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Barry Claims Tour of Ulster Double
Timmy Barry from Cork, riding for the Carrick Cidona CC became only the sixth rider in the 47 years of the event, to win the Tour of Ulster twice when the race finished with an 80 miles stage in County Armagh yesterday.
However the expected battle between him and overnight leader Denis Easton failed to materialise when the Total Cycling Lindsay Ford rider failed to sign on for the final stage.
His manager cited personal reasons but the organising UCPC were very unhappy and have withheld Easton's prize money pending a report to Cycling Ireland.
Rider of trhe day was Northern Dave Kane Cycles rider Brian Stewart who won the stage and took four Vredstein King of the Hills primes en route, just failiing by 1 point to overtake leader Seamus O'SUllivan in that competition.
Stewart attacked from the drop of the flag at Craigavon Civic Centre and took six riders with him. At the first prime after the Primates Wall in Armagh the group was down to five as Stewart led Keith Gallagher (Orchard Whs.); Shane Baker (Usher IRC),
Mark Power (Carrick Cidona) and Mark Cavendish (Isle of Man) over the prime.
The order was the same over the next prime on the first ascent of Keady Mountain where the quintet's lead was 3.15 over the bunch where the yellow and KOH jersies were prominent at the front.
The rain which had pounded the riders on the first two stages was only in showers but the strong wind was still there and when it was on their side it several times split the bunch into several groups but they
always managed to come back together.
At the front Stewart and Gallagher were doing the lions share of the work as the Usher and Cidona riders were only there to look after the interests of their team leaders.
As a result the lead started to come down. It was still almost 3 minutes when Stewart again led them over the Primates Wall KOH for the second time and he made it a clean sweep next time up the Keady Mountain where Connor Murphy (Crannog Ireland) was on his own in front of a small chasing group.
Back through Armagh the lead was down to 40 seconds and at Portadown, with 4 miles remaining three rider made it across to the leaders: Andrew Donnellan (Dublin Whs.), Derek Cunningham (Bray Whs.), and Mick
Mulcahy (Usher IRC).
With the bunch closing in the leading group split up on the run-in but Stewart was with the four at the front winning the sprint fromGallagher, Mulcahy and Donnellan. The bunch came hhome 31 seconds behind the stage winner so there were no dramatic changes in the top placings.
Stage 3:
1, Brian Stewart (Northern Dave Kane)3.24...35;
2, K. Gallagher (Orchard Whs.);
3, M.Mulcahy (Usher IRC)
4, A. DOnnellan (Dublin Whs.) allsame time;
5, M. Cavendish (Isle of Man) at 11 secs;
6, D. Cunningham (North Kildare CC) s.t.;
7, B. Ahern (Newbridge CC)C at 27 secs;
8, C. Murphy (Crannog Ireland) s.t.;
9, E. Moriarty (Cycleways A) at 31 secs;
10, E. O'Donoghue (Usher IRC) s.t.
Under 23: Conor Murphy (Crannog Ireland).
2nd cat.: Brendan O'Brien (Classic Walls).
Team
1, Carrick Cidona 31.57.39;
2, Cycleways A at 6.08;
3, Usher IRC at 19.40.
Report: Jimmy Traynor
Pics: Marian Lamb unless otherwise stated
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