James Davenport - in black kit - of South Dublin CC on his way to a fantastic win at the Stephen Roche GP in south Dublin (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
James Davenport of South Dublin CC has shown the form that brought him a county rider prize in the An Post Rás last month is still with him, when he took victory in the Stephen Roche GP in south Dublin last night.
The 25-year-old went clear in a really strong escape group that included Eoin Morton (UCD CC), Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers), Andrew Stanley (DUCC), Stephen Clancy (Novo Nordisk), Darragh Long (NRPT) and Mick Fitzgerald (Velorevolution).
Davenport took flight from that group to win alone and had begun to lap the back of the strung out field as he took the chequered flag for his first win of the season.
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Behind, Morton have the others the slip for a clear 2nd, while Ahern won the sprint to round out the podium for hist club Orwell.
Stephen Roche Grand Prix
Wed, June 25th: Dundrum
Promoted by Orwell Wheelers
- James Davenport (South Dublin CC)
- Eoin Morton (UCD CC)
- Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers)
- Andrew Stanley (DUCC)
- Stephen Clancy (Novo Nordisk)
- Darragh Long (NRPT)
- Mick Fitzgerald (Velorevolution)
- Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne)
A2 Prizes
- Dave O'Reilly (South Dublin CC)
- Dave O'Connor (Park Wheelers)
A3 Prizes
- Fionn Sheridan (Orwell Wheelers)
- Paul Coffey (Blanch Wheelies)
- First Junior: Darragh Long (NRPT)
- 1st unplaced Orwell: Valdis Andersons
Eventual winner Davenport presses for home, with the breakaway in disarray just behind (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
There was real quality in the escape last night. Left to right: Mick Fitzgerald of VeloRevolution has always been a strong and menacing rider and a great man to get in the mix in tough contests and get into the results in big races; Andrew Stanley of Dublin University CC has emerged as one of the strongest competitors on the Leinster scene in the past few years though is better suited to climbing than a race like last night's speedfest; Stephen Clancy (in white) is now a US-based pro with the Novo-Nordisk team and is an U23 international who has seen Nations Cup duty with Ireland and raced all over the world the past couple of seasons with his ProContinental team; the big local man Brian Ahern is a former Junior Tour winner, on his day he is a machine on a bike; Eoin Morton of UCD has only emerged in recent seasons and is one of the best riders in Ireland now - he and Mark Dowling of DID Dunboyne were among the very strongest county riders in the Rás last month (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
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Mark Dowling got out of the bunch and pursued the escape but had to settle for 8th place on the night. The winner of Rás Mumhan this year and winner of the county rider prize in the Rás on the final three tough stages, he is one to watch this weekend in the elite race at the National Road Race Championships in Westmeath (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
Two men who love fast racing; Zippy Doyle and Aidan Crowley of VeloRevolution lead the chase in the bunch behind the breakaway (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
The flying James Davenport of South Dublin CC takes victory as he begins to lap sections of the field. He showed his form in the Rás when he took a stage county rider prize.
Morton gave the breakaway the slip to take 2nd place just ahead of his fellow escapees (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
Brian Ahern takes the sprint for third, from Andrew Stanley, Stephen Clancy, Darragh Long and Mick Fitzgerald (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
One of the young guns leads them off last night, at what was a great pre National Championships event with a real family atmosphere and Stephen Roche on hand to present the prizes (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
Stephen Roche was on hand to present the prizes; seen here with winner Davenport and master of ceremonies Paddy Fitz (Photo: Dermot Cooney Photography)
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