The winning breakaway in the Charleville Two Day A2-A3 race on yesterday's stage 3. In third place is John Aherne (in blue) who would win the race outright. Just behind him is Mike Brown of Nenagh. He would take stage victory from this move (Photo: Conor Coleman)
John Aherne wins Charleville Two Day A2-A3
John Aherne (De Ronde van Cork) rode well across all three stages of the A2-A3 Charleville Three Day to take the title for 2017.
He may not have won any of the stages, but he got out of the bunch on the opening and concluding leg. And in the middle TT stage he did enough to keep himself in the fight for the final yellow jersey.
The impressive Aherne went into today's final stage 3rd overall. The only men ahead of him were Cian Smailes (Tralee Manor West iBike) and Bryan Geary of Scott Orwell.
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That pair had ridden away from everyone to take 1st and 2nd - Geary winning - that opening stage. But Aherne would get clear in a chasing group and he beat both of them in the Saturday evening TT.
And on today's concluding 92km stage, when the winning breakaway gained just over one minute on the peloton; Aherne was in there and riding into yellow.
Crucially for him, nether Smailes - who went into the race lead after the TT - nor Geary were in that breakaway. And so it was Aherne who ran out the overall winner.
And it was the men he was with in the stage 3 winning breakaway that filled the other places in the top 5 of the general standings.
Mike Brown (Nenagh) would claim the final stage from the breakaway; edging out Sam Gilmore (Arcane) and Senan O'Dwyer (Limerick CC).
Derek Byrne of Newbridge was also in that victorious stage 3 escape, placing 4th.
Scott-Orwell's Geary beats Smailes for stage 1. But Aherne and Walsh are just behind; and crucially just ahead of the bunch gaining time that would prove the winning of the race (Photo: Conor Coleman)
In the end Aherne took the title by 14 seconds from Byrne. Stage 3 winner Brown ended the race 3rd overall. And O'Dwyer, who rounded out the podium on the final stage, was 4th overall.
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Neil of Scott Orwell would finish 12 seconds down on the breakaway on stage 3 and that was enough to see him finish 5th overall.
And then cane Smailes and Geary; 5th and 6th overall at 40 and 58 seconds respectively.
First two Charleville Two Day stages
The opening stage of the race on Saturday, an 86.2km road race, was won well Geary. The Scott-Orwell man got the better of Cian Smailes (Tralee Manor West iBike).
They finished together and were 27 seconds up on the next man home; eventual race winner John Aherne. He arrived at the line with Padraig Walsh (Comeragh CC) for company.
There was then a further 16 seconds back to another duo; PJ Collins of Raparee and Cian Dolan of Team iTap.
And another two seconds back Keith Colville of Clonmel CC brought the bunch home for 7th place.
That meant a gap of 45 seconds between the leading two - Geary and Smailes - and the main bunch.
The stage 2 TT on Saturday evening was won by William McCormack of St Tiernans CC by 3.8 seconds from PJ Collins. Killian Heary (CKR CC) was 3rd a further two seconds.
And the eventual outright winner John Aherne placed 9th, at 16 seconds; a result that very much kept his hopes alive.
Runner-up on stage 1 Smailes would finish in 13th place at 22 seconds.
Yellow jersey and stage 1 winner Geary would place 34th at 40 seconds. It was a poor result after his fine victory earlier in the day.
That TT outcome meant Smailes went into the yellow jersey for today’s final stage. But the gaps at the top were small.
Geary was 2nd overall at 18 seconds. And Aherne was 3rd, at 21 seconds. Next came TT winner McCormack, at 23 seconds. And PJ Collins was 5th at 25 seconds.
But just as he had done on the opening stage; Aherne got up the road in the concluding stage.
And it was his consistency that won it for him; an excellent end of season ride for the man from De Ronde van Cork.
