Stage 1 Prologue Stormont Friday 25th march
Banbridge man Roger Aiken, recently returned from representing Ireland at the Tour of Lankawai took the verdict in the Stormont Hillclimb stage, defeating Welsh visitor Lewys Hobbs by 100ths of a second to claim the 50th Anniversary events first Yellow Jersey. Last years Prologue winner George Rose took the final podium spot 3 seconds adrift. All the main contenders are within seconds of the winner, except twice former winner Tommy Evans who literally cruised up the hill to record one of the slowest times. Is the wee banbridge man keeping his powder dry for later in the event??
Result Stage 1 Prologue
1
Roger Aiken Banbridge CC 2min 12sec .08
2Lewys Hobbs West Wales 2.12.96
3George Rose Fuji Bikes 2.15.18
4Rob Partridge Fuji Bikes2.16.19
5Stuart McManusScotland 2.16.97
6Mike Harrison Cyclestore.co.uk 2.17.07
Former World No1 Sean Kelly starts off
local rider Lee Patterson (Northern CC) at the
prologue Time Trial at Stormont
American Flyer
Stage 2 Belfast-Belfast
The opening Road stage from starting from Belfast City Hall was started off by City Lord Mayor, councillor Tom Ekin. Assisted by Sean Kelly, they presented the leaders Yellow Jersey to Roger Aiken, before the 100 strong bunch was led off through the streets of Belfast by two cycling police officers. The race proper gor underway on the Crumlin rd as the gradient eased. Perhaps it was because King Kelly was keeping a watchful eye from the VIP vehicle, but the pace was fast and furious, with the first 10 miles covered in 20 minutes!
The wide straight roads was not conducive to breakaways getting away, however small groups continued to nip off the front, never gaining more than half a minutes advantage. The first AA King of the Hills prime at Muckamore, 10 miles was taken by Phoenix CCs Matt Ward, and at Moira the verdict went to Welshman Huw Bendall. The race was all together by Hillsborough, and the KoH prime went to Brian Stewart (Usher Irish Road CLub.) Shortly after Hillsborough, with 15 miles remaining a 9 man group went clear, and on the twisty roads disappeared to open up a 1 minute 40sec advantage by Lisburn. In the final 7 miles the bunch closed the gap, but the break stayed clear for American rider Michael Scherer to take the sprint verdict from Phoenix CCs Matt Ward. Economic Energy`s Paul Sheppard took 3rd, with Northern CCs Fraser Duncan leading the bunch home for 10th spot, 49 seconds later. All in all it was a good days racing, with a 27mph average. Crumlins Matt Ward takes over the leaders yellow jersey for the Sundsy stages around bangor, whilst Castlereaghs Glen Kinning takes the climbers AA Polka Dot Jersey.
Result Stage 2
1Michael Scherer Team DFL 61miles in 2.11.22
2Matt Ward Phoenix CC same time
3Paul SheppardEco. Energy s.t.
4Paul Helion Usher Irish Road Club
5Glen Kinning Castlereagh CC Mattest
6Dale Appleby Fuji Bikes UK
7Brendan DochertyPlanet X
8Peter Hey Cyclestore.co.uk
9Brian Stewart Usher IRC all same time
10 Fraser DuncanNorthern -Dave Kane @ 49sec
American Flyer Michael Scherer takes
the verdict at Shaws Bridge on
Overall after 2 stages
1Matt Ward Phoenix CC2.13.27
2Paul SheppardEco Energy @14sec
3= Michael Scherer Team DFL @15
5Glen Kinning Castlereagh @16sec
6Brendan Docherty Planet X @19sec
8Brian Stewart Usher IRC @25
9Peter Hey Cyclestore.co.uk @29
10 Fraser Duncan Northern @1.09
Stage 3 Individual Time Trial - Bangor Sunday 27th
Connor moves in to Yellow with TT Stage Win
2004 Event winner Ryan Connor (Team DFL) took ownership of the leaders Yellow jersey with a commanding performance in the 7 mile Time Trial around the Craigantlet Hills. Connor was one of only 4 riders to finish within the 17 minute mark, with Ben Morrow taking second and Brendan O`Brien 3rd
Result stage 3 Time Trial
1Ryan Connor Team DFL 16.27
2Ben MorrowEast Antrim-Audi 16.42
3Brendan O`Brien Classiw Walls-Roe Valley 16.44
4Shane Baker Usher Irish Road Club 16.58
5Richard AldaheffOrchard Whs 17.03
6Martyn Irvine Northern-Dave Kane 17.05
General Classification after Stage 3
2Paul Sheppard Team Economic Energy @ 5 sec
4Brendan Docherty Planet X @10
5Glen Kinning Castlereagh CC @15
6Ben Morrow East Antrim-Audi @18
All Change - Helion ushered in to lead
The Sunday afternoon short road stage usually provides no drama, but that was not the case today, as the leaders Yellow Jersey changed hands yet again with a major split in the field.
