Drew McKinley of Newry Wheelers storms in at the front of the breakaway in the C2 Carn Wheelers Two-Day to claim victory on the opening stage (Photo: Toby Watson)
Drew McKinley, one of the stalwarts of Newry Wheelers Cycling Club and the Irish road scene generally, has seized the day to win the opening stage of the Carn Wheelers Two Day.
Now aged 48 years, but showing no signs of slowing down, McKinley was best from a four-man breakaway in Maghera, with that lead group gaining just over one minute on the main field after a near stage-long effort out front.
Up the road with the eventual stage winner were two riders flying the flag for host club Carn Wheelers – Jimjo McCullagh and Jonathan Taylor. The lead group was completed by Des Woods (Inspired Cycling), make for a lead group comprised of riders all willing to get stuck in.
And that’s exactly what they did, making it all the way to the line, and mopping up all the climbers’ classification points along the way; McKinley also taking the lead in that competition.
However, by the time they got to the finish, after 90km of racing over 2ΒΌ hours, the four leaders were down to three, as McCullagh was distanced a little.
McKinley made sure of the victory, sprinting in ahead of Taylor, with Woods filling the final step on the podium; the top three all on the same time. McCullagh was just 36 seconds down on the line, taking 4th place.
Jamie Philips (VeloRevolution-SpeedQueen) and William Lamour (Ards CC) were 5th and 6th, both at 59 seconds, with Conor Kelly (VC Glendale) and James Gordon (Phoenix CC) a further two seconds back in 7th and 8th.
Then came Daire Nulty (Breffni Wheelers) in 9th at 1:04, followed by Cathir Doyle (Carn Wheelers) in 10th – some 1:06 down on winner McKinley and on the same time was the rest of the peloton.
The race continues with this evening’s TT stage and tomorrow’s stage 3 road race.
May 2nd-3rd | C2 Carn Two-Day
Promoted by Carn Wheelers
Sat May 2nd | Stage 1 (90km)
McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 2’15’02
Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers
Woods, Des Inspired Cycling
McCullagh, JimJo Carn Wheelers @36secs
Phillips, Jamie Velo Revolution Speed Queen @59secs
Larmour, William Ards CC
Kelly, Conor VC Glendale @1:01
Gordon, James Phoenix CC
Nulty, Daire Breffni Wheelers @1:04
Doyle, Cathir Carn Wheelers @1:06
McCullough, Gareth Unattached Ulster
Henry, Jason Inspired Cycling
Magowan, Gavin Dromara Cycling Club
Morrison, Peter Velo Cafe Magasin
Griffin, James Waterford Racing Club
Donoghue, Damien Tuam Cycling Club
Knapcok, Patrick Inspired Cycling
Carroll, Brian Gaeltacht CC
Nardone, Alex Bear Cycling
Lynch, Matt Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club
Clarke, Jamie North Down CC
McKee, Conal Phoenix CC
Smyth, Ronnie Dromara Cycling Club
Stewart, Callum Phoenix CC
Considine, Caolin Bray Wheelers
Coen, Jonathan Dromore CC
Walsh, Courtney McConvey Cycles
Scullion, Michael Carn Wheelers
Black, Niall Phoenix CC
Gibson, Nigel Carn Wheelers
McGrady, Mark Velo Cafe Magasin
Meegan, Cormac Velo Revolution Speed Queen
Davenport, James Velo Revolution Speed Queen
Scott, Mark Phoenix CC
McCauley, Jay Strabane Lifford Cycling Club
McKinley, Mark Newry Wheelers CC 2’16’17
Watt, Nigel Inspired Cycling 2’16’17
Lockhart, Dean Carn Wheelers 2’16’17
Donaldson, Gary Caldwell Powerhouse Racing 2’16’17
Allen, Ellis Phoenix CC 2’16’23
KOM Prime | Lap 2
McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 3pts
Woods, Des Inspired Cycling 2pts
McCullagh, JimJo Carn Wheelers 1pt
KOM Prime | Lap 3
McCullagh, JimJo Carn Wheelers 3pts
McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 2pts
Woods, Des Inspired Cycling 1pt
KOM Prime | Lap 4
McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 3pts
Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers 2pts
Woods, Des Inspired Cycling 1pt
Young Rider Overall
Kelly, Conor VC Glendale 2:16.03
Knapcok, Patrick Inspired Cycling @5secs
Black, Niall Phoenix CC @5secs
Mountains Classification
McKinley, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 8pts
McCullagh, JimJo Carn Wheelers 4pts
Woods, Des Inspired Cycling 4pts
Taylor, Jonathan Carn Wheelers 2pts