It was a brutal day out in Carlow, with a mix of established riders, and emerging young guns, rising to the top at the Des Hanlon Memorial (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Conn McDunphy (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery) was racing in the sunshine of Spain last weekend but today got reacquainted with the harsh conditions of wet and windy Ireland in the spring as he rode to victory in the Des Hanlon Memorial. It was the first time he has won the race, regarded as one of the hardest and most prestigious on the home scene.
However, while McDunphy really took it on in the final, starting the winning move, he was matched all the way by Liam Crowley (Orwell Wheelers), one of the men of the race. Jack Conroy (Velo Performance) was among those who emerged among the very strongest when the serious questions were asked, as were a number of juniors and first-year U23 riders, including the impressive 18-year-old Callum McCaffrey (Natural-Greatness-Rali-Ale).
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McDunphy got away in a move very early in the race comprised of around 15 riders. However as both of his teammates, Ronan O'Connor and Cian Keogh, missed the move, he was reluctant to press on too much. Gareth O'Neill (Athlete Nutrition Coach Nordic Labs) was also there with Matteo Cigala and Conal Scully (both Dan Morrissey Pissei) and Crowley, among others.
That first group went on the main road, just 5-10km after the start, with McDunphy keen not to go so early in a large group with no team mates. That escape lasted for about 30 minutes before being caught.
Main breakaway
However, not long after the catch was made, another breakaway went away. Junior Hugh Óg Mulhearne (AS Villemur Cyclisme), who is enjoying a very strong season, took it up with a solo attack about 60km into the race, and with about 70km to go. And when he was joined by chasers, that formed the group that was never caught.
McDunphy initially missed the move after young Mulhearne, but he sensed the danger. He made a move out of the bunch and rode across to that move; choosing a section of crosswind after the finish line, where the road is exposed, to strike and made it across. That group eventually swelled, going on to contest the final.
It included Liam Crowley (Orwell Wheelers), Ronan O'Connor and Conn McDunphy (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery), juniors Hugh Óg Mulhearne and Darragh Byrne (both AS Villemur Cyclisme), Josh Callaly and Jack Conroy (Velo Performance), Matteo Cigala and Conal Scully (both Dan Morrissey-Pissei), Fionn Killeen (Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospatial), Gareth O'Neill (Athlete Nutrition Coach Nordic Labs) and Callum McCaffrey (Natural-Greatness-Rali-Ale).
Winning moves
After the penultimate climb, McDunphy once again took advantage of the exposed crosswind section and attacked hard; the race now very much in the business end of the day, with the group having been trimmed back a little. Crowley went after him, with McDunphy spotting him and easing back so they could join forces.
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Behind them, first-year U23 McCaffrey, clearly enjoying a strong day out, attacked after the leading pair. Conroy was then the next solo attacker on the road; the leading four a matter of seconds apart, with the remains of the group not far behind.
Conroy managed to catch and pass McCaffrey, who appeared to gamble on it all coming together again. The teenager decided to ease back and wait for the chasers, rather than burying himself and getting on to Conroy's wheel; a move that may have worked on another day.
However, as McCaffrey was caught by those behind, Conroy managed to get across to the Crowley and McDunphy. And it was that trio that went into the finish, just off the front of the chasers, to battle it out up the final climb.
Crowley, who had been very active all day, was clearly the man to beat in a sprint if it was a three-man battle to the finish line. And so McDunphy, a noted climber, did his best once the 4km final climb began to drop Crowley, and Conroy.
However, every time he got out of the saddle and surged forward, into the headwind, Crowley doggedly stuck to him each time. And as Crowley continued to match McDunphy's surges, Conroy - suffering after a big effort to catch the two leaders before the climb - was falling away, only to fight back on.
Just behind them, Callaly had attacked from the chasing group once the climb started and was fourth man on the road, with McCaffrey then going after him and riding behind Callaly for a long section of that final climb.
About halfway up that climb, Callaly and McCaffrey joined forces and they were getting close to catching Conroy at times; only for him to catch McDunphy and Crowley again. And each time McDunphy attacked up front, the gap between the leading three and Callaly-McCaffrey would extend again.
In the end, Conroy was finally distanced by McDunphy and Crowley. McDunphy then led out the sprint, through Crowley drew level and then just got ahead, only for McDunphy to get back at him and just pip him on the line in a thrilling finish.
Just seconds later, Conroy was 3rd, holding off McCaffrey, who attacked hard after him, distancing Callaly in the process, and claiming a fine 4th; a result that says he is now one to watch. Callaly was next, in 5th, from O'Neill, Cigala and Scully, in 8th. Then came Daniel Stone (Roadman Cycling Club) and James McKenny (Velo Revolution-Speed Queen) in 9th and 10th.
