Michael Wins In The Rain
Road Race 3 on Wednesday 16th May 2007
Despite the miserable weather conditions there was a good turn-out for this event.
The race route was a change from the scheduled one due to road works. The new route started at the Five Points going towards Gortatole then turned left
to Florencecourt. At Florencecourt it turned left down past the dump, council
amenity that is not the village, and followed this road on to the bridge where this road meets the Five Points – Gortatole road. Turning left here it all started
again with two more laps of the circuit to the finish line just before the bridge.
The riders were split into three groups. The lead group were given a four minute start over the middle group who in turn had a three minute advantage over the ‘scratch’ group. This time race officials were wise to Gerry Murphy and Glen McCleery after their previous race performance and both agreed to
move back to the middle group without the need to resort to violence.
Ian Caldwell and Fergus McGirr also volunteered to move back to the ‘scratch’ group and to have their heads checked. After two laps the groups had all come together. As the peloton passed the junction at Gortatole on the last lap a group of three broke away, Michael Holland, Robbie Bryson and Wesley Foster.
They built up a good gap but unfortunately Wesley first and then Robbie blew and could not live with the pace of Michael. The peloton whittled down to
just the ‘scratch’, Raymond Pauley and Glen McCleery as they stepped it up in an effort to reduce the gap.
On the last hill Glen’s brave effort ended as he could not cope with the speed. Michael Holland maintained a 100 metre lead right up to the finish line to take a well deserved victory.
In the sprint finish Dane Dunlop edged into second with Raymond
Pauley piping Raymond Dunlop for the third podium place.
Results
| Pos | Cyclist | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Holland | N.Monaghan/Crannog Ireland | |
| 2 | Dane Dunlop | LCC | |
| 3 | Raymond Pauley | LCC | |
| 4 | Raymond Dunlop | LCC | |
| 5 | Fergus McGirr | Fintona CC | |
| 6 | Ian Caldwell | LCC | |
| 7 | Wesley Foster | LCC | |
| 8 | Robbie Bryson | LCC | |
| 9 | Glen McCleery | LCC | |
| 10 | Neil Armstrong | LCC |