Paddy Clarke took a brilliant win in the T. Bourke Memorial Classic in Westport, Co. Mayo this afternoon. Leading the escape here is Neil Delahaye (Team ASEA) from Fitscience's Clarke, with Paul Edelstene of Subaru-Albion in third (Picture: Con McKeown)
A winner in the first days of the season in Loughrea, Co Galway; Paddy Clarke has once again tasted victory.
This time the Fitscience man was first home in his native Mayo; taking the Tom Bourke Memorial Classic in Westport.
The race was round 8 of the National Road Series.
Clarke came home solo ahead of Neil Delahaye (Team ASEA), with Anthony Murray (Subaru-Albion) a little further back rounding out the podium.
Clarke and Delahaye pulled clear from the gun with Paul Edelstene (Subaru-Albion) in what was a brave move; the trio striking out for home from the outset.
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They spent around 85km of the 125km race sharing the workload up front until the last hour of racing when Clarke proved strongest.
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Murray was first to lose his place in the escape; a crash with around 40km remaining ending what was a great ride to that point.
And with just Delahaye left to beat, Clarke used his horsepower to ensure they stayed away before getting clear on his own with around 2km remaining.
From then he scattered in the road to win, with strongman Delahaye coming home just behind for 2nd.
After Edelstene fell victim to his crash, his team mate Anthony Murray took off solo in pursuit of the two leaders.
He came in alone for third place. Best of the rest was Mike Storan who took 4th for Fitscience.
Edelstene and Murray have travelled from Australia for next month's An Post Rás.
Their team will ride the Tour of Ulster and Shay Elliott Memorial before the big one.
Round 8, National Road Series
Tom Bourke Memorial Classic
Westport, Co Mayo
A1-A2-A3 Race
1. Paddy Clarke (Fitscience)
2. Neil Deahaye (Team ASEA)
3. Anthony Murray (Subaru-Albion)
4. Mike Storan (Fitscience)
5. PatJoe O'Connell (Westport Covey Wheelers)
6. Michael Devins (Unattached)
7. Eric Joyce (Galway Bay CC)
8. Darragh McCarter (Donegal Bay)
9. David Brady (Team iTap)
10. Ronan O'Flynn (Galway Bay)
A4 Results
1. David Coleman (Ballina CC)
2. David Hanahoe (Castlebar CC)
3. Ross Slattery (Eire Og)
4. Francis O'Hora (Ballina CC)
5. Conor Nerleg (Eire Og)
6. Sean McLoughlin (Westport Covey Wheelers)
7. Eamon Daly (Westport Covey Wheelers)
8. Shane Gilligan (Western Lakes)
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