Chris Reilly leads off the front on a night when riders were lapped causing chaos at Tour of the North (Photo: Toby Watson)
The opening stage of the Tour of the North was intended to be a speedfest around Kirkistown racing circuit; a bunch sprint or a breakaway winning the day and with only seconds deciding the result.
If that was the script, visiting rider Ed Clements and a handful of strongmen either ripped it up or didn’t bother with it at all.
In an incredible performance, the winner lapped the field as the race disintegrated behind in Co Down.
Clements, riding for Spirit Bike, infiltrated a breakaway on the evening opening stage along with his team mate Jake Hales.
Also up the road were Gareth McKee and Lindsay Watson of Banbridge CC.
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There too was the dominant stage victor and overall winner from 12 months ago Dave Watson (North Down CC) along with the always in-form and aggressive Philip Lavery (Nantes Atlanique).
Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) and David Hamilton (North Down CC) were also to the fore off the front along with Chris Reilly and Declan Mulholland of ASEA-Wheelworx.
And with about three laps remaining it was Clements who powered on alone to take the stage win and first leader’s jersey of the race.
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His team mate Hales came home in 2nd place just over one minute back followed by one of the rising young guns Mulholland who took 3rd place in the colours of ASEA-Wheelworx from North Down’s Watson.
After the escape lapped the field and then split as the rest of the race also broke up, a nightmare was created for the time keepers.
In the end, Clements was the clear winner but some of those who got clear in the breakaway and chasing group are now also set up well for a tilt at the overall.
Clements arrived at the finish alone some 1min 4secs ahead of Hales, with young Mulholland just one second further back.
Watson and another of the British visitors Peter Anderson of East Kilbride finished on the same time as the ASEA-Wheelworx teenager followed two seconds later by Ryan Reilly of the Belgian Project and Mulholland’s team mate Chris Reilly.
And then the big gaps appeared; Lindsay Watson coming home in 8th place 2:08 down with Hamilton a further 16 seconds back.
Fri, Mar 25th, Stage 1: Kirkistown Race Circuit
1 Clements, Ed Spirit Bikes 50m42s
2 Hales, Jake Spirit Bikes @1m04s
3 Mulholland, Declan Asea Wheelworx @1m05s
4 Watson, Dave North Down CC @ s/t
5 Anderson, Peter East Kilbride RC @ s/t
6 Reilly, Ryan Belgian Project @1m07s
7 Reilly, Chris Asea Wheelworx @ s/t
8 Watson, Lindsay Banbridge CC @2m08s
9 Hamilton, Dave North Down CC @2m24s
10 Langereis, Daniel Wtos @2m27s
11 Moore, Darnell Caldwell Cycles @ s/t
12 Kinning, Glenn Kinning Cycles @ s/t
13 McKee, Gareth Banbridge CC @ s/t
14 Vallely, Emmet Keevan CC @3m03s
15 Lonie, Martin East Kilbride RC @ s/t
16 Stolwiik, Arian Wtos @ s/t
17 Johnston, Harry Pro Vision Team s @ s/t
18 Rea, Craig Belgian Project @ s/t
19 McCarter, Paul Donegal Bay CC @3m07s
20 Murdoch, Peter Pro Vision Team @ s/t
21 Donaldson, Gary Belgian Project @3m10s
22 Trulock, Dermot Stag Cycles/Lucan CRC @3m36s
23 Killeen, Ronan Stag Cycles/Lucan CRC @4m00s
24 Finnegan, Derek Keevan CC @ s/t
25 Gribbon, Ali Carn Wheelers s @ s/t
For full results follow this link.
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