Sept 2 & 3: Charleville Two Day
Charleville, Co Cork
A2-A3 Race
Stage 3: Charleville-Charleville (91.2km)
1 Brown,Mike NEA Nenagh CC A 2h21'57"
2 Gilmore,Sam ARC Arcane CT 2h21'57"
3 O'Dwyer,Senan LIA Limerick CC A 2h21'57"
4 Byrne,Derek NEW Newbridge CC 2h21'57"
5 McCarthy,Michael MSL MSL Mercedes Benz Cor 2h21'57"
6 Allen,Denis NCB NCW B 2h21'58" @01"
7 Aherne,John DRV DRVC 2h21'58" @ s/t
8 Hudson,Neil SCA Scott Orwell A 2h22'09" @12"
9 Butler,Stephen NEA Nenagh CC A 2h22'16" @19"
10 Cullen,Derek NCB NCW B 2h22'59" @01'02"
11 Heary,Killian CKA CKR CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
12 Walsh,Thomas COA Comeragh CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
13 Colville,Keith CLO Clonmel CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
14 Fuller,Shane MSL MSL Mercedes Benz Cor 2h22'59" @ s/t
15 Pryce,Michael SHA Sheelin CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
16 Reagan,Tom GMA Gerry McVeigh Cars A 2h22'59" @ s/t
17 Collins,PJ RAP Raperee CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
18 Lapierre,Don BLA Blarney Cycling Club 2h22'59" @ s/t
19 McNamara,Derry DOL Dolmen CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
20 Foley,Declan KIL Kilmallock CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
21 Powell,Stephen DRV DRVC 2h22'59" @ s/t
22 Talumaa,Tiit UNA Un-Attached 2h22'59" @ s/t
23 Allison,Darren RAP Raperee CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
24 Oakes,Cathal DOL Dolmen CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
25 Smailes,Cian TMW Tralee Manor West ibi 2h22'59" @ s/t
26 Scullion,Michael CAR Carn Wheelers 2h22'59" @ s/t
27 Walsh,Padraig COM Comeragh 2h22'59" @ s/t
28 Kenny,Jason COA Comeragh CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
29 Geary,Bryan ORW Scott Orwell CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
30 Power,Hugh BAN Bandon CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
31 Acheson,Neil BUR Burren CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
32 Quigley,Mark SHE Sheelin CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
33 Hodges,Neil KAN O'Leary Stone Kanturk 2h22'59" @ s/t
34 Canty,Jeremy AQA Aqua Blue Academy 2h22'59" @ s/t
35 Duffy,Dessie CKR CKR CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
36 Fitzgerald,Philip LIA Limerick CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
37 Wood,Eoin NTW North Tipp Wheelers 2h22'59" @ s/t
38 O'Riordan,Sean VAL Valley Wheelers 2h22'59" @ s/t
39 Turner,Bradley LAO Laois CTC 2h22'59" @ s/t
40 Crowley,Henry SMA Team Smartlamp Aviati 2h22'59" @ s/t
41 Gahan,Anthony LIM Limerick CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
42 Grennell,Andre ARC Arcane CT 2h22'59" @ s/t
43 Bailey,Dan BAA Bandon CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
44 Condon,Kieran CAR Panduit Carrick Wheel 2h22'59" @ s/t
45 Scanlon,Graham SCA Scott Orwell A 2h22'59" @ s/t
46 Shanahan,Tom LIA Limerick CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
47 Luke,Joel NCA NCW A 2h22'59" @ s/t
