Tour of Ulster yellow jersey Matt Higgins (NODE4-Giordana) has defended his GC lead in great style by winning this evening’s two-mile TT stage three.
However, perhaps the story of the evening was the performance of UCD’s Ian Richardson who missed out on the TT win by just 1.93 seconds.
The A2 rider has stormed onto the home scene in recent months taking victory in the Pat & Monie Nolan in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin, last month when he attacked the A3 bunch from the start and then overhauled the A4s and dropped them.
He also managed to hold off the A1 and A2 chasers in the handicapped event to take a pretty amazing win.
However, today’s second place against professional opposition was at a different level and raises the question as to what the 24-year-old is capable of in the season ahead and beyond.
Advertisement
He only took up the bike three years ago to lose weight. He has since trimmed down from 17stone to his current 11stone 7lbs, having first taken up triathlon and only switched exclusively to cycling during last winter.
However, he was not the only emerging Irish rider to impress on the TT stage. Junior Ryan Mullan (Irish Development Team) put in a storming ride to finish fourth at 5.62 seconds while Con Collis, a UCD team mate of Richardson’s, was fifth at 5.77seconds.
This morning’s 67 mile road stage was dominated by a ten-man break that managed to stay away and had 1:06 on the peloton at the finish. Stage 1 winner and yellow jersey this morning, Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) missed that split.
And with Matt Higgins – just seven seconds down on Armstrong on GC this morning – in the winning breakaway on today’s road stage, he lifted the yellow jersey from Armstrong’s shoulders going into this evening’s TT.
The Eurocycles team at least had the consolation of Conor Murphy taking the stage win this morning, to give them two stages from the three completed so far.
Following the TT this evening Higgins has now extended his lead on second placed Conor Murphy; from 2 seconds to 20 seconds. In third place on GC is strongman Greg Swinand (Usher IRC), who was in this morning’s winning move and was 11th in this evening’s TT. He is now 22 seconds off Higgins’ yellow jersey going into tomorrow’s final stage.
After Swinand on GC is Adam Armstrong; exactly one minute down on Higgins. While the NODE4-Giordana yellow jersey’s team is strong, Armstrong and Murphy are clearly in fantastic form and they are likely to fight all the way for the GC win.
Ryan Mullan’s TT performance has consolidated his lead in the young riders’ classification while Armstrong goes into tomorrow’s final stage in the KOH jersey.
There’s still all to play for on the road tomorrow when the riders take in 76 miles and three third cat climbs. And with Armstrong having won this race two years ago, he and Murphy will be gunning for Higgins tomorrow.
Related News
Stage 3 Stage Result
Two-Mile TT in Dungannon
