Absent from the home scene of late, Ryan Sherlock has been quietly working hard and taken a significant win in Europe. Above, on his way to victory on stage 2 of the Beskidy MTB Trophy today, Friday.
After deciding to switch back to MTB from his main road racing focus of recent years, Ryan Sherlock has taken a fantastic win on the international circuit in Poland today, Friday.
The Irish marathon MTB national champion ran out the winner of stage 2 at the Beskidy MTB Trophy.
The Monaghan man was runner up on yesterday’s 62km opener to British national champion Ben Thomas (Mountain Trax-Vauxhall), who came home in 3hrs 6mins 53 seconds.
The Irishman was 6:19 back on a day of huge gaps in the 360-rider field.
However, Sherlock got the better of the same man on the much harder and longer stage 2 today when the riders tackled a very undulating 84km course littered with steep climbs and descents.
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While today’s stage was a much more testing affair it was tighter at the top than yesterday at the finish line after three mountains were climbed in very hot and dry conditions in southern Poland.
British national champion Ben Thomas (Mountain Trax-Vauxhall) won the opening stage when he forced Sherlock into 2nd place. However, the order was reversed on stage 2 today.
Sherlock clocked a time of 4hrs 18mins 39secs, just 1:40 ahead of Thomas.
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Behind them was German Torsten Mützlitz, who rounded out the podium some 5:31 after the Ireland’s Sherlock had taken what was a fantastic victory.
The field will have its work cut out for it again tomorrow and Sunday when the riders face more mountain passes with stages of 74km and 69km respectively.
However, Sherlock likes his race as long and difficult as possible at as the stages go on and fatigue sets in he has tended to come into his own on the road in recent years.
On today’s stage eventual runner-up Thomas stormed into an early lead but Sherlock kept his cool; catching and passing his rival as the climbing of the longest stage took its toll.
Earlier in the year, in the video interview below, Sherlock spoke to stickybottle about his changed focus for this season.
He said the European Marathon Championships was one goal for this year. Another would be the Marathon World Series, while the World Championships is likely also a target.
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