James King has a few lengths to spare after putting in a very strong finish at the Traders Cup in Dundalk (Photo: Damian Faulkner)
UK-based junior international rider, James King (Sportscover) has taken a very impressive win at the Traders Cup race in Dundalk today.
The teenager made the trip over from Newcastle to ride his first race in Ireland this year and showed a cool head and powerful engine in equal measure to take a really good victory in cold conditions.
On a lumpy course just outside the Co Louth town, King was aggressive as the race entered the closing stages and went clear as the head of the bunch fragmented a little. While there was a regrouping, with around 300 metres remaining he kicked alone to get a gap and maintained it all the way to the line.
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He held off the chasing bunch by a matter of bike lengths. He did, however, have time to put his two hands up and savour a victory that very much made worthwhile his trip to Ireland for the weekend. He took today’s victory having just returned from an Irish junior team training camp in Mallorca.
Just behind King today, former Bray Wheelers man and current Swords CC rider Ken Tobin edged out the best of the rest to take 2nd place. A former Irish junior and senior international, Tobin has been away from the sport for a decade and a half but returned to training last year and did very well in his first competitive outing today.
He got to the line just ahead of the UCD CC duo of Jason O’Callaghan and Sean McKenna.
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The race was a handicap event, with the A4 group riding very well as a unit and only being caught by the A3s with around 13km remaining. Only a handful of the A2 group ever made the juncture, while the A1s never got on terms.
It snowed for around 20kms, increasing the nerves in the groups in what is traditionally a fast and nervy start to the season for many.
Dundalk Cycle Traders Cup (75km)
1st James King (Sportscover)
2nd Ken Tobin (Swords CC)
3rd Jason O'Callaghan (UCD)
4th Sean McKenna (UCD)
5th Nick Coughlan (Barrow Wheelers)
6th John O'Shea (Carlow)
1st Unplaced A1 Colm Quinn (Cuchulainn CC)
1st Unplaced A2 Eoin Morton (UCD)
1st Unplaced A3 John Spain (Bray Wheelers)
1st Unplaced A4 Chris Curtis (Navan RC)
1st Unplaced Woman Eve McCrystal (Garda)
1st Unplaced Junior Craig Arrigan (South Dublin CC)
1st Unplaced Club Man - Gary Shiels
1st Unplaced Club Woman - Annette Dawe
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