48 Cosgrove,Sean CKA CKR CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
49 McCormack,William TIE St Tiernans CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
50 Kenny,Rhys COA Comeragh CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
51 Punch,Jeff LIA Limerick CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
52 Troy,Ger BUA Burren CC A 2h22'59" @ s/t
53 Sparrow,Matthew BAN Bandon CC 2h22'59" @ s/t
54 Brannagan,Ciaran PAR Park Wheelers 2h22'59" @ s/t
55 Hughes,Barry DRO Drogheda Wheelers 2h22'59" @ s/t
56 Dolan,Cian TIT Team i Tap 2h23'34" @01'37"
57 Forde,Ger GMA Gerry McVeigh Cars A 2h24'04" @02'07"
58 Corkery,Michael DRV DRVC 2h24'04" @ s/t
59 Murphy,Ciaran GMA Gerry McVeigh Cars A 2h24'04" @ s/t
60 Casey,Edward KIL Killorglin CC 2h24'04" @ s/t
61 Staunton,Robbie SMA Team Smartlamp Aviati 2h24'04" @ s/t
62 Guiren,David NCB NCW B 2h24'04" @ s/t
63 Woolley,Eoin NEA Nenagh CC A 2h24'04" @ s/t
64 Ryan,Eoin SMA Team Smartlamp Aviati 2h24'04" @ s/t
65 O'Sullivan,David TMW Tralee Manor West ibi 2h24'04" @ s/t
66 Blinovs,Janis WES Western Lakes 2h24'04" @ s/t
67 Kelly,Robert SHA Shannonside CC 2h24'36" @02'39"
68 Pryce,Tony SHA Sheelin CC A 2h26'14" @04'17"
69 Becton,Richie DRO Drogheda Wheelers 2h29'20" @07'23"
70 McDonald,Gary BUA Burren CC A 2h30'38" @08'41"
71 Boyne,John LAK Lakeside Wheelers Mul 2h34'50" @12'53"
72 O'Neill,Ken SCA Scott Orwell A 2h34'59" @13'02"
73 O'Sullivan,James KIA Killarney CC A 2h34'59" @ s/t
74 Quinn,Richard CRN CRNS 2h34'59" @ s/t
75 Sherlock,Kevin NEA Nenagh CC A 2h34'59" @ s/t
76 Dillon,Aaron COA Comeragh CC A 2h34'59" @ s/t
77 O'Branngan,Oisin PAR Park Wheelers 2h38'31" @16'34"
78 Byrne,Ryan ARC Arcane CT 2h40'10" @18'13"
79 Ryan,Niall BAN Bandon CC 2h41'04" @19'07"
80 Hickey,TJ UNA Un-Attached 2h41'04" @ s/t
81 Hanrahan,Ben BAN Bandon CC 2h43'28" @21'31"
82 Mannik,Indrek REV Revolution CC 2h44'50" @22'53"
83 Griffen,John James TMW Tralee Manor West ibi 2h47'33" @25'36"
84 Coen,Cale CAS Castlebar CC 2h47'33" @ s/t
85 Dunne,Kevin CRN CRNS A 2h51'43" @29'46"
Final General Classification
1 Aherne,John 2 DRVC 4h41'55"
2 Byrne,Derek 2 Newbridge CC 4h42'09" @14"
3 Brown,Mike 2 Nenagh CC A 4h42'16" @21"
4 O'Dwyer,Senan 2 Limerick CC A 4h42'21" @26"
5 Hudson,Neil 2 Scott Orwell A 4h42'25" @30"
6 Smailes,Cian J Tralee Manor Wes 4h42'35" @40"
7 Geary,Bryan 2 Scott Orwell CC 4h42'53" @58"
8 McCormack,William 3 St Tiernans CC 4h42'58" @01'03"
9 Collins,PJ 2 Raperee CC 4h43'00" @01'05"
10 Gilmore,Sam 3 Arcane CT 4h43'02" @01'07"
11 Sparrow,Matthew 2 Bandon CC 4h43'06" @01'11"
12 Allen,Denis J NCW B 4h43'09" @01'14"
13 Wood,Eoin 2 North Tipp Wheel 4h43'13" @01'18"
14 Scullion,Michael 2 Carn Wheelers 4h43'15" @01'20"
15 Butler,Stephen 2 Nenagh CC A 4h43'21" @01'26"
16 Bailey,Dan 2 Bandon CC A 4h43'24" @01'29"
17 Reagan,Tom 2 Gerry McVeigh Ca 4h43'24" = s/t
18 Crowley,Henry 2 Team Smartlamp A 4h43'24" = s/t
19 Lapierre,Don 2 Blarney Cycling 4h43'26" @01'31"
20 Kenny,Jason J Comeragh CC A 4h43'28" @01'33"
21 Heary,Killian 2 CKR CC A 4h43'29" @01'34"
22 Cullen,Derek 3 NCW B 4h43'31" @01'36"
