Roger Aiken in his new kit of Wheelworx-Asea ready to get the Annaclone GP underway which ended in what he says was his first ever win from a bunch sprint (Photo: David McVeigh - The Belgian Project)
By Brian Canty
Roger Aiken has said he didn’t set out to win today’s Travers Engineering Annaclone GP and was as surprised as anyone when he claimed victory in a bunch sprint.
The Wheelworx-ASEA man is one of the classiest riders in the country on his day and today he waited and waited before coming off the wheel of eventual runner-up Craig Rea (Phoenix CC) in the sprint to take the 2016 season-opener.
“It’s nice to start off with a win, definitely after the cyclocross season it’s good to get stuck back into road racing again,” he said.
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“I wouldn’t say I set out to win but things played out nicely. I was in the right place at the right time; I was there at the end and I sprinted.”
Aiken was his team’s sole rider in the race so knew, given his reputation, he’d have to choose his moment to attack.
“The bunch was all together by the second lap,” he recalled of how events panned out.
“There were a few breakaways but Banbridge CC were controlling it bringing any big moves back.
“Gareth McKee, Sean Downey, John Buller, James Curry and Matthew Adair were all very strong but Newry and Phoenix were strong as well.
“We all helped to bring back the A2s and A3s and we caught them in no time.
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“I had a go on the last climb; Aaron Swan, James Curry and myself had a slight gap over the top but it was brought back on a big descent.”
That opened things up for the sprint that followed and though on his limit from the effort, Aiken found reserves from somewhere.
“It’s not the first time there’s been a bunch sprint but it’s one of the first of those I've won!” he laughed.
Runner-up Craig Rea (Phoenix CC) admitted Aiken was always going to be the man to watch.
“I got my position right, I was second wheel in the sprint, I came around a guy but Roger was on my wheel and probably got me by a wheel or more,” Rea said ruefully.
“Roger’s an experienced rider, he knows what he’s at. He knows when he’s needed at the front and when he should recover.
“And after his effort he sat in the bunch and recovered and then made his effort when he needed to.”
Asked was he upbeat at the An Post Rás route, Aiken was diplomatic.
“I’ve had a brief look at it; there’s been hilly ones before so it’ll suit the light guy,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean the home guys won’t be up there; it’d be perfect for a guy like Mark Dowling.”
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