It has been a few weeks since the last finished race. Missing a weekend with a cold then going to the Ras Mumhan and being brought down on the first stage and bruising the knee. The Kanturk Three Day was therefore the first race in three weeks. Hoping for some good results, in the end form was not good and Neil gradually improved over the weekend to finally get a second place on the fourth and last 120KM stage. Well done to Stephen Gillman on the win.
Second race as an A2 was the Des Hanlon race. We left early on Saturday to drive to county Kilkenny where we stayed the night as the 750KM round trip in the one day would have been a bit much.
The Des Hanlon is an Irish classic and there was a field of 140 riders. With three laps of a tough circuit making the race 130KM. There were many breaks with guys going “up the road” but in the end like last week Conor Hennebry was again the winner, with about twelve riders coming in first. Neil was somewhere between 30th and 40th looking at the photos. Not a bad ride as the best riders of the country were all there.
Conor HennebryJohn, Neil and Paidi from the Killarney CC
Watch two clips of the A1 A2 race here
Lap one A1 and A2 #beara #allihies #kilarneycyclingclub #bike #cycling #cyclingireland #race #velo #ireland #irlande #irlanda #irland #huntwheels #planetx #cyclisme #quarq #training #carlowroadcyclingclub #deshanlonmemorial #classic
The junior race was won in fine style by Aaron Wade who broke away clear at the start of the first big hill on their two lap race. He was later joined by Kevin another of his team mates. They won on their own, great ride.
Aaron Wade goes for the early, deciding breakKevin McCambridge and Aaron
Well Neil’s second go at Gorey and what a story. Riding for the Munster team again which had seven riders. Unfortunately two dropped out on day one so the team was left with Tom O’Connor and Neil Hodges from Kanturk O’Leary Stone, Jamie O’Donoghue from Kilarney cycling club, Sean Lynch from Cork County cycling club and Pat Sheehan from Sliabh Luachra. Lot’s of training and extra experience one year on. So a good first stage riding strongly to finish with the bunch. A few lads up the road with over a minute lead. But finishing same time as most riders.
Neil stage one on one of the climbs that counted for the climbers points
Second day had the time trial and 99 KM road race. The time trial was not too bad and made up some time on other riders bringing him up the GC rankings. A few lads with some very top class Time Trial bikes made it hard for others to be competitive, maybe fairer if all riders at this level had to use the same bike for all stages…
Tom O’Connor TTNeil TTPat Sheehan TTSean Lynch TT
The road race some some aggressive riding with a group finishing ahead of the main bunch, Neil was chasing this group with an other rider so got 50 seconds advantage on the main bunch which put him into 14th position on GC.
11th on Stage ThreeJamie and Neil Stage 3Pat Sheehan Stage 3Tom and his father, Tom got back onto the bunch after a hard chase, good effort
Third day the weather was terrible and the bunch finished together with most riders getting same time as winner. The 14th place on GC was held and the race was over. These stage races really make for great races and interesting weekends. The next one will be the Kanturk Three day beginning of May. Between then and now though a few Sunday races.
Paul Forristal winner of stages three and four
Gorey Three Day Race 2018
Watch a short video here
All the photos from the Weekend
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Gorey Three Day Cycle Race was great experience. Three stages of 103KM, 123KM and 93KM over the bank holiday weekend. Had a bad stage one but did well on stages two and three. Here are some pictures of the race and a short film of the start and finish of stage 3.
The average speed for the whole race was 40KMH, not too shabby.
Watch a short film here below.
Gorey Three Day Cycle Race
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