Paul McCarter drives the pace in the escape during Saturday's opening stage of the Bogman 2-Day in Co. Mayo. The Donegal Bay CC man rode a textbook race - taking the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage and safeguarding throughout the final leg yesterday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Bogman Cycle Race 2016)
By Brian Canty
Yesterday’s winner of the Bogman Two-Day, Paul McCarter, savoured his biggest ever victory when he held off Cathal Moynihan (Manor West Hotel Tralee/iBike) by a mere nine seconds.
The Donegal Bay CC man started the final stage of the Western Lakes CC-promoted event 32 seconds clear of the ex-Olympian rower and Rás Mumhan yellow jersey wearer.
But with a clutch of others within a minute of him he knew it would be a nerve-shredder of a final day.
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And when a break of around 10 went clear – including second on GC Keith Finn (@11 secs), McCarter admitted it was touch and go.
Putting in a very strong TT on stage 2 to take the yellow jersey, which he then kept Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter)
“I didn’t expect to win but I knew I was in good enough condition,” he said afterwards.
“I had the usual ebbs and flows this season with a few setbacks but if I get a clear run at things for a month I can find good form.
“I didn’t know if I’d be able to win overall, it was more a stage and a good GC I was after.”
He took yellow courtesy of making the winning break on Saturday and finishing ?sixth (@29 secs) in the time-trial yesterday morning.
“Given the gap the break had after stage one, I knew the GC was only going to be one of five guys for the evening stage after the time-trial.
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“And looking at the riders in the break they were more climbing specialists.
“I knew I could do a good test but I was worried about David Hamilton (North Down CC).”
Alas, he took the jersey and so began the process of trying to defend it.
“We were thin on the ground; we started with three with my brother (Darragh) and nephew (Caolem) but my nephew crashed out on stage one and was gone from the race.
“So I knew the convention of the yellow jersey riding back moves was impossible with just two of us.”
In the yellow jersey on the final stage yesterday when he closed out the win (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter)
The plan thereafter was simple, kind of; get his brother Darragh in the break and go from there.
“We decided to try and cover the moves so even if I missed it and he made it he’d be in there to maybe do something on the stage.
“That’s what happened; the break weren’t riding smoothly, there was a bit of hassle, there were two guys sitting on and eventually, Darragh came back.”
With a couple of other teams having missed the move they started riding behind to close the gap, with Lucan CRC particularly strong.
And inside the last 10 kilometres after the final KOH the bunch saw the break splitting up ahead – with stage winner Sean Lacey (Aquablue) having already gone clear.
“I didn’t celebrate crossing the line because I knew it was touch and go.
“The last straight before the finishing straight we could see Cathal Moynihan; I thought the gap was around 30 seconds but we started to wind up for the sprint and we closed it another few seconds and yeah, it was a major relief to get it.”
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