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Results and Reports for July 6-12, 2002

Ireland

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Ras Connachta

Cong, Co. Mayo, July 5-7, 2002

The stages

• Stage 1 - July 5: Road race, 52 miles
• Stage 2 - July 6: Road race, 68 miles
• Stage 3 - July 6: ITT, 7 miles
• Stage 4 - July 7: Road race, 70 miles

Stage 1 - July 5: Road race, 52 miles

Report courtesy Tommy Campbell

Paul Griffin of the Earl of Desmond-Tralee Bicycle Club got his defence as last year's overall winner of Ras Connachta off to a flier last evening in Cong, Co. Mayo.

In a hectic sprint to the finishing line after 52 miles of competition on stage one in and around Cong, Griffin edged ahead of Dutchman Bart Dirks to win by two seconds, with Eddie O'Donoghue of the Carrick Cidona outfit a further two seconds adrift.

There were several scurries forward in the opening miles to establish leads, but in the end they came to nothing. But with 15 miles of racing clocked an inconspicuous group of 13 (unlucky for the Bunch) went forward. They quickly established a conservative lead, which bordered between 1-2 minutes.

In the end it came down to just over a minute but with some daunting terrain to be covered today (Saturday). Interestingly, David O'Loughlin who now races in America postponed his trip back, so maybe there is an omen there?

Today, surely the 99 competitors will put it up to Griffin to defend his lead over two stages a road race and an individual time trial later in the evening.

Results, 52 miles

1 P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond-Tralee Bicycle Club)     1.53.07
2 B. Dirks (Holland)                                      0.02
3 E. O'Donoghue (Carrick Cidona)                          0.04
4 D. O'Loughlin (Foto Lombardia)                          0.05
5 R. Cahill (Banteer)
6 D. Lynch (VC la Pomme)

Stage 2 - July 6: Road race, 68 miles

Report courtesy Tommy Campbell

Day two of Ras Connachta in Cong, Co. Mayo and the local hope David O'Loughlin now representing the Ofoto Lombardia outfit in America is the overall leader.

Yesterday on wind swept roads and heavy showers O'Loughlin came to the fore on a tough circuit, which included exceptionally hard climbs over a race circuit of 62.6 miles.

In the dash to the line Stephen O'Sullivan who forged ahead in the final yards headed him. To be fair, O'Sullivan had been in the thick of the action all day and deserved his win.

It was on the final climb of the day at Maumeen that O'Sullivan and O'Loughlin moved ahead of a bunch that was suffering because of the conditions.

Overnight leader, Paul Griffin slips down to second place in the pecking order. Fortunately for Griffin his team, Earl of Desmond-Tralee Bicycle Club, cut the deficit on the two leaders, otherwise Griffin could have been staring at a bigger time gap. He is only twenty threes seconds off the lead and with two stages remaining, it's there for the asking.

One feels now that with O'Loughlin in pole position and that that he specialises in time trialling, maybe Griffin will have to surrender the title he won so convincingly last year.

Results, 68 miles

1 S. O'Sullivan                                        2.29.43
2 D. O'Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardia)
3 D. Easton (Total Cycling.com)                           0.28
4 D. Gardiner (Apollo)
5 P. Moriarty (Cork)
6 G. McQuaid (Emerald)


Overall after two stages.
 
1 O'Loughlin                                           4.22.55
2 P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond-Tralee Bicycle Club)        0.23
3 R. Cahill (Banteer)                                     0.25
4 D. Lynch (VC la Pomme)                                  0.26
5 T. Cassidy (Leinster)                                   0.28

Stage 4 - July 7: Road race, 72 miles

Report courtesy Tommy Campbell

American based professional, David O’Loughlin with the Foto Lombardia outfit in America, but from the village of Cong in Co. Mayo eclipsed a very competitive field in the Ras Connachta, which finished up yesterday after four stages over three days.

David sealed his victory on Saturday evening when he posted the fastest time in the race against the clock over seven miles with a start and finish on the outskirts of Cong.

Yesterdays gruelling stage over 72 miles saw Paddy Moriarty representing the Cork team make a bold bid for success. He moved ahead at the first King of the Hills prime but at the second KOH of the day he was joined by Denis Lynch of the Kanturk Credit Union team. They set a fast pace and for a few fleeting miles, Lynch became race leader on the road.

O’Loughlin sensing that his tenure as race leader was beginning to ebb away, then drew on his experience as a professional. Fortunately for the 24-year-old, others were intent on keeping their positions on the general classification intact and with 12 miles remaining Moriarty and Lynch’s lead was brought to an abrupt end.

Young Gary McQuaid scored an emphatic stage win just edging out Bart Dirks of the Dutch team who also had a second placing on the opening stage on Friday evening.

Unfortunately it was such a blanket finish that the judges were not in a position to go beyond fourth place on the stage, yet the familiar yellow tunic of O’Loughlin was present in the group which gave him the victory for the locals who were out in their hundreds to support this young man who looks destined for a bright future on the American circuit.

Results, 72miles

1 G. McQuaid (Emerald CC)                              2.45.03
2 B. Dirks (Holland)
3 M. Kiernan (Total Cycling.com)
4 A. Crowley (Cycleways-Lee Strand)
 
Final overall after stage 4
 
1 D. O’Loughlin (Ofoto Lombardia)                      7.23.15
2 D. Lynch (Kanturk Credit union CC)                      1.06
3 M. O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick)                          1.24
4 R. Cahill (Cork)                                        1.27
5 P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond-Tralee Bicycle Cub)         1.29
6 D. Gardiner (Apollo CC)                                 1.41

Final king of the mountains classification

1 P. Moriarty (Cork)