23 Shanahan,Tom 3 Limerick CC A 4h43'33" @01'38"
24 Quigley,Mark 2 Sheelin CC 4h43'35" @01'40"
25 Condon,Kieran 3 Panduit Carrick 4h43'35" = s/t
26 Walsh,Thomas J Comeragh CC A 4h43'35" = s/t
27 Walsh,Padraig 2 Comeragh 4h43'37" @01'42"
28 Allison,Darren 2 Raperee CC 4h43'37" = s/t
29 Power,Hugh 2 Bandon CC 4h43'39" @01'44"
30 Cosgrove,Sean 2 CKR CC A 4h43'41" @01'46"
31 Troy,Ger 3 Burren CC A 4h43'43" @01'48"
32 Talumaa,Tiit 2 Un-Attached 4h43'46" @01'51"
33 Scanlon,Graham 2 Scott Orwell A 4h43'46" = s/t
34 Fitzgerald,Philip 2 Limerick CC A 4h43'46" = s/t
35 Hughes,Barry 2 Drogheda Wheeler 4h43'47" @01'52"
36 Turner,Bradley 2 Laois CTC 4h43'48" @01'53"
37 Canty,Jeremy 2 Aqua Blue Academ 4h43'51" @01'56"
38 Hodges,Neil J O'Leary Stone Ka 4h43'54" @01'59"
39 McNamara,Derry 2 Dolmen CC 4h43'57" @02'02"
40 Oakes,Cathal 2 Dolmen CC 4h43'57" = s/t
41 Kenny,Rhys J Comeragh CC A 4h43'59" @02'04"
42 Duffy,Dessie 3 CKR CC 4h43'59" = s/t
43 Gahan,Anthony 3 Limerick CC 4h44'00" @02'05"
44 O'Riordan,Sean 3 Valley Wheelers 4h44'03" @02'08"
45 Pryce,Michael 3 Sheelin CC A 4h44'03" = s/t
46 Brannagan,Ciaran 3 Park Wheelers 4h44'07" @02'12"
47 Grennell,Andre 2 Arcane CT 4h44'08" @02'13"
48 Luke,Joel 2 NCW A 4h44'09" @02'14"
49 Punch,Jeff 3 Limerick CC A 4h44'09" = s/t
50 Acheson,Neil 3 Burren CC 4h44'13" @02'18"
51 Fuller,Shane 2 MSL Mercedes Ben 4h44'16" @02'21"
52 Murphy,Ciaran 2 Gerry McVeigh Ca 4h44'16" = s/t
53 Powell,Stephen 3 DRVC 4h44'21" @02'26"
54 Foley,Declan 3 Kilmallock CC 4h44'23" @02'28"
55 Colville,Keith 3 Clonmel CC 4h44'24" @02'29"
56 Dolan,Cian J Team i Tap 4h44'33" @02'38"
57 Forde,Ger 2 Gerry McVeigh Ca 4h44'36" @02'41"
58 Blinovs,Janis 3 Western Lakes 4h44'41" @02'46"
59 Corkery,Michael 3 DRVC 4h44'44" @02'49"
60 O'Sullivan,David 3 Tralee Manor Wes 4h44'55" @03'00"
61 Staunton,Robbie 2 Team Smartlamp A 4h45'00" @03'05"
62 Ryan,Eoin 2 Team Smartlamp A 4h45'12" @03'17"
63 Woolley,Eoin 3 Nenagh CC A 4h45'18" @03'23"
64 Guiren,David 2 NCW B 4h45'28" @03'33"
65 Kelly,Robert J Shannonside CC 4h45'30" @03'35"
66 Casey,Edward 3 Killorglin CC 4h45'34" @03'39"
67 Pryce,Tony 3 Sheelin CC A 4h47'37" @05'42"
68 Becton,Richie 3 Drogheda Wheeler 4h50'13" @08'18"
69 McDonald,Gary 3 Burren CC A 4h51'40" @09'45"
70 McCarthy,Michael 2 MSL Mercedes Ben 4h52'31" @10'36"
71 Dillon,Aaron J Comeragh CC A 4h55'41" @13'46"
72 O'Neill,Ken 3 Scott Orwell A 4h55'41" = s/t
73 Boyne,John J Lakeside Wheeler 4h55'54" @13'59"
74 Sherlock,Kevin 3 Nenagh CC A 4h56'05" @14'10"
75 Quinn,Richard 3 CRNS 4h56'05" = s/t
76 O'Branngan,Oisin 3 Park Wheelers 4h59'41" @17'46"
77 Byrne,Ryan 2 Arcane CT 5h00'36" @18'41"
78 Hickey,TJ 3 Un-Attached 5h01'49" @19'54"
79 Ryan,Niall 3 Bandon CC 5h02'30" @20'35"
80 O'Sullivan,James 2 Killarney CC A 5h04'48" @22'53"
81 Hanrahan,Ben J Bandon CC 5h04'49" @22'54"
82 Mannik,Indrek 3 Revolution CC 5h06'08" @24'13"
83 Coen,Cale 2 Castlebar CC 5h08'02" @26'07"
84 Griffen,John James 3 Tralee Manor Wes 5h08'44" @26'49"
85 Dunne,Kevin 3 CRNS A 5h22'08" @40'13
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