P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North - NE

Ireland, April 9-13, 2004

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Stage 5 - April 12: Ballymena RR, 76 miles

King Connor sets up thrilling finale

By Anthony Mitchell

Riding on 'home turf' Ballymena rider Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club-Scott Rooftiles) thrilled the crowds lined up at the Fry's road finish in the town with a superb solo victory in today's penultimate stage of the 2004 P&O Irish Sea Tour of the North.

The longest day at a shade over 76 miles was right up Connor's street, and he was on the attack from early in the stage. A group of five had moved clear on the first climb at Shanes Hill after 13 miles, but having reached a maximum lead of 2 minutes 20 seconds they were reeled in on the second climb at Glenarriff (46 miles).

Immediately a group of around 25 riders moved clear, and shortly after on the toughest climb of the day at Orra, Connor eascped with 20 miles remaining. On home roads his lead grew to 1minute 30, and there were anxious supporters at the finish who were getting reports that that lead was being reduced by the fast finishing chasers.

Overnight race leader Tommy Evans and his Totalcycling-Litespeed team, along with the Energy Cycles squad from Wales were doing the chasing, however Evans squad mis-calculated the distance to the finish, and one of the Energy lads punctured, leaving Connor to savour a solo victory in his home town.

As the seconds ticked by, Connor had trailed Evans by 18, the chasers, led by Cyclestore.co.uk's James Notely, crossed the line 17 seconds later. With a time bonus of 15 seconds for a stage win, it puts Connor provisionally in the race leaders Pink Jersey for tomorrows finale at Castlereagh, a fact when relayed from the public address brought another huge cheer from the partisan Ballymena spectators.

It sets up a thriling finish for tomorrow, with Connor holding a 14 second lead over Evans, and with another 15 second bonus on offer for the stage win tomorrow, there is all to play for over the 70 mile stage over the demanding Co Down roads.

Results

1 Ryan Connor (Ballymena Road Club-Scott Rooftiles)  3.06.23
2 James Notley (Cyclesuperstore.co.uk)                  0.17
3 Denis Easton (Totalcycling-Litespeed)
4 Willie Hamilton (East Antrim-Audi)
 
Mountains
 
1 Shanes Hill, Cat 2
 
1 M Ward                                                   3 pts
2 B O'Brien                                                2
3 G Cranston                                               1
 
2 Glenarm, Cat 1
 
1 Ward                                                     4
2 Sewell                                                   3
3 G Roche                                                  2
4 D Travers                                                1
 
3 Orra, Cat 1
 
1 Connor                                                   4
2 Travers                                                  3
3 I Nimo                                                   2
4 L Myer                                                   1
 
General classification after Stage 5
 
1 Ryan Connor                                        7.48.09
2 Tommy Evans                                           0.14
3 Jonathon Dempsey                                      0.40
4 Brendan Doherty                                       0.58
5 Mike Harrison                                         1.06
6 George Rose                                           1.09
7 James Notely                                          1.10
8 Ben Morrow                                            1.12
9 Willie Hamilton                                       1.17
10 Luke Myer                                            1.33
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Matt Sewell (Energy Cycles RT)                          15 pts
1 Don Travers (Banbridge CC)                              15
3 Matt Ward (Phoenix CC)                                   7
4 I Nimo (Saltire Select)                                  4
4 G Roche (Energy Cycles)                                  4
4 R Connor (Ballymena RC)                                  4