Junior rider McLoughlin (17) scalps big name elites at Rás Mumhan | Video

Niall McLoughlin takes a huge win at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan; the Irish Junior Team 17-year-old claiming stage 3 in a bunch sprint (Photo: Brendan Slattery)

Having finished 2nd yesterday on stage 2, Niall McLoughlin went one better on stage 3 at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan today by taking victory. The 17-year-old, riding in Kerry this weekend as part of the Irish junior team, saw off stage 2 winner Conor Murnane (UCD Cycling Club).

Rounding out the podium, after the stage finished in a bunch sprint, was Odhrán Doogan of All human-VeloRevolution after the 107km stage starting and finishing in Knocknagree.

McLoughlin sprinted in at the head of the 55-rider bunch after 2½ hours of racing, much of it in wet conditions, to take the biggest win of his career to date.

A former U16 national cyclocross champion, he usually competes with Covey Westport Wheelers. He had already won the junior race at the Des Hanlon Memorial, part of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series, last month.

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As the race ended in a sprint from a reduced bunch, with most of the general classification men in that front group, there were no significant changes in the overall, with stage 1 winner Lindsay Watson (All human-VeloRevolution) continuing to lead.

With just one stage remained he enjoys a slender gap of just two seconds on Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port), with Monte Guerini (Foran Cycling Club) in 3rd at eight seconds.

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Then comes a group of eight riders all equal on time at 17 seconds: Luke Smith (Moynalty Cycling Club), Ben Fish, Ben (TAAP Cervelo), Conor Hennebry (Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo), Andy Maguire (Pinergy Orwell Wheelers), Conor Halvey (Newcastlewest Cycling Club), Darnell Moore (Velo Revolution), Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port Cycling) and Conor Kissane (Killarney Cycling Club).

Lindsay Watson walks across the line with his bike after the spokes were ripped from his front wheel in a late racing incident (Photo: Brendan Slattery)

Watson has ridden an assured race so far and with just one stage remaining he is in with a great chance of overall victory, despite only deciding to ride Rás Mumhan at late notice when Tour of the North was cancelled.

However, he suffered a nervous moment at the finish today when a rider pulled across him, ripping the spokes from his front wheel. Watson managed to stay upright and was forced to stop and walk up the finishing straight and across the line.

As the incident happened so close to the finish he was credited with the same time as the lead group and keeps his yellow jersey going into the final day of competition.

More to follow.

Stage 3: Knocknagree-Knocknagree 107km

  1. Mcloughlin, Niall JNR Cycling Ireland Jnr Team 42.5km/h  2h30’46”
  2. Murnane, Conor A1 UCD Cycling Club @ s/t
  3. Doogan, Odhran A1 Velo Revolution @ s/t
  4. Rosie, Lee A3 Spokes Racing Team U23 @ s/t
  5. Smith, Jacob A3 Spokes Racing Team U23 @ s/t
  6. Jan Mol, Robbert A1 Moynalty Cycling Club @ s/t
  7. Doyle, Leo A1 Greenmount Cycling Academy @ s/t
  8. Hennebry, Conor A1 Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo @ s/t
  9. Smith, Luke A1 Moynalty Cycling Club @ s/t
  10. Moloney, Sam JNR Munster Cycling – Tarrant Skoda Jnr Team @ s/t
  11. Kennedy, Paul A1 Burren Cycling Club @ s/t
  12. Montgomery, David A1 Spellman Dublin Port Cycling Team @ s/t
  13. Murphy, Cillian A1 Galway Bay Cycling Club @ s/t
  14. Benson, Karl A2 Castlebar Cycling Club @ s/t
  15. Bolger, Sam JNR Cycling Ireland Jnr Team @ s/t

General Classification

  1. Watson, Lindsay (120) Velo Revolution –
  2. Mccarter, Darragh (86) Spellman Dublin Port Cycling +02
  3. Guerini, Monte (48) Foran Cycling Club +08
  4. Smith, Luke (72) Moynalty Cycling Club +17
  5. Fish, Ben (101) TAAP Cervelo +17
  6. Hennebry, Conor (106) Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo +17
  7. Maguire, Andy (80) Pinergy Orwell Wheelers +17
  8. Halvey, Conor (11) Newcastlewest Cycling Club +17
  9. Moore, Darnell (119) Velo Revolution +17
  10. Harvey, Dean (87) Spellman Dublin Port Cycling +17
  11. Kissane, Conor (8) Killarney Cycling Club +17
  12. Springbett, Thomas (50) Foran Cycling Club +23
  13. Mcloughlin, Niall (154) Cycling Ireland Jnr Team +4:10
  14. Murnane, Conor (111) UCD Cycling Club +4:10
  15. Kane, Daniel (100) Spokes Racing Team U23 +4:17

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