P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North - NE

Ireland, April 9-13, 2004

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Stage 2 - April 10: Downpatrick RR, 62 miles

Rose still in the pink

By Anthony Mitchell

Like his namesake Justin in the Masters Golf, Cardiff sports psychologist George Rose still holds control of the 2004 P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North following todays opening road stage around Downpatrick and the Mourne mountains.

Today's 62 mile route was a tough opener, with four AA King of the Hills primes, the first after only 21 miles. The race split apart on the first climb towards Spelga, and first over the top was Energycycles Racing Teams Matt Sewell. Around 30 riders moved clear, with the rest spread over the South Down roads, and by the second climb at Rathfriland at 30 miles, local resident Don Travers took the honours. By now the race leaders had a one minute 15 seconds advantage, and by climb 3 on the Dromara Rd that grew to 2.10, again Travers, relishing the home terrain, was first across the prime line. Four miles later at Dromara 2, Sewell took the verdict to lead the competition by one point.

In the closing 15 miles the leading group fragmented, with 14 riders stretching a one minute twelve second advantage at the finish. On the line pre-race favourite Tommy Evans was pipped by Surrey League rider Chris Birch. Third place went to Gareth Jones (Energy cycles RT) with Rose safely in the leading group in eighth place.

With a 15 second time bonus for a stage win, when the calculations were done, both Birch and Rose were on the same second. With better stage placings Rose holds on to the race leaders Pink Jersey for tomorrows two stages around Bangor.

Results

1 Chris Birch (Surrey League)                        2.30.36
2 Tommy Evans (Totalcycling)
3 Gareth Jones (Energy Cycles RT)
4 Willie Hamilton (East Antrim-Audi)
5 Paul Slane (Slane Cycles-Maryland Whs)
6 Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club-Scottrooftiles)
7 Denis Easton (Slane Cycles-Maryland Whs)
8 George Rose (Energy Cycles RT)
9 Greg Roche (Energy Cycles RT)
10 Mike Harrison (Cyclesuperstore.co.uk)
 
Mountains
 
1 Spelga, Cat 1
 
1 Sewell                                                   4 pts
2 Travers                                                  3
3 B Thompson                                               2
4 M Hutchinson                                             1
 
2 Rathfriland, Cat 1
 
1 Travers                                                  4
2 Sewell                                                   3
3 Rose                                                     2
4 D Easton                                                 1
 
3 Dromara 1, Cat 2
 
1 Travers                                                  3
2 Sewell                                                   2
3 J Dempsey                                                1
 
4 Dromara 2, Cat 2
 
1 Sewell                                                   3
2 G Roche                                                  2
3 Travers                                                  1
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 George Rose (Energy Cycles Racing Team)            2.32.42
2 Chris Birch (Surrey League)
3 Jonathon Dempsey (Classic Walls-Roe Valley)           0.05
4 Tommy Evans (Totalcycling-Litespeed)                  0.06
5 Willie Hamilton (East Antrim-Audi)                    0.09
5 Gareth Jones (Energy Cycles RT)
5 Mike Harrison (Cyclesuperstore.co.uk)
8 Ryan Connor (Ballymena RC-Scotts)
9 Luke Myer (Surrey League)                             0.11
10 Denis Easton (Slane Cycles-Maryland Whs)             0.12
11 Brendan Doherty (Totalcycling-Litespeed)             0.13
12 Paul Slane (Slane Cycles-maryland Whs)               0.14
13 James Notley (Cyclesuperstore.co.uk)                 0.15
14 Greg Roche (Energy Cycles RT)                        0.18
 
Mountains classification
 
1 M Sewell                                                12 pts
2 D Travers                                               11
3 B Thompson                                               2
3 G Roche
5 M Hutchinson                                             1