1 Higgins,Matt Node 4 Giordana 04'15.69"
2 Richardson,Ian UCD @01.93"
3 Armstrong,Adam Eurocycles @01.99"
4 Mullan,Ryan Irish Development Team @05.62"
5 Collis,Con UCD @05.77"
6 Sherlock,Ryan Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @06.37"
7 Rodgers,Ricco Node 4 Giordana @08.43"
8 Moss,James Node 4 Giordana @14.70"
9 Heverin,John Clann Eireann @14.71"
10 Murphy,Conor Eurocycles @18.19"
11 Swinand,Greg Usher IRC @18.47"
12 Dunlop,Dane Lakeland Cycling Club @19.27"
13 McAllister,Leo Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @20.18"
14 McAllister,Conor Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @21.01"
15 Walsh,Antony UCD @21.39"
16 Bell,Darren Ellan Vannin @22.16"
17 Reilly,Chris Bohermeen CC @22.31"
18 Considine,Eoghan Black Rose Racing @23.16"
19 Baxter,Elliot Ellan Vannin @23.90"
20 Laverty,Colm Stamullen @24.47"
21 O'Shea,John Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @24.75"
22 Cassidy,Colm UCD @25.37"
23 Martin,Thomas Eurocycles @25.96"
--- McCarthy,Eoin Irish Development Team @ s/t
25 Nulty,Javan DID Dunboyne CC @26.66"
26 Marrey,Padraig Western Lakes CC @27.18"
27 Black,Tom Ellan Vannin @28.01"
28 Brennan,David Castlebar CC @28.31"
29 Clifford,Daniel DID Dunboyne CC @28.99"
30 Roche,Andrew Ellan Vannin @29.51"
31 Hutchinson,Stephen East Tyrone @29.98"
32 livsey,Aaron Ellan Vannin @30.78"
33 Coughlan,Dave Orwell Wheelers @31.90"
34 Clancy,Stephen Irish Development Team @32.95"
--- McManusa,Art South Dublin Cycling Club @ s/t
36 Duncan,Frazer Eurocycles @33.47"
37 O'Mhuire,Fiachra DID Dunboyne CC @33.96"
38 McKinney,Bryan Duffin Transport @34.03"
39 Barry,Michael Cuchulainn Cycling Club @34.63"
40 McKnight,David Team Vision Racing @35.03"
41 Lucey,Michael Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @35.40"
42 Ryder,Mike Galway Bay CC @36.07"
43 Coyle,Chris Castlebar CC @36.30"
44 Horgan,John Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @36.52"
45 Clarke,Ciaran Castlebar CC @38.03"
46 Meehan,Aidan DID Dunboyne CC @38.57"
47 Houston,Kyle Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @39.61"
48 Clarke,Patrick Terra Footwear - Bicycle Line @39.64"
49 Devlin,Rory Northpole Cycling Club @40.48"
50 Crowley,A DID Dunboyne CC @40.56"
51 Harrington,Donal Western Lakes CC @41.68"
52 Clifford,Eoghan Galway Bay CC @41.92"
53 Stewart,Daniel Irish Development Team @42.15"
54 McAllister,Stevie Clann Eireann @43.24"
55 Joyce,Derek Galway Bay CC @43.96"
56 Mortimer,Darragh Cuchulainn Cycling Club @44.50"
57 Walls,Keith DID Dunboyne CC @45.01"
58 Quinn,Colm Cuchulainn Cycling Club @45.02"
59 O'Shanghnessy,Ray Cuchulainn Cycling Club @45.35"
60 McGlynn,Noel UCD @45.37"
61 McDonald,Damien Team Vision Racing @45.72"
62 McCabe,Will Eurocycles @46.60"
63 Rigley,Sean Irish Development Team @47.31"
64 McCorry,Myles Cuchulainn Cycling Club @48.28"
65 Holian,Barry Western Lakes CC @48.30"
66 O'Brien,Patrick Orwell Wheelers @48.88"
67 Mulligan,Paul Eurocycles @49.48"
68 Finnegan,Derek Curran Racing @49.90"
