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Tour of Ulster - NE

Ireland, April 29-May 1, 2006

Main Page    Results   Overall standings     Next Stage

Stage 1 - April 29: Newry-Omagh

Murphy takes Ulster opener

Conor Murphy from Monaghan has won the first stage of this year’s Tour of Ulster from Newry to Omagh, covering a distance of 80.7 miles. Conor, a stage winner from last year’s tour proved to be the strongest in today’s very tough opening stage.

The action started early with a group of 11 riders going clear within the first 2 miles of racing and building up a lead of 22 seconds before being caught. It was at this point a group of 26 riders went clear which was to prove to be the break of the day. The group consisted of Conor Murphy (Murphy & Gunn), Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey), Paul Helion (Murphy & Gunn), Andrew Roche (Murphy & Gunn), Ciaran Power (Navigators), Philip Finegan (Murphy & Gunn), Ryan Connor (Ballymena Scott Roof Tiles), Derek Burke (Murphy & Gunn), Brian Kenneally (Myhome/Cycleways), Greg Swinand (Irish Road Club), Peter Hawkins (Irish Road Club), Paul Hanna (TotalCycling), Jonathon Dempsey (East Antrim Audi), Sean Rock (Stamullen/Donnelly), Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey), Eoin Whelan (Galway/Laois), John Dempsey (Murphy & Gunn), Martin O'Loughlin (Dan Morrissey), John Horgan (Diamond T/Les Jeunes), Micheal Steed (Murphy Surveyors), Willie Hamilton (Terry Dolan), Brian Keane (Dublin Whs/All Systems) and Bill Moore (Stamullen/Donnelly).

By the time the leaders reached the second climb of the day at Keady Mountain the gap was 42 seconds and hovered around this for the next 20 miles; when the race reached Clogher with 50 miles covered the gap had grown to nearly three minutes. It was clear at this point that the leaders were going to stay away.

The leading group then got very active with a lot of attacks on the approach to the final climb of the day at Sion Finn outside Fintona, and with only 20 miles remaining two riders broke clear of the leading pack - Conor Murphy (Murphy & Gunn) and Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey) built up a lead of just over a minute, with Murphy getting the better of Clarke in the two up sprint.

For tomorrow's stage to Cookstown Conor Murphy will wear the leader's yellow jersey and Ciaran Power leads the Abmopticians.com King of the Hills competition. The stage starts in Omagh (11.00 am) and finishes in Cookstown (1.35pm); with the race going through the Sperrins, this 64.8 mile stage is another tough stage.

Results

1 Conor Murphy (Murphy & Gunn)         3.09.48
2 Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey)              0.02
3 Paul Helion (Murphy & Gunn)             1.06
4 Andrew Roche (Murphy & Gunn)                
5 Ciaran Power (Navigators)                   
6 Philip Finegan (Murphy & Gunn)              
7 Ryan Connor (Ballymena Scott Roof Tiles)    
8 Derek Burke (Murphy & Gunn)                 
9 Brian Kenneally (Myhome/Cycleways)          
10 Greg Swinand (Irish Road Club)             
 
KOH Cat 2 at Beeleeks
 
1 Bill Moore                                 5 pts
2 John Mason                                 3
3 Simon Mulvaney                             2
4 Jonathon Dempsey                           1
 
KOH Cat 1 at Keady Mountain
 
1 Ciaran Power                               8 pts
2 John Mason                                 6
3 Brian Keane                                4
4 Andrew Roche                               2
5 Jonathon Dempsey                           1
 
KOH Cat 1 at Sion Finn
 
1 Ciaran Power                               8 pts
2 Brian Keane                                6
3 Ryan Connor                                4
4 Andrew Roche                               2
5 Conor Murphy                               1
 
KOH overall clasification
 
1 Ciaran Power                              16 pts
2 Brian Keane                               10
3 John Mason                                 9
 
Irish News Young Rider
 
1 Sean Rock                                   
2 Adam Armstrong                              
3 Micheal Murray