A group of 4 riders moved clear early in the 50 mile stage around the Ards Peninsula, and by the halfway mark at Portaferry they had been joined by chasers to make a 13 rider lead group,with a lead of 1.24 and growing. On the run back up the East coast, small chasing groups left the main field in pursuit, but the main field - containing the race leader - continued to lose time, eventually coming in almost 4 minutes down.
On the run in from Donaghadee, a group of 3 riders nipped off the front of the lead group, and on the uphill sprint at Bangor, Maryland Wheeler Mark Greer took the verdict from Usher IRCs Paul Helion. 3rd on the stage went to Mike Harrison, and the remains of the breakaway led in 29 seconds later by Lewys Hobbs (West Wales) Peter Hey (Cyclestore) and Liam Nelson (Ballymena Road Club) rounded off the top 6. Helion, 3rd going in to the stage takes over the leaders Yellow Jersey, however tomorrows penultimate stage in Ballymena is one of the longest, and is on Connors home soil. No doubt he will be smarting from todays losses, and will be out for revenge tomorrow.
Result stage 4 50 Miles Bangor-Bangor
1Mark GreerMaryland Whs50 miles in 1.49.56
2Paul HelionUsher IRCsame time
3Mike Harrison Cyclestore.co.uks.t.
4Lewys Hobbs West Wales @29sec
5Peter Hey Cyclestore.co.uk s.t.
6Liam Nelson Ballymena RC-Scotts s.t.
Unofficial Overall GC after stage 4
1Paul HelionUsher IRC 4.20.48
2Mike HarrisonCyclestore.co.uk @51sec
3Dale Appleby Fuji Bikes UK @1.13
4Matt Ward Phoenix CC @1.14
Helion keeps grip of P&O Yellow on penultimate stage
Dubliner Paul Helion, riding for the Usher Irish Road Club, maintained his grip on the race leaders Yellow Jersey following todays penultimate stage of the P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North. Todays 76mile leg, arguably the toughest day, saw yesterdays Time Trial winner Ryan Connor, 2004 event winner, out to make amends for yesterday afternoons disasterous stage where he lost almost 5 minutes. Connor went from the gun, taking with him Welsh man George Rose. A minor crash in the punch temporarily diverted their attention, and the duo`s lead went up to one minute on the first climb of the day at Shanes Hill, near Larne. Rose was first over the top, but at Carncastle following the descent, the field were back together again. The bunch were active on the Antrim Coast Road, with a group of 5 moving clear, but it was on the climb of Glenarriff that the race split apart. Again it was Connor, this time with Prologue winner Roger Aiken, who forced the pace and opened up a gap at the front. At the AA King of the Hills prime line, Aiken was first across and the pairs advantage was 26 seconds. That grew to 1min 20 at the start of the final climb of Orra (53miles) Connor began to pay for his earlier efforts, and fell back, eventually losing more time to the race leader. Aiken stayed clear with a 1m 44sec advantage at the summit. Brendan O`brien and Matt Ward mounted a chase, but Ward later dropped back, however the determined O`brien and Scot Robert Wardell made contact with the lone leader in the closing miles, with O`brien taking the verdict back at Ballymena. Aiken finished runner up, with Wardell 3rd. Race Leader Paul Helion finished in a group 36 seconds back, maintaining his lead, however Englishman Mike Harrison (cyclestore.co.uk) who finished 8th on the stage, reduced his second place defecit to 36 seconds ahead of tomorrows final stage at Castlereagh.
Above - L Star of stage 5 Roger Aiken, leads Ryan Connor on the climb of Orra. R Paul Helion in Yellow leads DFLs Michael Scherer and Matt Ward
Result Stage 5 76 miles Ballymena-Ballymena
1Brendan O`Brien Classic Walls-Roe Valley CC 76 miles in 3.06.50
2Roger Aiken Banbridge CC same time
3Robert Wardell Scotland s.t.
4Gareth Jones Fuji Bikes UK @21sec
5Martyn Irvine Northern CC-Dave Kanes.t.
6Shane Baker Usher Irish Road Club s.t.
7Lewys Hobbs West Wales s.t.
8Mike HarrisonCyclestore.co.uk s.t.
9Fraser Duncan Northern-Dave Kane @36sec
10 Derek Finnegan Team Madigan s.t.
Unofficial Overall after Stage 5
1Paul HelionUsher IRC 7.28.17
2Mike Harrison Cyclestore.co.uk@36sec
3Lewys Hobbs West Wales @1.07
4Dale Appleby Fuji Bikes UK@1.10
5Robert Wardell Scotland @1.37
6Mark Greer Maryland-Slane @1.15
No change at the top as Helion takes P&O Tour Glory
There were no surprises in the final stage of the 50th Anniversary P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North at Dundonald, with overnight leader Paul Helion clinching the overall victory at the Dundonald Ice Bowl.
