Paul Forristal has been in stomping form this season, taking road and TT wins. And he's added another this evening; winning stage 2 of the Orwell Two Day in Co Wicklow (File photo by Sean Rowe)
Having taken some impressive wins earlier in the season, Paul Forristal has claimed stage 2 of the Orwell Two Day.
Taking victory for the promoting club, Forristal made the winning breakaway on what was a hard circuit in Co Wicklow.
And though he had spent a long time out front, Forristal went long in the final dash to the line and took a clear win.
He adds that to his two stage wins at the Gorey Three Day and a TT stage win at Rás Mhaigh Eo.
John Hodge (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) ran Forristal closest today but had to be content with 2nd place on the stage.
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And rounding out the podium just behind the leading pair was Antoine Le Corre (UCD-FitzCycles.ie).
However, it is Michael O’Loughlin who holds yellow this evening. The Team Wiggins man won the morning TT today.
And when he missed the winning breakaway this evening he simply rode across to it. That was enough to keep him top of the leader board with one stage remaining.
The riders faced an evening stage today billed as a kermesse, with 10 laps of an 8km circuit.
However, with a climb of over 1km in length to be tackled each time, it proved a tough test.
A breakaway of 10 riders broke clear on the fourth lap. And such was the intensity up front, especially with a climb each lap, that the front group came down to six with three laps to go.
As well as Forristal, Hodge and Le Corre, also in the escape was Conor Gallagher (NRPT-Chill Insurance), Cian Sutcliffe (Team Gerard-DHL) and Andrew Chivers (North Down CC).
It looked like they would survive to fight it out for the win, but O’Loughlin had other ideas.
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The Continental level rider, competing at home this weekend as he comes back from injury, got out of the bunch late.
And he simply bridged across to the leaders on the penultimate circuit. Perhaps because he is a full time rider with an international trade team, he didn’t seem to contest the finish.
But that did not detract from Forristal’s win. He demolished the sprint; and not for the first time this year.
He pulled off a similar show for his two Gorey wins and once again today no photo finish was needed.
Demonstrating his strength throughout the stage, he also gained time at every sprint prime and is now 2nd overall at 29 seconds.
Stage 2 Results: Top 10
1 Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell
2 John Hodge, Panduit Carrick Wheelers
3 Antoine Le Corre, UCD-FitzCycles.ie
4 Conor Gallagher, NRPT-Chill Insurance
5 Cian Sutcliffe, Team Gerard-DHL
6 Andrew Chivers, North Down CC
7 Michael O'Loughlin, Team Wiggins
8 Cian May, Lucan CRC
9 Paul Kennedy, Newcastle West CC
10 Caolam McCater, Donegal Bay CC
Climbing Primes
Lap Three
1 Michael McGlynn, Omagh Wheelers
2 Paul Forristal, Scott Wheelers
3 Antoine Le Corre, UCD
Lap Six
1 Antoine Le Corre, UCD
2 Michael McGlynn, Omagh Wheelers
3 John Hodge, Panduit Carrick Wheelers
Lap Nine
1 Conor Gallagher, NRPT
2 Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell Wheelers
3 Antoine Le Corre, UCD
Finish Line Primes
Lap Four
1Darragh McCarter, Donegal Bay CC
2 Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell
3 Neill Delahaye, Fixx Rouleurs
Lap Eight
1 Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell
2 John Hodge, Panduit Carrick Wheelers
3 Michael McGlynn, Omagh Wheelers
General Classification
1 Michael O'Loughlin, Team Wiggans
2 Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell Wheelers @29 secs
3 Cian Sutcliffe, Team Gerard-DHL @ 56 secs
4 John Hodge, Panduit Carrick Wheelers, @ 1min 03 secs
5 Cian May, Lucan, @ 1min 12 secs
6 Paul Kennedy, Newcastle West CC, @ 1min 12 secs
7 Conor Gallagher, NRPT, @ 1min 13 secs
8 Antoine Le Corre, UCD, @ 1min 26secs
9 Neill Delahye, Fixx Rouleurs, @ 2mins 02 secs
10 Darragh McCarter, Donegal Bay CC, @ 2mins 09 secs
Leaders Jerseys
- Yellow - Michael O'Loughlin, Team Wiggans
- Green - Paul Forristal, Scott Orwell Wheelers
- White - Cian May, Lucan CC
- Polka Dot - Michael McGlynn, Omagh Wheelers
- Lara Gillespie of Scott Orwell was the only woman to survive today's stage, securing maximum points in the Women's competition.
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