Zippy Doyle edges out Mark Dowling in tight photo finish at Bikeworx Series, Mondello

Zippy Doyle, closest to camera, just about gets the better of Mark Dowling in the tightest finish Mondello Park has seen in a long time.

Having been absent from Mondello Park’s Bikeworx Series race last Tuesday night due to the Rás concluding just two days earlier, Zippy Doyle, Mark Dowling and Stephen Halpin have clearly recovered well from the eight-day, filling the podium in Co Kildare this evening.

Doyle, riding this season for Aidan Crowley's VeloRevolution team, just about edged out Mark Dowling of DID Dunboyne, with no more than a couple of inches separating them and the photo finish camera called into action to determine who had indeed taken victory.

Stephen Halpin of Bikeworx was third, rounding out the podium just behind the stronger duo.

It was Doyle's second win of the season, after he claimed victory in the Harry Reynolds Memorial in north Co Dublin at the end of March.

Those wins come after a very strong cyclocross campaign over the winter months though, his Harry Reynolds triumph aside, perhaps a quieter start to the road season given just how strong his 'cross riding was.

Doyle has clearly come out of the Rás in good form as has Dowling, for whom tonight's contest was a far cry from the hilly terrain where he normally excels.

However, three county rider stage prizes on the final three days of the Rás underlined Dowling’s condition and the fact he is only now hitting top form.

Mondello Bikeworx Series

Tuesday, June 3rd, Co Kildare

Anthony Doyle (VeloRevolution)
Mark Dowling DID (Dunboyne)
Stephen Halpin (Bikeworx)
Barry Talt (Murphy Surveys)
Mark Nicholls (Lucan CRC)
Brian Reynolds (Lucan CRC)

Unplaced A2: Mark McGauley (MAD MTB)
Unplaced A3: John Walsh (Carlow RC)
Unplaced A4: James Lawless (Usher IRC)
Unplaced Junior: Conn McDunphy (Lucan CRC)

Anthony ‘Zippy’ Doyle of Velo Revolution outsprints Javan Nulty (DID Dunboyne) and the rest of a five man lead group to claim victory in the Harry Reynolds Memorial in March, adding another victory to his tally this evening (Photo: Gary Guildea)