It all looked a bit too easy for the Cork-Giant race team trio of Robert O’Leary, Dillon Corkery and Ronan Tuomey today but as the latter explains, it was anything but. The teenagers crossed the finish line in this formation at the end of the Tommy Sheehan Memorial in Carrick. (Picture: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
The Cork-Giant racing team achieved a rare and remarkable feat in the Tommy Sheehan Memorial in Carrick on Suir this afternoon, crossing the finish line in a 1-2-3 formation.
The trio of winner Robert O’Leary, runner-up Dillon Corkery and Ronan Tuomey played it to absolute perfection.
Their pulling clear of the field and three-up celebration made for some great photos by photographer Sean Rowe.
First year junior Tuomey (16) explained how the day panned out.
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“We were told by our manager to keep it easy for the first half of the race and on the second lap we were to choose a hard place to go and the three of us were to go together,” he said.
A big break of some 15 riders got away on the first lap but the trio waited for their moment, sensing those up ahead would fail to co-operate sooner or later.
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“Around 10 kilometres into the second lap (of two) myself and Dillon attacked and Robert bridged across and we all worked together," said Tuomey.
“We got across to the break, got them working and then we kept attacking until we got our gap.”
A few times they were reeled in but with one kilometre to go they wriggled clear.
“One guy was chasing us but his gears slipped and he crashed so we just drove it.
“It was a great feeling to win like that; I’ve had a few 1-2s in the last couple of years but never a 1-2-3.”
For the winner, life just gets better and better.
He took his first win last weekend in Rás Luimní, he was called up to the Irish squad for Gent Wevelgem over Easter and now he’s pocketed another win.
“It was great for the three of us to cross the line together; the lads were very strong all day.
"And that’s great to see so early in the season, especially as they’re only first year juniors!”
Full results of all races in Carrick here.
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