By Brian Canty
Philip Lavery (Node 4 Giordana) has won the Stephen Roche GP in fine style tonight, Wednesday, when he edged out Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) and Stephen Halpin in a thrilling race before a huge crowd on the Meadowmount circuit in Ballinteer.
Lavery will now switch his attention to Sunday's National Road Race Championships in Clonmel where he will be aiming for a first U23 title. Based on his current form - including his top ten in the final stage of the Tour de Beauce in Canada last week - he will certainly be in with a shout of that, and also in the mix for the elite honours.
A large turnout assembled on the start-line for the ever-popular event and though Nicolas Roche was in attendance his role was restricted to that of spectator, no doubt keeping a close eye on those who are most likely to pose a threat on Sunday.
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Of those, Lavery will give him most trouble; while others who rode well tonight included French-based rider Anthony Walsh as well as Halpin (Metaltek-SCOTT) and Dowling.
The race took the format of approximately 50 A3 riders being let off first with the A2's just behind and the scratch group 30 seconds further back.
As usual, the race was run over the extremely short (less than 2 minutes per lap) and tight circuit and though conditions were good, it didn't stop a few spills occurring; but there were no major casualties.
The race all came back together after about 25 minutes of racing, primarily due to some strong cohesion from the scratch group, and from there to the finish it was attack after attack with Tim O'Regan (DID Dunboyne), Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing Club), local man Brian Ahern (Orwell Wheelers) and Anthony Walsh all making useful looking forays.
Alas, each was brought back but it didn't dissuade Lavery from trying again and again to get clear.
But it wasn't to be, and when it came down to the last lap it was Lavery who positioned himself well into the last bend, turned on the power and galloped to a fine win just ahead of Dowling and Halpin with the evergreen Aidan Crowley in fourth.
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Result: Stephen Roche GP
1. P Lavery (Node 4 Giordana)
2. M Dowling (DID Dunboyne)
3. S Halpin (Metaltek-SCOTT)
4. A Crowley (DID Dunboyne)
5. J Lynch (Murphy Surveyors)
6. B Ahern (Orwell Wheelers)
7. E Murtagh (Lucan)
8. J Priest (Lucan)
Unplaced A2
1st Darragh Zaidan VC Morteau
2nd Dave Coughlan DTC Orwell Wheelers
Unplaced A3
1st Barry Griffin Comeragh CC
2nd Hugh McMahon DID Dunboyne
Three Primes representing each of the Stephen Roche Triple 25 years ago
Giro D'Italia Prime
Dave Coughlan DTC Orwell Wheelers
Tour De France Prime
Ciaran O Conluain UCD
World Championships Prime
Philip Lavery Node 4 Giordana
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