Marcus Burnett Spirit Tifosi Tour of North

When the Tour of the North split to pieces on the last climb, juniors Breandán Flannagan and Archie Ryan climbed with the best. At the end of the hard fought stage it was Marcus Burnett who sprinted in, above, to beat Jack Stanton for victory (Photo: Sharon McFarland)

Marcus Burnett Spirit Tifosi wins at Tour of North

Just as they did at the Gorey Three Day and Rás Mumhan today, the foreign riders have triumphed at the Tour of the North.

On the opening stage teenager Marcus Burnett (Spirit Tifosi) sprinted in to win and take the yellow jersey.

Stage 1 results and classifications Dixons Tour of the North 2018

He got the better of Pro Vision’s Jack Stanton. They were part of an 11-man breakaway that formed after the race split to pieces on the final climb.

And about six miles from the finish the British pair attacked and managed to get clear to fight it out for victory.

At the finish on Fry’s Road, Ballymena, after 104km they were 18 seconds clear of a four-man group.

There were six Irish in the top 10; two of them juniors. And they are well in touch in the general standings despite big time gaps today.

In the chasing quarter behind the leading pair today were Lindsay Watson (PowerHouse Sport) and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles). They finished 3rd and 4th respectively.

And one of the quiet achievers on the domestic scene, Cian Delaney of Stamullen RC, was next on the same time. Completing that chase group was the stage winner’s team mate Charlie Passfield.

Top, the racing is really on and the field blowing apart on the final climb. Middle, the second chase group sprints in for 6th place; juniors Breandán Flannagan and Archie Ryan on the left. Bottom, Linday Watson on the front putting everyone under pressure (Photos by Toby Watson and Sharon McFarland)

How stage 1 unfolded

The eleven-man breakaway pulled clear on the cat 1 Trostan Mountain ascent. And with a tailwind carrying the riders to the finish after the climb, the scope to close down time lost on the incline was minimal.

It made for great racing and a frantic finale. That conclusion followed a great stage of racing which began in earnest on the first climb of the day.

The Ballyvaddy ascent saw the pace rocket and the field split into three big groups. There was then a regrouping and the same scenario – the field splitting but coming together again – on the next climb of Ballyvaddy.

It was Rupert Graham of Spirit Tifosi who took the initiative when he flew down the descent to Cushendall. While he was never too far ahead, his move set a chase in motion.

And it was that momentum in the racing that continued up the Trostan climb, splitting the field and forming the winning breakaway.

When the 11 riders formed out front, it was eventual runner-up Stanton who hit out hard solo.

In the drag towards Ballymena he jumped and distanced the others. But 19-year-old Burnett went after him and closed him down quickly.

And in the end, after they had cooperated to ensure the stage was between them; Burnett was far too strong at the finish.

Stage 2 tomorrow is a 4.8 mile individual non aero TT starting at 9am. It is followed in the afternoon with a 65 mile circuit race that takes in five laps of the Roguery circuit.