Paddy Clarke opens account with win over rising star Daire Feeley

Paddy Clarke starts his season by winning the West Coast Wheelers Open Race today in Loughrea, Co Galway. The Fitscience man just got the better of first year U23 international Daire Feeley of iTap (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter.)

Paddy Clarke has started the 2015 season with a brilliant victory in the West Coast Wheelers Open Race in Loughrea, Co Galway today.

He edged out breakaway partner Daire Feeley (iTap) on the line to repeat his win in the event of 12 months ago.

A prolific junior from last year, Feeley will be relieved to get his first podium in the bag as his Ned Flanagan Memorial was cut short last weekend by a mechanical.

Fitscience man Clarke was one of the very best on the domestic front last year, taking a string of early season wins and remaining competitive for much of the season.

And he’s picked up where he left off in 2014, winning today’s showpiece event in Connacht in great style.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

Last year’s Rás Mumhan runner-up went clear with Feeley on the first climb of today’s 85-kilometre event and rode up and over for the remainder of the race before winning the sprint at the finish.

While Clarke proved the winner, Feeley's willingness and his ability to hit for home from so far out on such a hard day bodes well in his first real outing as an U23 rider.

In the separate A4 race, Galway Bay CC man Sean O’Connor made it two wins in as many weeks.