Helions strong Usher Irish Road CLub team controlled the stage from start to finish, not letting any attacks gain more than half a minute. Helion held a 36 second lead going in to the final 75 mile stage, with Cyclestore.co.uk rider Mike Harrison the danger man. No breaks on the final stage were allowed more than a few seconds before being reeled in by the Usher lads. A crash at the start of the second 38 mile loop ad Dundonald saw a couple of riders taken to hospital for check-ups. This, along with the Gilnahirk Rd climb, split the field and shortly after two riders did escape from the main group. Richard Aldaheff, an Englishman exiled in Richhill, and Scot Gordon Murdoch had gained a 1-minute advantage by Crossgar with 20 miles remaining. Neither were a threat on the overall classification, and the Usher squad were happy to let them sit off the front. A chase was mounted in the closing miles, but the pair held on to the line, with Aldaheff taking the verdict.
Race leader Helion was sefely in the chasing group 12 seconds down to clinch his first P&O Tour win. All the main contenders were also in this group, causing no changes in the overall GC, leaving Helion (An Irishman) Harrison (An Englishman) and Lewys Hobbs (A Welshman) on the podium.
Stage 6 Result Castlereagh-Castlereagh
1Richard AldaheffOrchard Wheelers76miles in 2.59.33
2Gordon Murdoch Glenmarnock Whss.t.
3Greg RocheFuji Bikes@12sec
6Willie HAmilton East Antrim-Audi
9Steve Bonicci Economic Energy
10 Fraser DuncanNorthern-Dave Kane all same time
Final Overall General Classification
1Paul Helion(Irl)Usher Irish Road Club10hours 28min 2 sec
2Mike Harrison (Eng) Cyclestore.co.uk@36sec
3Lewys Hobbs (Wal) West Wales @1.07
4Dale Appleby (Eng) Fuji Bikes @1.10
5Robert Wardell (Sco) Scotland @1.14
6Mark Greer (NI) Maryland-Slane cycles @1.15
7Willie Hamilton (NI) East Antrim-Audi @1.37
8Peter hawkins (NI) Castlereagh CC-Mattest @1.50
9Peter Hey (Eng) Cyclestore.co.uk @2.07
10 Matt Ward (NI) Phoenix CC @2.18
11 Brendan O`brien (NI) Classic Walls-Roe Valley @4.32
12Martyn Irvine (NI)Northern-Dave kane @4.34
13= James Notley Cyclestore @5.07
15 Gareth Jones Fuji Bikes @ 5.13
16Shane Baker Usher IRC @5.25
17Richard AldaheffOrchard Whs @5.51
18Ross Creber J Scotland @6.41
19Greg RocheFuji Bikes @6.43
20Paul Sheppard Team Economic Energy @6.48
21Stuart McManus Scotland@6.57
22Nigel Quigley CW-RVCC @7.08
23Fraser Duncan Northern-Dave Kane @7.12
24Stephen McKenna EACC Audi @9.45
25Steve Bonicci Economic Energy @10.09
26Peter Cromie CW RVCC @10.15
27Glen Kinning Castlereagh CC @10.21
28Ryan COnnor Team DFL @10.47
29Barry Mullin Phoenix CC @10.57
30Adam P-Armstrong J Northern-Dave Kane @11.12
31Gordon Murdoch Glenmarnock Whs @11.52
32Ben Morrow EACC Audi @12.10
33Michael Scherer Team DFL @12.34
34Gary Cranston EACC Audi @15.06
35Dave Watson Northern Dave Kane @17.26
36Karl Dolan Apollo @18.33
37Kevin Barclay J Scotland @20.44
38Jonathon Kyle Team Madigan@21.21
39Brian StewartUsher @21.25
40Aaron Deane Planet X @21.46
41Alan Hall Apollo @22.18
42Iain RocheFuji Bikes @22.26
43Tony ReidyJ Scotland @22.27
44Sean McGreevy Wheels n Motion @22.39
45Tommy Wilson Ballymena RC-Scotts@22.48
46Myles McCrory Apollo @22.53
47Alastair Steele Vunatt @22.55
48= Richard Megaghey Maryland @23.32
50Iain NimmoScotland @24.05
51Ronan McLaughlin J Planet X @26.49
52Lawrence Diver Bann Valley @28.56
53Liam DonnellyBann Whs@45.00
54John Rooney Phoenix B @45.09
55Nick George Team Economic Energy@48.38
56Mike MillerCastlereagh CC @52.19
57Ed Graffe Team Economic Energy@58.39
58Adrian Hughes Castlereagh CC @1.02.51
59Stephen Farr Team Madigan @1.05.03
Veterans
1A Steele47th
Juniors
1R Creber18th
2A P-A`strong 30th
3K Barclay37th
Team Classification
1Cyclestore.co.uk31hrs 30min 53sec
2Fuji Bikes UK 31.36.32
AA King of the Hills
NICF Riders
