UPDATED: Timmy Barry wins in Carrick-on-Suir ahead of pre-Rás French outing

Get in there: Barry takes the flag at the busy Carrick-on-Suir finish line (Photo: Joe Cashin)

By Brian Canty

Timmy Barry (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) soloed to a fine victory in the Tommy Sheehan Memorial race in Carrick-on-Suir today, Sunday.

The evergreen Corkman seems to be timing to perfection his form in advance of next month’s An Post Rás; illustrating that on the testing 100 kilometre course today.

Breaking away with local rider Martin Mizgajski (Iverk Produce-Carrick Wheelers) on the first of four laps, Barry and his Polish compatriot rode solidly all day together.

But when the former Irish international recognised Mizgajski was struggling in the closing stages, he ramped up the pace, dropped him and soloed to the finish with a gap of over 30 seconds at the flag.

“I jumped him on a drag with two kilometres to go and I knew his legs were gone,” said Barry, who was scooping his second win of the year.

Barry’s team-mate Sean Lacey was next over the line to round out the podium.

Though only 29 A1-A2 riders signed on, the pace was lively from the drop of the flag and Barry was active in the early stages, getting away on the first major climb of the day.

Mizgajski, who rode an excellent Rás Mumhan last weekend - taking fourth o the Conor Pass stage - was the only one who could stick with Barry today.

A tired and small peloton did try to forge their way across on the second and third laps but by the fourth and final lap, it was clear that any moves would be futile.

Mike Storan and Michael Lucey, the latter from the host club, battled to fourth and fifth respectively, while newly launched Cork County CC notched sixth place through Dave Kenneally.

The victory today confirms Barry is clearly in good form just weeks out from his big goal of the season, the An Post Rás. He said he had his preparations clearly planned for the weeks ahead, including a racing trip to France.

“I’ll race in Nenagh next week, then take a week off; train up to that though. Then the May weekend we’re going to France for the Essor Breton in Lorient.”

That race is part of the French elite road calendar and will see Barry travel with Lacey, Mick Fitzgerald, Joe Fenlon, and Páidí O’Brien.

“It’s a day longer than the Tour of Ulster; it’s longer stages and faster as well. It’s an elite French race, they usually only have French teams but this year they want to give it more of an international spread; a bit along the lines of Rás Mumhan. So there’s a Belgian team, a Spanish team, there’s us, a German team.”

“Then after that weekend the Shay Elliott is on but I’m unsure about that. We’ll have to see because with the travelling and the longer races you’ll have to see how you recover. So we’ll make a call on that probably the Friday night or Saturday night before it.”