69 Sweetman,Craig Stamullen @51.10"
70 Dunlop,Raymond Lakeland Cycling Club @51.18"
71 Whiting,Daniel Orwell Wheelers @52.33"
72 Connolly,Enda Garda Cycling Club @52.73"
73 McMahon,Hugh DID Dunboyne CC @53.08"
74 Robinson,Colin Stamullen @54.47"
75 Moriarty,Eugene DID Dunboyne CC @54.71"
76 O'Connor,Frank Stamullen @58.63"
77 Lagan,Damian Northpole Cycling Club @58.97"
78 Connors,Odhran Orwell Wheelers @59.35"
79 Byrne,Declan Navan Road Club @59.43"
80 Bann-Lavery,John Clann Eireann @01'01.52"
81 O'Sullivan,Stephen DID Dunboyne CC @01'03.73"
82 Cunningham,Derek Bray Wheelers @01'03.74"
83 Collins,Aidan Orwell Wheelers @01'04.45"
84 Flannagan,Michael Western Lakes CC @01'06.61"
85 Halpin,Stephen Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @01'06.73"
86 McGreevy,Sean Newry Wheelers @01'15.19"
87 Lyons,John Paul South Dublin Cycling Club @01'19.33"
Non starters/finishers/eliminated Riders
Did Not Start: 32-Mason.J
General Classification after three stages
1 Higgins,Matt A2 Node 4 Giordana 5h51'29"
2 Murphy,Conor A1 Eurocycles @20"
3 Swinand,Greg A1 Usher IRC @22"
4 Armstrong,Adam A1 Eurocycles @01'00"
5 Moss,James A1 Node 4 Giordana @01'13"
6 Rodgers,Ricco A1 Node 4 Giordana @01'14"
7 Sherlock,Ryan A1 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @01'15"
8 Baxter,Elliot A1 Ellan Vannin @01'29"
9 Martin,Thomas A1 Eurocycles @01'34"
10 Roche,Andrew A1 Ellan Vannin @01'38"
11 Walsh,Antony A1 UCD @01'55"
12 Mullan,Ryan YJ Irish Development Team @02'28"
13 Bell,Darren A1 Ellan Vannin @02'32"
14 Dunlop,Dane YA1 Lakeland Cycling Club @03'02"
15 Barry,Michael A1 Cuchulainn Cycling Club @06'33"
16 Ryder,Mike A2 Galway Bay CC @07'44"
17 Clarke,Patrick A1 Terra Footwear - Bicycle Line @07'47"
18 Houston,Kyle A1 Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @07'50"
19 Cassidy,Colm A1 UCD @08'24"
20 Coyle,Chris A1 Castlebar CC @08'26"
21 Heverin,John A1 Clann Eireann @09'10"
22 McAllister,Leo A1 Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @09'15"
23 McAllister,Conor A1 Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @09'16"
24 Reilly,Chris A2 Bohermeen CC @09'17"
25 Considine,Eoghan A2 Black Rose Racing @09'18"
26 Richardson,Ian A2 UCD @09'20"
27 Brennan,David A1 Castlebar CC @09'24"
28 McManusa,Art A2 South Dublin Cycling Club @09'28"
29 Clarke,Ciaran A2 Castlebar CC @09'33"
30 Meehan,Aidan A1 DID Dunboyne CC @09'34"
31 Devlin,Rory A1 Northpole Cycling Club @09'36"
32 McDonald,Damien A2 Team Vision Racing @09'40"
33 O'Shanghnessy,Ray A1 Cuchulainn Cycling Club @09'41"
34 O'Sullivan,Stephen A1 DID Dunboyne CC @09'59"
35 O'Mhuire,Fiachra A1 DID Dunboyne CC @12'11"
36 Nulty,Javan YA1 DID Dunboyne CC @12'40"
37 McKnight,David A2 Team Vision Racing @12'48"
38 Crowley,A A1 DID Dunboyne CC @12'49"
39 Joyce,Derek A2 Galway Bay CC @12'57"
40 McGlynn,Noel A2 UCD @12'59"
41 McCarthy,Eoin YA1 Irish Development Team @13'01"
42 O'Shea,John A2 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @13'07"
