Matthew Devins (Trinity Racing) has opened his account for the 2022 seasons; the 19-year-old getting the better of some very experienced and strong riders at the end of the main event in the Coombes-Connor Memorial promoted by Jons Drogheda Wheelers today.
Race winner Devins stepped up to Continental level last year with the UK-based Trinity Racing team and faced off against another ‘Continental’ man in the finale today, Matthew Teggart of WiV SunGod, and the similarly in-form Luke Smith (Moynalty).
Devins managed to come off Teggart’s wheel in the sprint for victory from the breakaway. He passed Teggart, yesterday’s Cycling Ireland National Road Series winner in Knockaderry, and then Smith. The teenager, and U23 international, just overtook 2nd placed Smith before the line, with Teggart 3rd.
While Devins ran out the winner today, he missed the early breakaway,
which nearly held off a chasing group all the way to the finish. However, those
chasers caught the leaders inside the final 2km.
While All human-VeloRevolution were strong on the final today,
sending a number of moves off the front of the escape group, their attacks were
nullified. That ensured the finish came down to a sprint from a larger group after
eight laps of a 14.5km circuit from Bellewstown.
As well as the eventual top three – Devins, Smith and Teggart – also in the group were Mark Dowling and Tim O’Regan, both All human-VeloRevolution, and two from Dan Morrissey Pactimo, in Shay Donley and Matteo Cigala.
Paul Wilkinson (Down Wheelers), Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC), Aaron Rafferty (Spin11-Chain Reaction) and Andrew Ryan (Orwell Wheelers), among others, were also in the breakaway group sprinting for victory.
The initial breakaway had taken flight on the opening lap of eight and built a decent gap on what was a breezy day, making for difficult conditions. While eventual race-winner Devins got clear of the bunch on the third lap, it took another couple of laps before he found himself in a strong group that began closing in on the leaders.
After Devins got clear he was eventually caught by reinforcements – including Smith, Teggart and Cigala – and their group continued to work away on the task at hand, before catching the leaders very close to the finish.
More to come.
Sun, April 10th: Coombes-Connor Memorial
Collierstown, Co Meath
Promoted by Drogheda Wheelers
A1-A2 race
- Matthew Devins Trinity Racing
- Luke Smith Moynalty CC
- Matthew Teggart WiV SunGod
- Matteo Cigala Team Dan Morrissey Pactimo
- Mark Dowling Velo Revolution
- Timothy O’Regan Velo Revolution
- Paul Wilkinson West Down Wheelers
- Ronan Killeen Lucan CRC
- Shay Donley Team Dan Morrissey Pactimo
Unplaced A2s
- Fergus Keogh Moynalty CC
- Ronan Grimes Orwell Wheelers CC
- Sean Murnane Orwell Wheelers CC
- Darren Davitt Spin the Bean Power by Coffee
- Johnny McRoberts Banbridge CC
A3 Race
- Eoin Kelly UCD Cycling Club
- Andrew Kelly Moynalty CC
- Michael Green Roadman CC
- Jason Howick Bray Wheelers
- Alan Lyne Dunboyne CC
- David Hayes Bikeworx Celbridge
- Cathal Dillane Galway Bay CC
- Cormac Meegan Jons Drogheda Wheelers
- Alan Reilly Bohermeen CC
- Christopher Marshall Orwell Wheelers CC
Unplaced juniors
- Christopher Marshall Orwell Wheelers CC
- Ryan Walsh Bohermeen CC
- Mikey Flaherty Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar
Leading Woman
- Caoimhe O’Brien Torelli Cayman Islands Scimitar
A4 Race
- Andrew Butterly Velo Club Balrothery
- Mark Stewart Sundrive Track Team
- Bran Reynolds Unattached Leinster
- Stephen Connor Roadman CC
- Darren McGivern Armagh Down CC
- Greg Connolly Bray Wheelers
- John Walsh UCD Cycling Club
- Samuel Monaghan Oldcastle CC
Leading Woman
- Emma Smith Navan Road Club
