Martyn Irvine takes off from the quality breakaway yesterday, making the others look ordinary and never to be seen again (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Martyn Irvine underlined his world-class talent yesterday with a phenomenal show of strength to take one of the country’s biggest one-day races in a canter.
His ride, and recent form, suggests he will be a real force in the An Post Rás, which will be run over a strongman's course that should really suit him and where he must be considered as a general classification contender.
The Madison Genesis man added his name to some of the country’s most illustrious riders on the Shay Elliott Memorial trophy after he crossed the line with minutes to spare over Ali MacAulay (Team ASEA) and Sean McKenna (Aquablue).
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Irvine rode a perfect race over the course of the 140 kilometre event, keeping his powder dry until he needed it most.
That came towards the base of the gruelling ascent of Glenmalure where he attacked.
He got clear on his own from the breakaway and went into time-trial mode, cresting the summit with some 15 seconds to spare on what was left of the escape.
Irvine has been a gold medal winner on the track at World Championships and UCI World Cups, but he still looked thrilled to take a home win yesterday (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
From there he drilled a furious tempo at the head of affairs to the finish, keen for no one to come with him or across to him.
And he had plenty of time to throw his hands in the air as he came over the line, adding the Shay Elliott to his other wins this season.
He took the Waller Cup in Bohermeen late last month as well as back to back wins in both the Joey Whyte Memorial in Stamullen and the Pat Howard Memorial in Ardcath, Co Meath, a little earlier in April.
Irvine was obviously going to be a marked man yesterday but he used his matches wisely.
The race took off straight into a block headwind and though attacks came thick and fast, little stuck until a group of around a dozen went away – with Irvine not there initially.
The Newtownards man sensed the escape was gaining time and he jumped across with the help of eventual runner-up MacAulay.
Ali Macaulay put in a fantastic ride to come home for 2nd place on the day for Team ASEA (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
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The move worked well when those two joined Sean Lacey (Aquablue), Stephen Murray and Mick Lucey (both Strata3-VeloRevolution), Marc Potts (CTC Tomac), Joseph Breheny (UCD CC), Paul Reilly (Fixx Coffee Rouleurs), Paul Edelstein (Subaru Albion) and two of his teammates, among others.
Eoin Morton didn’t make the split but the AmberGreen Energy Tour of Ulster runner-up took home the green jersey for the prime on offer early on.
Some of the other big names to miss it were Bryan McCrystal (Team ASEA) and Sean McKenna (Aquablue).
And even with a deficit of over two minutes to those up ahead McKenna and McCrystal set off in pursuit, trimming the margin as the kilometres ticked down.
Not for the first time this year, the race had to be stopped. A funeral in Avoca caused traffic jams and the promoting club, Bray Wheelers, had little choice but to call a temporary halt to matters.
McKenna takes the sprint for 3rd place, having been unable to get back to the head of the race once Irvine took flight (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
When proceedings were eventually restarted and the respective groups given their time gaps again, the action really kicked off, with Irvine beginning to impose himself.
Sensing the danger if McCrystal and McKenna got across, Irvine knew he had to go for it and he did just that, blasting clear of the break before Glenmalure.
Several tried going in pursuit of the former world track champion but none could match his acceleration and he was quickly out of sight.
There was some co-operation behind but it would take all their cohesion to bring a man of Irvine’s calibre back.
Alas, it wasn’t to be and from an initial gap of a minute, his advantage trebled as those behind gave up the chase. The bunch were even further back as the will to chase all but disappeared.
McKenna and McCrystal did get on level terms with what was left of the break and they took home third and fifth respectively.
Those performances will give them confidence of sticking it out in a long break at the An Post Rás next week, should the cards fall for them that way.
Another noteworthy performance and result was that of Joseph Breheny, the UCD CC man putting up a fearsome fight to take fourth. We’ll have a word with him this afternoon.
But the day belonged to Irvine who looks to be coming into some great form.
When we spoke to him earlier he was unsure whether he would be in the team for the Rás but it would take a brave man not to select him on this form.
We'll have a word with him this evening.
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