Cian May, of Dublin club Lucan CRC, hit the afterburners late in Gorey to gain time. But everyone was chasing just one man who rode so impressively all day; Dylan Hughes, above, stole the show with his attacking ride (Photo: Sean Rowe)
There may be three stages still to come in the Gorey Three Day but already the gaps are big, after a dominant ride by the UK’s Spokes Racing Team on the opening leg.
Its rider Dylan Hughes looked head and shoulders above the rest of the field today. And he had the aggression and self-confidence to match his form.
He got clear solo at Hackettstown and was simply never seen again; looking comfortable out front on his own all the way.
At the finish in Gorey at the end of 103km from Blessington, Hughes took victory by 46 seconds from his team mate Ben Barlow.
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Best of the Irish was Cian May; the Lucan CRC man putting in a blistering late attack to take 3rd on the day. May was just three seconds behind Barlow at the finish.
And after the clearly in-form May had crossed the line another 48 seconds would elapse before the next man came home; Alex Dent of Spokes Racing Team.
Last weekend's TT winner at Rás Mhaigh Eo; Paul Forristal of Orwell Wheelers was next in the finishing order.
His 5th place on the day was 1:55 down. Another 10 riders then finished all on the same time one further second back.
So with the majority of the field at least two minutes down and his team looking so strong, it will take something special to dislodge race leader Hughes.
Not only did he win the stage and yellow today but also leads the points and mountains classifications.
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He was first to the top of all four climbers' primes today having pressed on alone after taking the first one on Hackettstown.
Tomorrow morning is a 6.4km TT; from Clough on the Enniscorthy road back into Gorey. The test has been re-introduced after a long absence from the three-day.
And then later in the day, from 3pm, stage 3 takes the riders on four laps of a 24.1km circuit based in Gorey.
Mar 31-April 2: Gorey Three Day
Stage 1: Blessington-Gorey (103km)
Promoted by Usher IRC
- Hughes,Dylan Spokes Racing Team 2h24'49"
- Barlow,Ben Spokes Racing Team 2h25'35" @46"
- May,Cian Lucan Cycling Road Cl 2h25'38" @49"
- Dent,Alex Spokes Racing Team 2h26'26" @01'37"
- Forristal,Paul Scott Orwell 2h26'44" @01'55"
- Murray,Oliver Spokes Racing Team 2h26'45" @01'56"
- Ennett,Brian Comeragh 2h26'45" @ s/t
- Maloney,Declan Sports Room Racing 2h26'45" @ s/t
- Cahoon,Ciaran Clann Eireann CC 2h26'45" @ s/t
- Walsh,Tomas Comeragh 2h26'48" @01'59"
- Priest,John Lucan Cycling Road Cl 2h26'48" @ s/t
- Baker,Shane A2 Vet Usher Irish RC 2h26'48" @ s/t
- McConville,Oran Spokes Racing Team 2h26'48" @ s/t
- Keogh,Cian Sports Room Racing 2h26'48" @ s/t
- Boyne,John Lakeside Wheelers 2h26'48" @ s/t
- Murnane,Sean Sports Room Racing 2h26'53" @02'04"
- Davitt,Darren Slipstream 2h26'53" @ s/t
- Bracken A3VET,Colm Murphy Survey Kilcull 2h26'53" @ s/t
- Kenny,Rhys Comeragh 2h26'53" @ s/t
- Charters,Ronan Comeragh 2h26'53" @ s/t
For full results as supplied by race organisers please follow this link.
Stage 1 Climbers' Primes
KOM Cat 3: Hacketstown
- Hughes,D SRT 3pt
- Gater,K WAT 2pt
- O'Toole,C ORW 1pt
KOM Cat 3: Windy Gap
- Hughes,D SRT 3pt
- Gater,K WAT 2pt
- O'Hagan,N DUN 1pt
KOM Cat 3: Cranford
- Hughes,D SRT 3pt
- Murnane,S SRR 2pt
- Barlow,B SRT 1pt
KOM Cat 3: Cranford - Finish
- Hughes,D SRT 3pt
- Barlow,B SRT 2pt
- May,C LUC 1pt
General Classification
- Hughes,Dylan J Spokes Racing Te 2h24'49"
- Barlow,Ben J Spokes Racing Te @46"
- May,Cian J Lucan Cycling Ro @49"
- Dent,Alex J Spokes Racing Te @01'37"
- Forristal,Paul S Scott Orwell @01'55"
- Murray,Oliver J Spokes Racing Te @01'56"
- Ennett,Brian 2 Comeragh
- Maloney,Declan J Sports Room Raci
- Cahoon,Ciaran J Clann Eireann CC
- Walsh,Tomas J Comeragh @01'59"
- Priest,John V3 Lucan Cycling Ro
- Baker,Shane A2 Vet V2 Usher Irish RC
- McConville,Oran J Spokes Racing Te
- Keogh,Cian 3 Sports Room Raci
- Boyne,John J Lakeside Wheeler
- Murnane,Sean J Sports Room Raci @02'04"
- Davitt,Darren 3 Slipstream
- Bracken A3VET,Colm V3 Murphy Survey Ki
- Kenny,Rhys J Comeragh
- Charters,Ronan 3 Comeragh
Points Competition
- Hughes,D SRT 15
- Barlow,B SRT 14
- May,C LUC 13
- Dent,A SRT 12
- Forristal,P ORW 11
- Murray,O SRT 10
- Ennett,B COM 9
- Maloney,D SRR 8
- Cahoon,C CLA 7
- Walsh,T COM 6
- Priest,J LUC 5
- Baker,S USH 4
- McConville,O SRT 3
- Keogh,C SRR 2
- Boyne,J LAK 1
Mountains Competition
- Hughes,D SRT 12
- Gater,K WAT 4
- Barlow,B SRT 3
- Murnane,S SRR 2
- May,C LUC 1
- O'Toole,C ORW 1
- O’Hagan,N DUN 1
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