JB Murphy clings to yellow in Gorey after very close call
JB Murphy is still in the yellow jersey at the end of stage 2 at the Gorey Three Day. However, it was a close run thing. Dylan Hughes (above) pushed him hard all the way and took the stage win (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
JB Murphy has held onto the yellow jersey at the Gorey Three-Day in Wexford today after putting up a sterling defence.
Dylan Hughes of Spokes Racing Team from the UK would win the stage alone. And while he was overall leader on the road for a time, he was pegged right back by the finish.
It meant though he ran out the victor on the day, JB Murphy and his team did enough to keep the race lead going into the final stage tomorrow.
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The Murphy Surveyors Kilcullen rider came into today’s stage 2 with a one-second lead over Eoghan McLaughlin of NRPT.
And Scottish rider Kevin Barclay (Spokes Racing Team) was just a further second back.
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Aaron Doherty (NRPT) and PJ Doogan (Powerhouse Sport) were the first to really get some clearance from the bunch today as they surged clear early.
Their gap quickly went out to 30 seconds by the 20-kilometre mark. And over the first climb of the day it was Doogan who took maximum point.
Dillon Corkery (NRPT) was next over, thus strengthening his grip on that competition.
After a regrouping, eventual stage winner Dylan Hughes (Spokes Racing Team) was next to go on the attack.
His solo soiree was short-lived but it would not be the last the bunch heard of him.
The attacks came one after another on the five-lap course. But a failure to cooperate and a strong team around the yellow jersey meant nothing was staying away.
Hughes attacked again with a lap to go and this time he was gone. He was in the company of Liam Curley (NRPT), a Scott Orwell rider and Shane Baker of Usher IRC.
The gap went from 35 to 45 seconds and eventually to a minute. It meant Hughes was leader on the road. He only needed 24 seconds to overhaul leader and stage 1 winner JB Murphy.
Liam Curley felt the pace in the break and he dropped back, leaving three up front.
Baker was next to go as Hughes pressed on. But his lead was down to 30 seconds, though he and McArdle of NRPT were working hard.
The gap was tumbling all the way to the line. Credit to Hughes for managing to take victory, but it was Murphy who just about kept yellow.
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