Trevor Robinson took a very strong win on the opening stage of the Wexford Two Day. He's pictured here by Ciaran Fallon in the colours of Comeragh CC.
By Brian Canty
Trevor Robinson took the opening stage of the Stafford Wholesale Wexford Two Day in rain-soaked Camross this afternoon, Saturday.
The Comeragh CC rider was quickest to the line from a nine-man break after 88 kilometres of racing, with Mark Cashman (Unattached) second and Pierre De Laester (Waterford Racing Team) third.
Though their gap to the peloton extended to a minute and a half by the midway point, they lost time hand over fist on the last of four 22-kilometre loops and crossing the line a small group of riders was just 29 seconds behind and the bunch just behind them.
The move went on the first lap and at one stage there were 18 riders in it. But a combination of a lumpy circuit – technical in parts - and a strong pace being set at the front, shed a few riders.
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And then disaster was to strike three of the stronger members of the break when first Conchuir O’Crualiach of the host club slid out and crashed on a left-hander and also coming down was Marc Flavin (Dungarvan CC) and Blarney’s John O’Connell. To their credit, all three finished the race safely in the bunch after remounting.
Up ahead, the gap fluctuated wildly and though it was cut to 40 second on the second lap, it soon extended to twice that on the tailwind back section.
On the final lap, all riders in the break were committed and did their turns but with five kilometres to go, the jumping started and the momentum began to creep away.
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Eoin Greene (Iverk Carrick Produce) was probably the strongest man in the move and he led out the sprint but Robinson locked onto his wheel and with 300 metres to go, made his bid for home.
He opened a very impressive gap to those behind, so much so that he got a second on the next man and two seconds on the men behind.
In the A1 race, a poor turnout of just 15 riders didn’t take from a very active and aggressive race with Dermot Radford (Tipperary Wheelers) taking the honours from Robin Kelly (Aquablue).
Radford had around 25 seconds to spare at the finish, a very impressive result indeed; beating a man of Kelly’s calibre who of course, won last week’s Dan O’Donovan in Fermoy.
Those two were part of a four man move that went away, the others being David Walsh (Slaney CC) who took third, with Planet Tri’s Mike Storan in fourth. They were all in the same time as Kelly.
The A4 race was won by Fergal Ryan (Headstrong) in a bunch sprint from Tadhg Kelly (Dublin Wheelers) and Sean Flynn (Lucan). A total of 72 riders completed the three-lap event.
Finally, the women's event went to Roisin Kennedy (Adamstown) who had a brilliant solo win. Ciara Mangan (Aquablue) and Teresa O’Sullivan (Beara CC) were second and third respectively.
