Taggert and O'Brien retain National Road Series Jersey
Credit: Bryan Keane/INPHO
The second round of the National Road Series in the Limerick cycling heartland of Knockaderry was a study in cycle racing consistency.
Ireland’s top ranked male racer Matthew Teggart and female rider Caoimhe O'Brien showed their respective fields how to target victory in the Newcastlewest Wheelers Darach McCarthy & Co. Solicitors Road Race.
O'Brien and Teggart took two from two as they retained their jerseys with powerful victories in their races.
With bright sunshine and clear blue skies it was a perfect day for racing and it all began in temperatures close to zero at 8.30am for the women.
Caoimhe O’Brien had taken the victory in Carlow for Round One and she set out to dominate the field – riding on the front on the first lap back into Knockaderry.
The race was a stop/start affair with many attacks but nothing that could break free – the defensive riding guaranteed a masse bunch sprint.
As they neared Knockaderry Caoimhe, resplendent in the National Road Series leader’s jersey, used her powerful kick on the uphill sprint to the finish.
Credit: Bryan Keane/INPHO
She over hauled Erin Grace Creighton who took second and Emma Smith who took third. Caoimhe holds onto the jersey and goes into the next round in a powerful position.
Caoimhe said:
“It was a really good race. It was on the same circuit as round one of last year. It was punchy and I put in loads of digs and none of them, I don’t know why, would stick.
“We had a really good field and everyone rode well. My legs were tying up a bit at the end so I was worried but the sprint at the end was great and I got to hang onto the jersey.
“It’s only the start of the season so I am just trying to build up. Hopefully I will be able to keep this momentum going. I want to put in more digs and attacks in the races and hopefully one day I’ll get a solo win too.”
The next National Road Series event was for the men’s Juniors and Niall McLoughlin from Westport was seeking to retain the leader’s jersey after his victory in Carlow on Round one.
Twenty-one riders took to the line and almost immediately attacks happened as they descended out of Knockaderry. A rider went clear and was later joined by a second attacker but the bunch continued to work hard and took back the attackers as they neared the finish.
It was all looking like a sprint finish but Adam Gilsenan from Navan and riding for Italian team Italian team CC Canturino 1902 broke free with four kilometres to go.
He battled to hold off the pursuing bunch and took a comfortable solo victory at the end.
Adam told Cycling Ireland that he is back in Ireland to study for his leaving certificate but has been spending a lot of time near Lake Como training.
“It started off quiet enough. It was a difficult course to get away so none of the early attacks were able to stick.
“Last lap we were coming into together and I didn’t want to come into the finish for a bunch sprint so I went away with four kilometres to go and was lucky enough to stay away.
“It couldn’t have gone better – I didn’t ride the first series so we’ll see how the next few rounds go,” he said.
McLoughlin retained his leader’s jersey and goes onto the next round with a comfortable lead. Patrick McLoughlin took second and McLoughlin, the overall leader, took third.
The A1/A2 race was a stunningly exciting race with hugely high speeds from the off. On the descent out of Knockaderry a group of five burst loose, including Daire Feeley of EvoPro.
It was a mammoth affair for the domestic riders with 156kms of racing to conquer.
Feeley would later go solo but a mechanical with his front mech cost him dearly and he was hauled back but Matthew Teggart was waiting.
Before the off Teggart told Cycling Ireland that the plan for the race was to use his fitness and form to let the 156 kilometres wear down the opposition.
His plan worked but he then had to find a way to conquer both Feeley and EvoPro Conn McDunphy. He sprinted clear and used his pace to come to the line solo. Catching Feeley with just one kilometre to go.
Afterwards, the Des Hanlon Memorial winner and leader in the National Road Series, said it was a tougher race to win.
“It was a tough one to be fair, I think I got that much tougher than the Des Hanlon even though it was a much flatter circuit and easier on paper. The EvoPro guys had a lot of numbers here so that made it more difficult and I was much more marked out.
“A big break went early with two EvoPro in it so that I just hope they would burn their matches and the distance would catch up – so that’s how it pretty much played out.
“Twenty kilometres to go, on the last drag, Gareth O’Neill, myself and Mark Dowling were catching Feeley, he was solo at that stage. We had to worry about Conn McDunphy as he is Feeley’s teammate.
“I knew if we didn’t catch Feeley I was likely to be third instead of second. I just had to forget about Conn and go for it. We got to within 20 seconds with two kilometres to go and I saw an opportunity and I went all out.
“I was able to lose the boys, I went straight past Feeley, that one hurt. I worked hard for that,” he explained.
Teggart is currently racing international with Wiv SunGod may have to race abroad during the series but hopes his two victories so far will help him to take the overall.
“I couldn’t be in a better position after two rounds. I’m not sure what is next but I hoping with my points tally, and even if I have to miss one with being abroad I will still be up there,” he added.
Round Three is next on the cards for the Irish domestic riders for the Meath Grand Prix hosted by the Navan Road Club.
The top eight in today’s A1/A2 race:
1. Matthew Teggart
2. Conn McDunphy
3. Gareth o’Neill.
4. Mark Dowling,
5, Daire Feeley
6. Dean Harvey
7Conor Murnane.
8 Paul Kennedy
Women’s National Road Series Round Two.
1. Caoimhe O’Brien.
2. Erin Grace Creighton.
3. Emma Smith.
4. Ella Doherty.
5. Clodagh Ní Gallchóir.
6. Gabrielle Glodentye.
Junior men
1.Adam Gilsenan,
2. Patrick O’Loughlin.
3. Niall McLoughlin.
4. Quillan Donnelly.
5. Sam Bolger.
6. Conal Scully.
7. Luke Moynihan.
8. Oisin Ferrity.
9. Shane Carver.
10. Sam Moloney.
Road National Series Rankings after Round 2