Robin Kelly takes the final stage of the A1-A2 race at the Wexford Two Day, with his breakaway companion Greg Swinand jumping into the final yellow jersey (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Greg Swinand has emerged victorious from the A1-A2 Wexford Two Day after leapfrogging up the general standings on Sunday’s stage 3.
The Team Aquablue man was beaten into 2nd place on the concluding stage by Robin Kelly of Waterford Racing Team but the time both gained secured the win for the veteran.
The opening stage on Saturday morning was won in great style by Conor Hennebry; the Carrick Wheelers man taking victory by two seconds from fellow breakaway man Martin Mizgajski of Rossbury CC.
The runner-up finished on the same time as Simon Ryan of Hennebont Cyclisme and last year’s overall winner Michael O’Loughlin.
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Martin Mizgajski of Rossbury CC in yellow on the final stage chasing down an early dangerous move before Kelly and Swinand combined to mug the rest of the field with a very dominant breakaway display. Above, eventual winner Swinand is just behind Mizgajski marking him closely (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The junior rider from NRPT-Magnet.ie secured special permission to ride against the A1 and A2 riders as he builds towards the World Road Championships in the US at the end of next month.
Sean McKenna of Team Aquablue came home on stage 1 just one second behind O’Loughlin, with a gap of 31 seconds before Mark Reilly of Fitscience led home the peloton.
The result meant Hennebry went into the Saturday evening TT in the yellow jersey, but with four others within 3 seconds of him.
And in that 5km test, it was 2nd placed overall Mizgajski who claimed victory. He saw off junior O’Loughlin by just 1.63 seconds, with Sean McKenna in 3rd at 7 seconds.
Hennebry takes the opening stage just ahead of his fellow breakaway men to take the yellow jersey into the Saturday evening TT (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The eventual overall winner and national veterans' TT champion Swinand rode poorly by his own standards in the stage 2 test in Wexford.
He came home in 13th place and lost 41.8 seconds, apparently taking him out of the hunt for the yellow jersey.
Stage 1 winner and yellow jersey Hennebry could only manage 7th in the TT, losing 23 seconds on the stage.
The TT win put Wexford-based Pole Mizgajski into yellow by 2 seconds from young O’Loughlin.
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McKenna was in 3rd place overall at 9 seconds, Hennebry 4th at 22 seconds and Mike Millar of Phoenix CC in 5th, some 42 seconds off the race lead.
Carrick's Hennebry in the yellow jersey during Saturday evening's stage 2 TT (Photo: Sean Rowe)
However, after losing the yellow jersey to O’Loughlin on the final stage last year, Swinand turned the tables this time around.
He began that final 120km stage yesterday down in 13th place at 1:14. But he would escape with Robin Kelly and gain 1:42 on the nearest challengers.
That jumped Swinand into the final yellow jersey, with Kelly jumping in 2nd place in the final general classification, having started the last stage 16th and 1:23 in arrears..
It was an amazing turnaround made possible by the power and cooperation of both riders.
Sean McKenna, who was 5th on the closing stage some 1:49 down ended the race 3rd overall.
Aug 22nd & 23rd: Wexford Two Day A1-A2 Race
Sponsored by Stafford Wholesale, Wexford
Promoted by Wexford Wheelers
Stage 3: Wexford-Wexford (120km)
1 Kelly,Robin Waterford Racing 2h26'53"
2 Swinand,Greg Aquablue 2h26'53"
3 Ryan,Simon Hennebont Cyclisme @01'42"
4 Hennebry,Conor Carrick Wheelers @ s/t
5 McKenna,Sean Aquablue @01'49"
6 O'Loughlin,Michael NRPT--Magnet.ie @02'25"
7 Reilly,Mark Fitzscience @02'39"
8 Power,Shane Waterford Racing @ s/t
9 Christian,Joe Gorey CC @ s/t
10 DeBacco,Valerio Galway Bay @ s/t
11 Mizgajski,Martin Rossbury CC @ s/t
12 Murray,Stephen Strata 3 Velo Revolut @02'46"
13 O'Connell,Eoin Blarney Cycling Club @07'22"
14 O'Flynn,Ronan Galway Bay @ s/t
15 Lynch,Eoin DID Dunboyne CC @ s/t
16 Wright,Jody Phoenix CC @ s/t
17 Carnec,Louis Sorrento CC @ s/t
18 Millar,Mike Phoenix CC @ s/t
19 Taylor,Johnny Carn Wheelers @ s/t
20 Dillon,Colm Limerick CC @ s/t
21 Scully,Shane Nenagh CC @ s/t
22 Stenson,Adam NRPT--Magnet.ie @ s/t
23 Barry,Richard Saint Finbars @ s/t
24 Coxl,Stuart Lakeside Wheelers Mul @ s/t
25 Robinson,Colin Stamullen Martin Donn @ s/t
26 Woods,Paul Carlow Road CC @ s/t
27 Horgan,John Aquablue @ s/t
28 Harpur,Anthony Wexford Wheelers @12'23"
29 Grogan Campbell,Ross Lucan CC @ s/t
30 Connors,Odhran Orwell Wheelers CC @12'36"
Final A1-A2 General Classification
1 Swinand,Greg Aquablue 5hrs 22mins 42secs
2 Kelly,Robin Waterford Racing @9secs
3 McKenna,Sean Aquablue @44
4 Hennebry,Conor Carrick Wheelers @50
5 O'Loughlin,Michael NRPT--Magnet.ie @1:13
6 Ryan,Simon Hennebont Cyclisme @1:16
7 Mizgajski,Martin Rossbury CC @1:25
8 Murray,Stephen Strata 3 Velo Revolut @2:38
9 Power,Shane Waterford Racing @2:44
10 DeBacco,Valerio Galway Bay @3:00
11 Christian,Joe Gorey CC @3:10
12 Reilly,Mark Fitzscience @3:15
13 Millar,Mike Phoenix CC @6:50
14 Scully,Shane Nenagh CC @6:59
15 Wright,Jody Phoenix CC @7:01
16 Stenson,Adam NRPT--Magnet.ie @7:04
17 Robinson,Colin Stamullen Martin Donn @7:11
18 Carnec,Louis Sorrento CC @7:21
19 Lynch,Eoin DID Dunboyne CC @7:27
20 O'Connell,Eoin Blarney Cycling Club @7:32
21 Horgan,John Aquablue @ s/t
22 O'Flynn,Ronan Galway Bay @7:33
23 Barry,Richard Saint Finbars @7:34
24 Taylor,Johnny Carn Wheelers @7:41
25 Woods,Paul Carlow Road CC @9:59
26 Connors,Odhran Orwell Wheelers CC @12:46
27 Dillon,Colm Limerick CC @17:38
28 Coxl,Stuart Lakeside Wheelers Mul @18:14
29 Grogan Campbell,Ross Lucan CC @23:21
30 Harpur,Anthony Wexford Wheelers @23:43
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