Report: Fenlon holds off late O’Loughlin surge to take Vets Road Champs

Close Call: Fenlon just about holds off O’Loughlin, with Swinand third

Brian Canty

In Clonmel

Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) has won the National Veteran’s Road Race Championships in Clonmel after he edged out Martin O’Loughlin (Iverk Produce-Carrick Wheelers) in a thrilling finale before a large crowd.

The Laois native, now riding for the Cork-based team, was a deserving winner having spent much of the day in a two-man break with last year’s winner Greg Swinand (Usher IRC).

Swinand managed to land himself bottom step on the podium with third place but the day belonged to Fenlon.

Last year’s runner up came into the race on the back of some good rides, most recently in the Paddy Flanagan Two-Day in Kildare. And though he was almost swallowed up by the bunch in the final kilometre today, he still had the legs to last the distance and stave off a brave bid from O’Loughlin.

A delighted Fenlon was swamped at the finish.

“I’m thrilled; I was probably the favourite last year but messed it up. I knew it was a good circuit for me last year but it didn’t work out but this year I sort of knew all day that if we got to the line I’d have the better kick than Greg.”

The duo, who know each other well, broke clear as early as the third lap and though they were obviously the danger men, they were never reeled in despite several attempts by chase groups.

“We attacked after lap three, which was early, and we went clear. I looked back after about a minute and he (Greg) was on my wheel. We’re both strong enough, we know each other well and I needed someone strong. Greg is a very honest rider so we rode for maybe two laps at 40 seconds and never opened more than 55 seconds of a lead.”

Fenlon had been in an initial move that also contained Chris Coyle (Castlebar CC) and Martin Cullinane (Comeragh CC) before it was swallowed up.

Soon after, on the second lap, a 19-man group succeeded in gaining almost 20 seconds but again that was reeled in.

Attack after attack ensued with Aidan Forrest (Blarney CC), Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain) and Liam Curran (Curran Racing) going clear but that move too was given little latitude.

Heavy showers made conditions hard and two spills forced a number of riders out but there were no major casualties. Then came the attack from Fenlon, which Swinand marked and they worked exceptionally well together.

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A dangerous looking chase group containing Craig Sweetnam (Stamullen M Donnelly), Michael Brady (Franco Racing), Martin Cullinane (Comeragh), John Heverin (Clann Eireann) Martin O’Loughlin (Carrick Iverk Produce) and Brendan McLoughlin (Blarney) almost bridged across but their gallant effort fell short by some 30 seconds.

Then that final lap which Fenlon describes in great detail; after a few futile Swinand digs on the climbs, Fenlon was still there with a few kilometres to go, albeit “starting to cramp up”.

“I had to keep an eye on Greg because I knew if he made a big kick it would take a lot out of me so we got another time check of about 30 seconds with a kilometre to go and we kept going up and over. It was 100 yards from the last corner and I made a conscious decision of having him lead it out. But with that I looked back and the whole bunch was right across the road and they were literally just 100 yards behind us.”

“I let a shout at Greg and he looked behind, and for luck, it just worked out well because he dropped the hammer and went into the last bend hard. At that stage Martin O’Loughlin jumped out of the bunch and he crossed (the gap) coming into the last corner. He dived into the corner and had us. So I knew he had a decent enough sprint.

“Then Greg looked at me as if to say, ‘are you coming through?’ and I couldn’t. I didn’t know how I’d sprint. I actually wouldn’t have been able to sprint in a low gear, I had to do it in a high gear. I think I might have sprinted in the 53/12. Martin I think went too soon. With 200 metres to go, he was on the left and Greg was on the right and I was equal with their two back wheels and I don’t know, with maybe 100 yards to go and they’d left a gap in the centre so I went for it and got it. I actually felt sorry for Greg to be pegged back into third; genuinely I did but that’s the way it goes.”