Robert O'Leary shows his delight at winning the stage, with the riders taken off course for a period earlier in the stage forcing the race to a brief halt (Photo: Stephan McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Robert O’Leary of the Irish National Team took a fantastic victory on stage three of the Scott Junior Tour of Ireland in Clare this afternoon.
The Cork Giant team man was first home at the head of a 12-strong break that spent much of the 101-kilometre stage out front.
The Gorey Three-Day winner attacked on the run-in for home and just about held off a fast-finishing chase group. It was led in by his Cork Giant teammate – representing Tarrant Skoda Munster - Dillon Corkery.
O’Leary didn’t take the yellow jersey but is just three seconds off it going into stage four tomorrow.
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Taking over at the top of the general classification was Charlie Meredith of the Giant Halo team with his teammate Matthew Cox tied on the same time in second.
O’Leary is next a further three seconds back with Ben Walsh of the NRPT-Magnet.ie in 4th place at four seconds.
Cameron McIntyre (Irish National Team) and Eoghan McLoughlin (Connacht Team) are also in the top 10 on GC.
There was some truly amazing scenery on stage three of the Scott Junior Tour of Ireland this afternoon as the peloton made their way up along the west coast by the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin. And it was a day not without incident as the race was temporarily stopped as the bunch was directed off course. (Photo: Stephen McMahon-Sportsfile)
Today’s third stage took the riders on a loop of east Clare, heading directly west of Ennis for the coast and north through Lahinch before swinging back south for Ennis at Lisdoonvarna.
Denis Meirtens (Holowesko Citadel pbHincapie) was the first to attack but after he was brought back 12 riders went clear.
Their gap quickly swelled as they drove a strong pace out of Ennis before taking the right turn up along the coast by the Cliffs of Moher.
In the break with O’Leary, was Ronan Tuomey (Irish National Team), Dillon Corkery (Tarrant Skoda Munster), Ben Walsh (NRPT-Magnet.ie), Eoghan McLoughlin (Connacht Team), Cameron Biddle (West Midlands), Conor Schunk (Holowesko Citadel pbHincapie), Evan Clouse (Hot Tubes), Ethan Fleville (Island Wheelers), Matthew Cox (Giant Halo Team UK), Clif de Peijper (RSC de Zuidwesthoek) and Ben Hardwick (Swinerton Cycles).
McLoughlin was first over the opening climb of the day after 16.7 kilometres, followed by Biddle and Schunk as a seven-man chase group formed behind them.
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In there were: Noah Putt (Hot Tubes), Andrew Schmidt (Holowesko Citadel pbHincapie), Conor Leech (Cycling Leinster), Logan Zuegar (Hot Tubes), Cameron McIntyre (Irish national team), Floris Van den Brock (RSC de Zuidwesthoek) and Charlie Meredith (Giant Halo Team).
Home for a period from his team's base in the US, the winner of the Junior Tour two years ago stopped by to say hello to the riders today; Eddie Dunbar (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
The chasers closed the gap following a strong chase and when they joined there were 19 men up front with the bunch around two minutes back.
Drama unfolded soon afterwards when the bunch was directed off course which meant the race had to be stopped temporarily and the time gaps reinstated.
A NRPT-Magnet.ie man was dropped from the group, as were both Hardwick and Putt.
Up front, McLoughlin from Connacht was clearly going well as he took the next KOH after 57.4km, with Biddle and Schunk second and third.
More became distanced from the break to leave 13 up ahead and the bunch a whopping four minutes behind.
Approaching the finish there was a sustained period of attacking but O’Leary timed his jump to perfection and stomped clear of the others to win by seven seconds.
It was Corkery next over the line in what was a very good day for the Irish riders. He also finished the day in the green points jersey.
Cox of the Giant Halo team took the white jersey as best first-year junior while Schunk of the Holowesko Citadel pbHincapie team ended the day in the polka dot jersey.
But the one they all want is the yellow and that rests on the shoulders of Charlie Meredith (Giant Halo) going into tomorrow’s 110-kilometre fourth stage.
For full results please follow this link.
- Sign-on for tomorrow is in Logue's Bar in Ballyvaughen at 10:45am.
- Note: Transfer to sign-on will take 45 minutes from Ennis.
Having been penalised on stage 1 and then finished 2nd yesterday, Jake Gray lost time on stage 3 (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
July 12th-17th: Junior Tour of Ireland
Stage 3: Ennis-Ennis, 101km
1 O’Leary,Robert Ireland 2h54’56”
2 Corkery,Dillon Tarrant Skoda Munster @07″
3 Clouse,Evan Hot Tubes 2 @ s/t
4 McLoughlin,Eoghan Connaught Team @ s/t
5 McIntyre,Cameron Ireland @ s/t
6 Schunk,Conor HoloweskoCitadel pbHi @ s/t
7 Schmidt,Andrew Hincapi Development @ s/t
8 Meredith,Charlie Giant Halo Team UK @ s/t
9 Leech,Conor Cycling Leinster @ s/t
10 Walsh,Ben NRPT Magnet.ie @ s/t
11 Fleville,Ethan Island Wheelers @ s/t
12 Biddle,Cameron GB West Midlands @ s/t
13 Cox,Matthew Giant Halo Team UK @ s/t
14 Milne,Micah HoloweskoCitadel pbHi @02’44”
15 Gray,Jake Ireland @ s/t
16 Georgi,Etienne Giant Halo Team UK @ s/t
17 Roche,Alexis NRPT Magnet.ie @02’47”
18 Jones,Simon Hot Tubes 2 @02’48”
19 Hect,Gage Hot Tubes 1 @ s/t
20 Kennedy,Calum Edinburgh RC @ s/t
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