Impressive Mick Fitzgerald powers to solo win in Castlelyons

The Strata3-VeloRevolution team was celebrating in Cork today with three men in the top eight and Mick Fitzgerald, above, taking victory (Photo: George Doyle)

By Brian Canty

Mick Fitzgerald has won the Castlelyons Open Road Race in Cork this afternoon after he soloed clear of three breakaway companions with four kilometres to go and held on to the finish.

On a rotten afternoon for racing, the Strata3-VeloRevolution man showed he will be one to watch at the Suir Valley Three-Day next weekend after imposing himself today.

It was a short blast in Cork; just one hour of racing followed by three laps of a 2.1km course. And the eventual winner showed real skill in navigating his way around the course.

The main move took most of the race to establish itself, partly due to the strong field that convened for the contest.

In the break were Fitzgerald, Eoin O’Connell (Blarney CC), Barry Meade (Unattached) and the impressive first-year junior Robert O’Leary (Cork Giant).

They worked well together but sensing danger from behind, Fitzgerald jumped away with two laps to go and had enough time to celebrate on the line.

Young O’Leary is clearly in some great form after an excellent Scott Bicycles Junior Tour of Ireland and he took second from O’Connell, with Meade finishing fourth.

Fitzgerald’s teammate Michael Lucey led in the bunch for fifth ahead of Dion McCarthy (Zanatta Lotto) and Stephen Murray; the latter making it three men in the top eight for Strata3-VeloRevolution.

Cathal Moynihan of Aquablue rounded out the prizes in 8th place.