Tom Lane (15) takes stage win, yellow jersey, at senior Newry Three Day

Tom Lane, a 15-year-old granted special permission to rider a senior stage race, has taken stage victory and the yellow jersey at the Newry Three Day (Photo: Jerome Rafferty)

Tom Lane is a first-year U16 rider who was given special permission to ride the senior Newry Three Day but has gone and taken a stage win and the yellow jersey.

Lane, who only turned 15-years-old six weeks ago, pushed clear on today's second stage with Gareth McCullough (Unattached) in a two-man move and finished two minutes ahead of the nearest challengers.

The stage winner is competing for Dan Morrissey Pissei and is coached by Kevin McCambridge. He is among a number of U16 riders in recent years granted permission by Cycling Ireland to race in carefully selected events to aid their development with a view to competing abroad in the future.

His victory today was impressive on a number of levels. His age alone marked it out as significant, but he was also riding a 112km stage - much longer than anything he has ever raced before - yet emerged strongest on the day.

Advertisement

Lane and McCullough got clear on the Rathfriland climb going onto the final passage of the circuit and simply never looked back. At the finish, Lane had too much for his fellow breakaway man to handle, taking the victory seven seconds clear of McCullough.

Related News

Luca Holmes (Molenspurters Meulebeke), the junior international who was runner-up on Friday evening's opening stage, finished 3rd today, at 2:08, on the same time as Jamie Philips (All human-VeloRevolution) in 4th.

In the women's event, Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active) was 21st on the stage at 4:02. She significantly extended her overall advantage on her nearest rival after she was the only woman to finish in the bunch on Friday's stage 1.

Rafferty now leads the women's category by 16:41 from Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospacial). Elena Wallace (Harps CC) is 3rd, at 17:07.

In the men's general classification, Lane leads the way by seven seconds from McCullough, with one stage remaining. Holmes and Philips are 3rd and 4th, both at 2:08.

Stage 2 | Rathfriland Circuit (112km)

  1. Lane, Tom Dan Morrissey Piessei 2h49m09s
  2. McCullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster @7s
  3. Holmes, Luca Molenspurters Meulebeke @2m08s
  4. Phillips, Jamie All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team @ s/t
  5. Quinn, Shane Midlands Racing Team @2m11s
  6. McKenna, Neil AHCC @ s/t
  7. Mannings, Luke Halesowen @2m23s
  8. Alexander, James McConveys @ s/t
  9. O'Loughlin, Martin Midlands Racing Team @ s/t
  10. Geary, Bryan St Tiernans Cycling Club @2m29s
  11. Mc Nally, Tony Roadman Cycling Club @3m40s
  12. Stone, Daniel Roadman Cycling Club @ s/t
  13. Cranston, Gary AHCC @3m50s
  14. Clarke, Jamie North Down CC @3m55s
  15. Alderdice, Geoff Dromore CC @ s/t
  16. Nardone, Alex Bellurgan Wheelers @ s/t
  17. Trimble, Shane Newry Wheelers CC @4m02s
  18. Ridings, Simon Ards Cycling Club @ s/t
  19. Carson, Ian Ards Cycling Club @ s/t
  20. Bell, Alex North Down CC @ s/t
  21. Rafferty, Aliyah Tofauti Everyone Active @ s/t
  22. Herbert, Kaleb Halesowen @ s/t
  23. Coen, Jonny Dromore CC @ s/t
  24. Murray, Fintan Crossgar CC @ s/t

General Classification

  1. Lane, Tom Dan Morrissey Piessei 4h17m29s
  2. Mc Cullough, Gareth Un-Attached Ulster 4h17m36s
  3. Holmes, Luca Molenspurters Meulebeke 4h19m37s
  4. Phillips, Jamie All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team 4h19m37s
  5. McKenna, Neil AHCC 4h19m40s
  6. Quinn, Shane Midlands Racing Team 4h19m40s
  7. Mannings, Luke Halesowen 4h19m52s
  8. Alexander, James McConveys 4h19m52s
  9. Geary, Bryan St Tiernans Cycling Club 4h19m58s
  10. O'Loughlin, Martin Midlands Racing Team 4h20m21s

Related News