Luke Mannings (Halesowen) and national junior road race and TT champion Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active) are in the yellow jerseys of the men's and women's events at the Newry Three Day after the opening stage on Friday night.
With the women's race incorporated into the men's race this year, 17-year-old Rafferty was the only women in the field to finish in the bunch with the men after the short and sharp opening 58km stage.
And at the front of that bunch, the sprint was for stage honours as the men's race stayed together despite plenty of aggression through the 1½ hour stage on the Newry Circuit in Co Down, with that gallop won by British visitor, Mannings.
The teenager, a first-year U23 rider, is no stranger to racing in Ireland and rode Dornan Rás Mumhan earlier this year as well as the Junior Tour if Ireland last season. His seized his chance on Friday evening, proving fastest of the near 80-strong peloton, from 99 starters.
Advertisement
Mannings claimed that win ahead of junior track international Luca Holmes (Molenspurters Meulebeke) , who is about to travel to the Europeans in Portugal on the national team. The experienced Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) also demonstrated his strong kick to take 3rd place on the stage.
Mannings claimed the stage by about a length from Holmes, who was pushed more closely by Harvey 4th place finisher Jamie Clarke of host club Newry Wheelers CC.
Related News
In the women's race, Rafferty's finish in the men's bunch - albeit on the wrong side of a 10-second split - means she leads the women's race by 2:06 from Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospacial). Elena Wallace (Harps CC) is 3rd, also at 2:06.
July 4th-6th | Newry Three Day
Sponsored by McKinley Contracts Limited
Promoted by Newry Wheelers Cycling Club
Stage 1 | Newry Circuit, Co Down (57.89km)
- Mannings, Luke Halesowen 1h28m20s
- Holmes, Luca Molenspurters Meulebeke
- Harvey, Lee VC Glendale
- Clarke, Jamie North Down CC
- Geary, Bryan St Tiernans Cycling Club
- Love, Karl McConveys
- Mc Entee, Declan Emyvale CC
- Herbert, Isaak Halesowen
- Herbert, Kaleb Halesowen
- Francis, Joshua Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club
- Lane, Tom Dan Morrissey Piessei
- Parks, Aaron Banbridge CC
- Joyce, Derek Galway Bay CC A
- Hedley, Andrew AHCC
- Nardone, Alex Bellurgan Wheelers
- Carson, Ian Ards Cycling Club
- Mc Nally, Tony Roadman Cycling Club
- Gibson, David Inspired CC
- Alderdice, Geoff Dromore CC
- Black, Niall Phoenix Cycling Club A
- McGrady, Mark Velo Café Magasin
- Coen, Jonny Dromore CC
- Alexander, James McConveys
- Hooks, Keith North Down CC
- McKenna, Neil =AHCC
- Trimble, Shane Newry Wheelers CC
- Wilkinson, Paul Dromore CC
- Smyth, Ronnie Dromara Cycling Club
- Adams, Jonny McConveys
- Lockhart, Dean Carn Wheelers
- Woods, Des Inspired CC
- Bingham, Alan Inspired CC
- Stone, Daniel Roadman Cycling Club
- Blain, Marc Galway Bay CC A
- Byrne, Donal Roadman Cycling Club
- Flavin, Marcus Dungarvan CC
- McCaughey, Stuart Phoenix Cycling Club A
- McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC
- McKee, Conal Phoenix Cycling Club A
- Cranston, Gary AHCC
- Mc Cullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster
- Bell, Alex North Down CC
- Quinn, Shane Midlands Racing Team
- Loughran, Rory Newry Wheelers CC
- Phillips, Jamie All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team
- Phelan, Michael Spellman Port
- Doyle, Cathir Carn Wheelers all same time
- McCarter, Darragh Spellman Port @10 secs
- Lowry, Carl Phoenix Cycling Club A @29 secs
- O'Loughlin, Martin Midlands Racing Team
- Mobian, Antoine Galway Bay CC A
- Byrne, Joe Roadman Cycling Club
- Halliday, Duncan Un-Attached Ulster
- Cox, Stuart Midlands Racing Team
- Ridings, Simon Ards Cycling Club
- Rafferty, Aliyah Tofauti Everyone Active
- Clavin, Colin Midlands Racing Team
- Hession, Ivor Phoenix Cycling Club B
- McDermott, Neil Midlands Racing Team
- Morrison, Peter Velo Café Magasin
- Convery, Barry Newry Wheelers CC
- Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers
- Kilkenny, Liam Galway Bay CC A
- Hall, Jackson Velo Café Magasin
- Knapcok, Patrick Inspired CC @43 secs
- Burke, Ryan Velo Café Magasin @1:30
- Torrens-Spence, Simon Crossgar CC
- Hunter, Ryan Errigal Cycling Club
- Mc Cullagh, Jimjo Carn Wheelers
- Stewart, Callum Phoenix Cycling Club B
- Kuan, Colm Foyle CC
- Canavan Dignam, Luke Galway Bay CC B
- Walsh, Courtney McConveys
- Clarke, Gavin Banbridge CC
- Kelly, Evan Galway Bay CC B
- Ashcroft, Dan Halesowen
- Goodman, Conor Crossgar CC @2:07
- Gray, Calum AHCC @2:12
- Priestley, Thomas Dromore CC
- McKenna, Stephen Ards Cycling Club
- Larmour, William Ards Cycling Club
- Scott, Mark McConveys @2:35
- McCauley, Jay Strabane Lifford CC
- Watson, Alan Dromara Cycling Club
- Killeen, Doireann Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial
- Wallace, Elena Harps CC
- Sloan, Kirk North Down CC
- Wylie, Anthony Dromara Cycling Club
- Donoghue, Damien Athy Wheelers Cycling Club @3:01
- Bonner, Hugh Phoenix Cycling Club B @3:12
- Glendinning, Alan Dromore CC
- Grennell, Andre Spellman Port @3m24s
- Magowan, Gavin Velo Café Magasin @4m12s
- Doran, Yvonne Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club @5m21s
- O Donovan, Aoife Dungarvan CC @7m34s
- Newell, Rachel McConvey Cycles @12m31s
- Long, Neil North Down CC @13m05s
- Winters, Gary Clogher Valley Wheelers
- Murray, Fintan Crossgar CC 1h45m00s @16m40s
Women's Stage 1 Result
- Rafferty, Aliyah 1h28m49s
- Killeen, Doireann @2m06s
- Wallace, Elena @2m06s
- Doran, Yvonne @4m52s
- O Donovan, Aoife @7m05s
- Newell, Rachel @12m02s
