Eddie's Strong In Front
Road Race 4 on Wednesday 21st June 2006
This week saw the continuation of the Lakeland Cycle Club road race league take place on a 38 mile course around Derrygonnelly, Belcoo, and Boho, a course which is regarded as one of the toughest club races locally.
Strong riding at the front of the group by Eddie Carson and Mark Mc Girr dragged the group along at a fast pace to the bottom of the first climb. A very strong headwind greeted the riders on the climb up Knockmore, with some riders not even showing a wheel on the front of their group. Towards the top a group of three riders opened up a small gap. The group which included Dane Dunlop and visiting riders Michael Holland and Fergus Mc Girr soon put some distance between themselves and Jesse Foster who found himself isolated from the group behind. With such a strong wind a lone rider could not stay out on his own for long and was quickly caught by the group containing Raymond Pauley, John Mc Manus and Peter Martin.
Back in the scratch group the usual faces of Boylan, Bryson, and Dunlop lined up missing Tommy Peoples who was saving himself for the gruelling border trek in the coming weekend along with Kenny Donald, a new face in the racing scene. However, Raymond Dunlop another border trek enthusiast braved the elements and set a strong pace up and over Knockmore climb in pursuit of the leaders.
At Cashel cross Joan Flanagan, who seems to be improving each week at an alarming rate putting pressure on seasoned racers, was sitting comfortably in the lead group with 2 a minute advantage over the hard working scratch. After several attacks and a lack of commitment by the lead group saw this two minute lead quickly disappear.
With a strong solo attack from Michael Holland he slipped away with 5 miles to go to take victory.
The scratch group pushed hard on the final climb with Raymond Dunlop, using all his working gears, tried hard for the sprint but had to concede to Bryson who proved the strongest again to take 2nd, with Boylan taking 4th.
Results
| Pos | Cyclist | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Holland | N.Monaghan/Crannog Ireland | |
| 2 | Robbie Bryson | LCC | |
| 3 | Raymond Dunlop | LCC | |
| 4 | Kenny Boylan | LCC | |
| ? | Mark McGirr | LCC | |
| ? | Kenny Donnell | LCC | |
| ? | Raymond Pauley | LCC | |
| ? | Wesley Foster | LCC | |
| ? | John McManus | LCC | |
| ? | Eddie Carson | LCC | |
| ? | Dane Dunlop | LCC | |
| ? | Fergus McGirr | Fintona CC | |
| ? | Peter Martin | LCC | |
| ? | Joan Flanagan | LCC |