Adam Ward is celebrating for the second time in just 48 hours after the U23 Irish international won the PJ Logan Cup in Co Tyrone today following his success yesterday at the East Tyrone GP in Co Derry.
While his win in Derry yesterday came at the end of a fine solo effort, he was pushed much harder today after escaping in a two-man move with Darnell Moore. Both riders had set off in the A1 scratch group in the handicapped event.
The A1 group
worked well over the first three laps, of nine, in the 64 mile race and caught
the A2 and A3 bunches about a third of the way through the contest. However, by
that stage of the race a breakaway of about six A2s had already gotten up the
road and built a gap.
Ward (Team Smart Dry Girona CC) and Moore (Caldwell Cycles) attacked the main bunch and set off in pursuit of the A2 breakaway, soon catching them. With about five laps remaining the same duo attacked the small A2 group and went clear in what would prove to be the decisive move of the race.
The two leaders – both among the very
strongest riders in the country – quickly put significant daylight between
themselves and the groups on the road behind them.
A group of four riders were pursuing the two leaders, with that group comprised of: Paul Wilkinson (West Down Wheelers), Aaron Quinn (Four Masters CC), Fergus Callaghan (Four Masters CC) and Kyle Fisher (Lakeland CC). However, by the time the leaders had half of the penultimate lap completed they were 2:30 up on the chasers.
A second chasing group – Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), Adam Rafferty (US Colombiers) and Nathan Mullan (Dromara CC) – then also set off in pursuit of the two groups ahead. However, when the time checks came
through on the last lap, the second chase group was over four minutes down on
the two leaders.
Up front, on the run in to the finish it was Moore who took the initiative and attacked Ward, though the former Irish junior road race champion responded to that aggression. In the end Ward and Moore came into the finish together to sprint it out for victory, with Ward just about beating his rival to score his second win in two days.
Behind them, the four-man chasing group
survived to fight for the minor placings, with Callaghan winning the sprint for 3rd place
from Wilkinson, Fisher and Quinn in that order.
When
the second chasing group arrived at the finish, sprinting for 7th place, Mullan
led the way from Watson and Rafferty, with Darragh
Doherty (VC Glendale)
rounding out the top 10.
Sun, March 27th: PJ Logan Cup
Coalisland,
Co Tyrone
Promoted
by Island Wheelers
A1-A2-A3-Jun
Race
- Adam Ward Team Smart Dry Girona CC
- Darnell Moore Caldwell Cycles
- Fergus Callaghan Four Masters CC
- Paul Wilkinson West Down Wheelers
- Kyle Fisher Lakeland CC
- Aaron Quinn Four Masters
- Nathan Mullan Dromara CC
- Lindsay Watson Powerhouse Sport
- Adam Rafferty Team US Colombiers
- Darragh Doherty VC Glendale
Leading Woman
- Darcey Harkness VC Glendale
Unplaced Junior
- Adam Rafferty US Colombiers
Unplaced A2
- Edward Kearney Phoenix CC
A3-A4-Women’s
Race
- Daniel Todd Dromore CC
- Jimjo McCullagh Carn Wheelers
- Peter O’Rourke Clogher Valley
- McGuigan City Dunloy CC
- Rob Adams Unattached Ulster
- Damien Russell Apollo CC
Women’s Podium
- Elia Tutty UCD Cycling Club
- Katie Neill Velo Performance
