure nothing got away,” said Hawkins.
“I felt I came out of the Ras really well and quite fresh. Since then I’ve been in London and I’ve done four of the Tour Series crits and a nocturne in Smithfield; I got home on Wednesday.”
He said he hoped to be fresher by next weekend when he would line out for the National Road Race Championships in Clonmel.
“I probably suffered from a bit of fatigue today. I had been in London racing and also travelling a fair bit to the races every other day. And then obviously because you’re in London it’s hard to find a place to train. Hopefully in the Nationals I can get in a breakaway with some good riders and we’ll see what happens. I would see a top five as a target. I have a sprint at the end of a hard race; we’ll see what happens.”
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In the A3 race today it was Stephen Harkens of Team Madigan who emerged the winner at the top of the mountain; taking that victory from Shane Farren of North Down and Stephen Walsh of Carn Wheelers.
In the A4 race, relative newcomer Alex Donald led in a podium clean sweep by Phoenix CC, with Paul Hesketh second and Martin Harney in third.
Results Bobby Crilly Races
A1/A2 Race
1) Peter Hawkins (Sigma Sport)
2) Thomas Martin (Eurocycles)
3) Cathal Smyth (Phoenix CC)
4) Glenn Kinning (East Antrim Audi)
5) Desi Foley (Phoenx CC)
6) Ray O'Shaughnessy (Cuchullain CC)
A3 Race
1) Stephen Harkens (Team Madigan)
2) Shane Farren (North Down),
3) Stephen Walsh (Carn Wheelers),
4) Matthew Brennan (Ballymena Chain Reaction),
5) Des Woods (Newry Wheelers)
6) Chris Meenan (Phoenix CC)
First Woman Amy Brice (Phoenix CC)
A4 Race
1) Alex Donald (Phoenix CC)
2) Paul Hesketh (Phoenix CC)
3) Martin Harney (Phoenix CC)
4) Ryan Mitchell (Maryland Wheelers)
5) Stephen Bruce (East Tyrone)
6) Karl Dolan (Omagh Wheelers)
First Woman Sinead Rivers (Roe Valley)
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