By Shane Stokes
Former individual pursuit world record holder Josh Charlton used his track speed to fine effect on Sunday, jumping clear of the day’s big break and then racing to a dominant solo win.
The Great Britain team rider bridged across to a dangerous move and later seized the initiative when it became clear they were likely to be caught.
“It was interesting day, actually. There were real strong winds from the start,” he told Stickybottle at the race finish next to Bective Stud in Meath.
“I've been a few breakaways so far this race, and everything I've been in has always come back. So I gambled on that being the way it was going to go today, and it kind of played out that way.
“About 75k a bigger move went but a few had gone before it, and they'd all come back. But this one looked like it was going somewhere. So I timed my effort there, and I got across to it on my own. I didn’t take anyone with me.”
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Charlton and the others raced onto the finishing circuit and pulled together as the four laps began. However he realized that he needed to put in another big effort.
“The gap kept coming down. The group wasn't working super well, so I knew if I wanted to win, I was going to have to do something a bit radical on my own,” he explained.
“Then with about two laps to go, I went with a couple others. Then about one and a half to go, I hit out on my own. I dug deep and held onto the line.”
Charlton raced in 58 seconds clear of the peloton, which was led home by Irish riders John Buller (Down: Banbridge CC Specsavers) and Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster).
Despite that gap, he didn’t back off the gas until much closer to the line.
“I was told I had a minute with about 3k to go. But even then, I was still stressing,” he said. “I only really sort of sat up and enjoyed it in the last couple 100 meters. It feels fantastic to take the stage win. I’m absolutely delighted.”
