Teggart too good for classy breakaway on return from France | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Matt Teggart had too much power for his rivals at the finish of the John Beggs Memorial today; claiming victory from Lindsay Watson and John Buller (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Matt Teggart has made the most of his return home from
his French base to claim victory in the men's race at the John Beggs Memorial;
that win all the sweeter as the event is promoted by his home club Banbridge
CC.

Indeed, the 25-year-old made a nice piece of family and
club history today when he became the third generation of Teggart to win the
race - after his grandfather Noel, father Neil and uncle David Gardiner; all
Irish internationals in their day.

Today's race, the third round of the Cycling Ireland
National Road Series, came down to a sprint from a first class breakaway, with
Teggart (Velo Club Villefranche Beaujolais) getting the verdict from Lindsay
Watson (Powerhouse Sport) and John Buller (Amicale Cycliste Bisontine).

Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), who won the opening round of the series in Co Limerick earlier in the summer, had to be content with 4th place today. Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) finished just behind those top four to claim 5th, with Daire Feeley (All Human-Velo Revolution) next in 6th place.

Matthew Teggart takes the win here in Dromore Round 3 National Road Series 2021 in #TheBeggs21 pic.twitter.com/khhRk5ZSg9

— Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) August 14, 2021

Those top six riders animated the finale of what is
always a tough contest at ‘The Beggs’, though their front group split on the
run in before Teggart pulled the trigger in the gallop for a clear win.

With four laps of the undulating 32km course to be raced,
the men’s main event was for A1, A2 and juniors after the decision was made to
merge the planned separate junior race with the elite men.

While the opening two laps saw plenty of attacking, with
groups going clear only to be caught, it wasn’t until around the halfway mark
that the decisive move was made. Just as fatigue was starting to kick in, some
of the strongest riders made their move in a group off the front.

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Eventual winner Teggart was in there with Watson, Moore, Feeley, Smith, Buller and Darragh McCarter of Spellman Dublin Port; all combining to create one of the best breakaway’s you’ll see in an Irish race this year.

*Buller leads the winning breakaway from Teggart, Feeley, Smith, Watson and McCarter, with Moore just out of shot (Photo: Toby Watson)*

The gap between breakaway and bunch was soon one minute.
And though a chasing group made efforts to bridge the gap, the seven at the
front continued to press and gain time.

With one lap to go they had 1:40 on the nearest chasers
and it was clear, barring major incident, the winner would come from the
seven-man breakaway.

However, soon after that final lap began the lead group
was trimmed by one as McCarter was distanced. Feeley also suffered a mechanical
but managed to hold his place in the group as the gap between the leaders and
the bunch reached almost 2½ minutes.

Just inside the last 20km, Teggart attacked from the front group, clearly keen to distance the others – especially his training partner Buller, given his feared finishing kick.

*Irish U23 international Leo Doyle on the front of the remains of the peloton having missed the boat today. He went on to place 11th (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Feeley was the only one to react to Teggart and those two
rode clear of Watson, Moore, Smith and Buller, before it came back together
again.

After the six leaders regrouped, there followed attack
after attack in the final phase of the race. Feeley – the most prolific rider
on the domestic scene for the last two years – put in repeated digs but was
closed down each time.

The group arrived at the finish together, with Teggart
having too much for his rivals and Watson and Buller having to be content with
making the podium today.

After the breakaway men had filled the top six positions, Irish U23 international Aaron Wade (Powerhouse Sport) was best of the rest; taking 7th place from Conor McCann (Inspired Cycling), Ronan Killeen (Lucan Cycling Road Club) and Karl Morgan (Phoenix CC).