Stephen Hanna and Gareth Rogers of Velo Club Iveagh put in an aggressive ride in the final round of the Mondello Series in Co Kildare last night to come away with 1st and 3rd. While the club mates faced a strong challenge from counter attackers, including Michael Phelan of Spellman Dublin Port, they teamed up very well to take the spoils.
Hanna and Rogers had decided pre-race to pick their moment to make their move. And while they went hard from a long way out, they had the legs to finish the job.
Hanna and Rogers decided pre-race they would ease themselves into the action until their A2 group caught the A3s and from that point would press on in a bid to get clear.
By the time their group got up to the A3s and small group of about five or six riders had already broken away from it. Hanna and Rogers decided to jump across the gap and made the catch within one lap.
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Once they juncture was made, they worked in that group to catch the A4s up ahead. Rogers then pushed the pace on the front and he and Hanna were soon on their own out front leading the race.
However, they didn’t have it all their own way as a number of attackers from the chasing A1s were on the move behind and trying to bridge across to them.
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Michael Phelan of Spellman Dublin Port was leading the charge behind and make progress, with Hanna and Rogers deciding to ease back a little to ensure he got across as quickly as possible.
Once Phelan made the catch, the trio up front shared the workload as another two-man chasing group was trying to come across to them – including Paul Antoine Hagan (Banbridge CC). That meant the pressure was on up front to stay clear, with Rogers putting in some big turns on the front.
The three leaders made it to the final lap, with Phelan attacking with about 1km to go. Hanna managed to respond to that move and had the legs to get past Phelan in the sprint to win from the Spellman Dublin Port rider.
Rogers was rewarded for his efforts with 3rd while the remains of the bunch behind sprinted in for the minor places. Sean Landers (UCD Cycling Club) and Hagan were judged to have dead heated in that sprint and awarded equal 4th, with Javan Nulty (Stamullen RC) in 6th.
Last night’s race concludes the series for 2022, organised by Usher Irish Road Club through a tricky campaign. Numbers were at times low, though the Dublin club persisted, putting on great races through the year.
Tues, Sept 6th: Mondello Series
Mondello Park, Co Kildare
Promoted by Usher Irish Road Club
1 Stephen Hanna Velo Club Iveagh
2 Michael Phelan Spellman-Dublin Port
3 Gareth Rogers Velo Club Iveagh
4 Sean Landers UCD Cycling Club
4 Paul-Antoine Hagan Banbridge CC
6 Javan Nulty Stamullen RC
7 James McEneaney Moynalty Cycling Club
8 Fintan McCormack Newbridge CC
9 Paul Norton All human-VeloRevolution Racing Team
10 Darragh McCarter Spellman-Dublin Port
11 Simon Ward Lucan Cycling Road Club
12 Adam O'Connell Naas Cycling Club
13 Ryan Byrne Spin the Bean Power by Coffee
14 Dave Smyth Naas Cycling Club
15 Joshua Early Un-Attached Leinster
16 Colm Sevastopulo Sundrive Track Team
17 Robert Ryan Castleknock Cycling Club
18 John Walsh UCD Cycling Club
19 Bradley Turner Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial
20 Andrew Keogh Lucan Cycling Road Club
Unplaced Junior
1 Callum Byrne Navan Road Club
Unplaced A2
1 James McEneaney Moynalty Cycling Club
Unplaced A3
1 Fintan McCormack Newbridge CC
Unplaced A4
1 Adam O'Connell Naas Cycling Club
