Ethan Downey has been on a roll of late. And he seems to be at his best when the road goes skywards.
Bob Crilly Memorial: Ethan Downey wins
Having won a series of races already this season, his second as a junior, Ethan Downey has done it again.
The Clann Eireann teenager was out on his own at the end of the Bob Crilly Memorial at the weekend on top of Divis Mountain.
He caught the breakaway solo on the final climb up to the finish line and rode straight through it.
The quality of Downey's win is underlined by the fact one of those riders he shook off his wheel was fellow top junior Conor Halvey.
The Donegal man has been in great form of late, winning Rás Dhun na nGall overall last weekend.
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Halvey had to be content with 5th on Saturday. Downey took victory from Gary Millar, a member of promoting club Phoenix CC.
Completing the podium was Aaron Wily of Omagh Wheelers.
Downey was visible at the front of the day and followed some of the early moves. However, when the breakaway that stuck went clear he had missed it.
That lead group established a gap of around one minute. On the last lap Downey attacked on a drag before Divis Mountain.
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The pressure he applied saw an eight-man chase group move. That group split, with eventual winner and Millar catching the breakaway.
Downey then jumped again at the bottom of Divis Mountain, riding up it solo to win.
Ethan Downey winning run
In March Downey took the Derrymacash GP in Lurgan on his own by about 30 seconds. He also claimed the Killylough GP in Scotstown, Co Monaghan; though by a smaller margin.
In April he won the Mid Ulster GP and took victory in Hugo Loughran GP.
And in May he won the Dunloy GP. He was one of the men of last week's Rás Dhun na nGall where he came up against a strong NRPT-Titan Containers team.
He was eventually forced to settle for 4th place. But he did a particularly good solo ride on the final stage when he missed the break.
He chased solo behind it for a long way, including up to the finish at the top of Glengesh Pass.
Sat, June 10th: Bob Crilly Memorial
Divis Mountain, Belfast
Promoted by Phoenix CC
A2-A3 Race
1 Ethan Downey Clann Eireann
2 Gary Millar Phoenix CC
3 Aaron Wiley Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club
4 Aaron McBride Donegal Bay
5 Conor Halvey NRPT-Titan Containers
6 George Peden Ballymoney CC
7 Peter Morrison Velo Cafe Magasin
8 Stephen Cunningham Shimna Wheelers
9 Brian Mitchell Harps CC
10 Philip McCoubrey Clogher Valley Wheelers
Unplaced A3: Johnny McRoberts Banbridge CC
A4 Race
1 Lee Masters Unattached
2 Adam Cunningham Velo Club Mourne
3 Macdara O'Graham Velo Cafe Magasin
4 Ciarain O'Brannagain Park Wheelers
5 Peadar O'Mochain Emyvale CC
6 Alan Glendinning Island wheelers
7 Mark McCann Harps CC
8 Seamus McGovern Smugglers CC
9 David Henderson Dromara Cycling Club
10 Conor Bradley Dunloy Cycling Club
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