Embedded Files
Post date: May 27, 2014 9:25:56 PM
(By Billy Cunnane)
Eoghan Kevlihan 5th in West Down Grand Prix
On Thursday 22nd May Tullamore CTC hosted round 5 of the Midland League in Clara. A 12km lap to be completed 3 times awaited all the riders. Yet again there was a large turn out of Wheelers across all categories. First race off on the evening was the A/B race. The B group containing 25 riders got a 1.5 minute advantage on the chasing A group which contained 12 riders. The A group put in a strong ride and caught the B's at the start of the 3rd lap. Tosh Kiernan had instigated a breakaway on lap 2 with another 3 riders and they had a 10 second advantage on the bunch. Michael Mullin from Lonford CC made a move to bridge across to this breakaway and in doing so brought all the bunch across. Mark Nestor from Shannonside CC counter attacked and Billy Cunnane was quick to react and got on his wheel. Both lads worked well together getting a 20 sec gap on the main bunch. They stayed away to the finish with Billy taking the win. In the bunch sprint Steven Franzoni was 3rd, Eoghan Kevlihan 4th, Tosh Kiernan 5th and Richie Lenehan 6th.
The next race off was the C/D race. The D group containing 10 riders got a 3.5 minute advantage on the chasing C group of 25 riders. One rider managed to ride clear of the D group and took the win on the uphill finish. The C group made contact with the D group on the final lap and in the bunch sprint David Nolan got 5th overall. The next Midland League report will be on Round 6 which is taking place in Mount temple on Thursday 5th June starting at 7pm. Minimum of a club competition licence is required at sign on.
Damien Shaw one of the strongest riders on the domestic scene this year, proved on Stage 3 that he can handle himself against some of the best competition in Europe. Riding for the Cork City Aquablue team, he was one of only two Irish riders in the leading move of nine and having tried to solo to the line in the last few kilometres, he took his highest ever Rás stage placing of fourth into Charleville. At the end of a tough weeks racing Damien won the county rider classification overall and his team Aquablue took the county team prize
Damien Shaw Top County Rider in Rás
The An Post Rás is Ireland's number one cycling event and took place this year from 18th - 25th May. The Rás has a worldwide reputation of being a gruelling challenge in the elite international calendar. The open racing style allows amateur county and club riders to pit themselves against domestic and international professionals. This years Rás covered 1260 kilometres over eight stages with 36 categorised climbs, including five category one climbs, Doonagore, Coomanaspic, Seskin Hill, Corabutt Gap and Mount Leinster. The action got underway on Sunday May 18th in Dunboyne, Co. Meath with stage finishes in Roscommon, Lisdoonvarna, Charleville, Cahirciveen, Clonakilty, Carrick on Suir, Baltinglass and finished in Skerries on Sunday 25th May.
This year Lakeside Wheelers riders John Murray and Stuart Cox were guesting with Navan Road Club and both lads put in strong performances on every stage with their team one of only 9 to have all 5 riders cross the finish line in Skerries on Sunday 25th.
Saturday 24th May Eoghan Kevlihan travelled to Katesbridge in Co. Down to compete in the West Down GP. This was a pre entry race and was restricted to 80 riders. The weather was less than favourable as the bunch lined up for 5 laps of the 17km circuit with 200m of climbing on each lap. There were a few attempted breakaways with 2 riders eventually staying clear until the bunch reeled them in on the last lap. On the last climb of the day 7km from the finish Eoghan positioned himself perfectly at the head of the bunch and on the crest of the climb managed to pull a gap on the bunch with another 5 riders. This group worked well together and in the sprint Eoghan got 5th and in doing so was awarded 4 points and his long awaited upgrade to A3. Well done Eoghan.
Report abuse