Fraser Duncan has beaten former An Post-Chainreaction rider Ronan McLaughlin for the win at the Red Hand Trophy in a two-up sprint just one week after winning the John Moore Memorial (above) in Carryduff (Photo: Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)
Fraser Duncan's transfer from Eurocycles to Northern CC-Dave Kane over the winter after the former squad was discontinued has done little to interrupt his form on the basis of the evidence of the past week.
Last Saturday he came in alone just ahead of a small breakaway to win the John Moore Memorial at Carryduff and today, Saturday, he was at it again in the Red Hand Trophy after 70 miles in Ballymena.
The race, promoted by Ballymena Road Club, was run off in blustery conditions that saw the field split to pieces and the really strong riders come to the fore towards the end.
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The route, which took the riders as far as Ballycastle and along the coast road for some of the way, was through some stunning countryside and on some of the roads the Giro d'Italia will tackle in May.
After around 15 miles, a lead group of approximately 20 riders formed at the head of affairs and that was to fracture under the weight of some very aggressive riding by the main protagonists.
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They included Duncan, McLaughlin (Dig Deep-Inspired Cycling), Anthony Walsh (UCD CC), Ryan Sherlock (CT Tomacc) and Adam Armstrong (Northern CC-Dave Kane), to name but a few.
In the latter stages of the race a small group containing, among others, Duncan, McLaughlin and Walsh, pulled clear.
In the final shake up it was Duncan who got the better of McLaughlin for victory in a two up sprint after they had dropped those they were with.
And in the remnants of the original large escape group behind, Armstrong and Sherlock took flight. They caught those riders that the winner and runner-up had been with, and Armstrong won the sprint for third ahead of Sherlock in fourth place.
More later, including full results.
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