43 Marrey,Padraig A1 Western Lakes CC @13'09"
44 Black,Tom A1 Ellan Vannin @13'10"
45 Hutchinson,Stephen A2 East Tyrone @13'12"
46 Clancy,Stephen YA1 Irish Development Team @13'15"
47 Lucey,Michael A2 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @13'18"
48 Horgan,John A2 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @13'19"
49 Duncan,Frazer A1 Eurocycles @13'23"
50 Harrington,Donal A3 Western Lakes CC @13'24"
51 Stewart,Daniel YJ Irish Development Team = s/t
52 Rigley,Sean YJ Irish Development Team @13'27"
53 Walls,Keith A2 DID Dunboyne CC = s/t
54 McCorry,Myles A2 Cuchulainn Cycling Club @13'30"
55 Finnegan,Derek A1 Curran Racing @13'32"
56 Sweetman,Craig A1 Stamullen @13'33"
57 Whiting,Daniel A1 Orwell Wheelers @13'35"
58 McMahon,Hugh A3 DID Dunboyne CC = s/t
59 Moriarty,Eugene A1 DID Dunboyne CC @13'37"
60 O'Connor,Frank A2 Stamullen @13'41"
61 Lagan,Damian A2 Northpole Cycling Club = s/t
62 Connors,Odhran A1 Orwell Wheelers @13'42"
63 Dunlop,Raymond A2 Lakeland Cycling Club = s/t
64 Bann-Lavery,John A3 Clann Eireann @13'44"
65 Cunningham,Derek A1 Bray Wheelers @13'46"
66 Collins,Aidan A1 Orwell Wheelers @13'47"
67 Halpin,Stephen A1 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @13'49"
68 Mulligan,Paul A1 Eurocycles @17'25"
69 Connolly,Enda A2 Garda Cycling Club @17'45"
70 livsey,Aaron A1 Ellan Vannin @29'37"
71 McKinney,Bryan A2 Duffin Transport @29'40"
72 Mortimer,Darragh A2 Cuchulainn Cycling Club @29'51"
73 McCabe,Will A2 Eurocycles @29'53"
74 O'Brien,Patrick A1 Orwell Wheelers @29'55"
75 Byrne,Declan A1 Navan Road Club @30'06"
76 Flannagan,Michael A1 Western Lakes CC @30'13"
77 Clifford,Eoghan A1 Galway Bay CC @31'34"
78 Laverty,Colm A2 Stamullen @34'35"
79 Robinson,Colin A1 Stamullen @35'34"
80 Clifford,Daniel A1 DID Dunboyne CC @37'46"
81 Coughlan,Dave A2 Orwell Wheelers 6h29'18" @37'49"
82 Quinn,Colm A1 Cuchulainn Cycling Club 6h43'17" @51'48"
83 Holian,Barry A2 Western Lakes CC 6h51'31" @1h00'02"
84 Collis,Con A2 UCD 6h52'19" @1h00'50"
85 McAllister,Stevie A1 Clann Eireann 6h52'56" @1h01'27"
86 McGreevy,Sean A2 Newry Wheelers 6h53'28" @1h01'59"
87 Lyons,John Paul A1 South Dublin Cycling Club 7h15'35" @1h24'06"
Young Rider Overall
1 Mullan,R = 5h53'57"
2 Dunlop,D @ 34"
3 Nulty,J @ 10'12"
4 McCarthy,E @ 10'33"
5 Clancy,S @ 10'47"
6 Stewart,D @ 10'56"
7 Rigley,S @ 10'59"
King of the Mountains Overall
1 Armstrong,A 21
2 Rodgers,R 18
3 Walsh,A 7
4 Duncan,F 7
5 Roche,A 7
6 Higgins,M 6
7 Sherlock,R 3
8 Coyle,C 3
9 Swinand,G 2
10 Moss,J 1
11 Bell,D 1
12 Barry,M 1
Team General Classification
1 Node 4 Giordana 17h36'54"
2 Eurocycles @ 27"
3 Ellan Vannin @ 03'10"
4 UCD @ 16'52"
5 Chain Reaction Cycles / Vitus @ 23'54"
6 DID Dunboyne CC @ 24'43"
7 Castlebar CC @ 24'56"
8 Iverk Produce Carrick Whs @ 25'13"
9 Irish Development Team @ 26'14"
10 Cuchulainn Cycling Club @ 27'13"
11 Orwell Wheelers @ 37'53"
12 Galway Bay CC @ 49'48"
13 Western Lakes CC @ 54'00"
14 Stamullen @ 59'18"
15 Clann Eireann @ 1h21'54"
Topics
