Matthew Walls is really on a roll now and has just take his fourth win on the trot; best at the Bobby Crilly in Co Antrim (Photo: Toby Watson)
Matthew Walls won two races last weekend in Co Meath before claiming victory at the Mondello Series in Kildare on Tuesday night, and now he’s done it again in Co Antrim on Sunday.
The first-year U23 riding for APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery has added his name to the list of winners of the Bobby Crilly Classic promoted by Phoenix Cycling Club.
Walls, who was one of the main animators of the race, claimed a sol win from Lindsay Watson (Caldwell Powerhouse RT) and Luke Smith (Moynalty CC).
The main event was halted and restarted after a lap of the original circuit due to heavy traffic volume on the course. Once restarted, a flurry of attacks went, with Walls soon getting clear in the winning move.
Initially there were seven riders in that group and they worked well to build a winning gap over the next couple of passages of the circuit.
As the business end of the race approached, Walls made a key move that saw him to clear, soon to be joined by Darnell Moore (Caldwell Powerhouse) and Dean Harvey, the McConvey Cycles rider now making a real impression after his return to racing.
However, Moore lost his place up front with a couple of laps remaining. And on the final lap, as leaders Harvey and Walls were headed for the finish climb, off the circuit, Walls was able to shake off Harvey at that point.
However, even when he got clear solo, there was still plenty of work to be done by Walls as there was a chasing group only about 30 seconds back.
In the end, Walls raced into the case of the climb and kept at it all the way to the line, to extended his advantage over the chasers.
Moore and Harvey – two quality riders that Walls did extremely well to distance – were absorbed by chasers. And it was Watson and Smith who came through for 2nd and 3rd.
More to come.
Sun, Aug 16th | Bobby Crilly Classic
Promoted by Phoenix CC
Matthew Walls APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
Lindsay Watson Caldwell Powerhouse RT
Luke Smith Moynalty CC
Leading Woman
Aine Doherty Dan Morrissey Pissei
C2 Race
Tony Kennedy Dungarvan CC
Benjamin Bergin Lucan CRC
Shane Trimble Newry Wheelers
C3 Race
Neil Crampton Dromore CC
Seamush Babington Carrick Wheelers
Cathal McCabe Moynalty CC