Ray dominates the Rás Chonamara

As always Easter was a big weekend of cycle road racing with big races on in all 4 provenances. The main international race of the long weekend was the Rás Mumhan, where club riders Michael Barry & Colm Quinn put in good performances for the up coming An Post Rás. Cuchulainn Cycling Club also sent a team to the relative new event the Rás Chonamara & here Ray O' Shaughnessy had an excellent weekend. Ray dominated the event winning the first stage, taking both the King of the Mountains & the points  jersey & the overall. Initially Ray attacked the main bunch on day 1 after only 10km of racing. This formed a 6 man break away, from which he managed to escape from again along with another rider. Ray set the pace & held off all chasers to take the chequered flag. Unfortunately Ray lost the jersey on Sunday, where the riders contested a short time trial in the morning & a longer road stage in the afternoon.

The race finished on Easter Monday with a relatively short 50km stage & from the gun Ray went on the attack. Going into the final; stage Ray was in 2nd place overall, only 12seconds back off the leader, Galway's Derek Joyce. Initially he formed a 4 man group from which the yellow jersey was absent. The race was 5 laps of the a 10km circuit & despite the best efforts of the yellow jersey & his strong team they could not halt the progress being made by the riders up the road. By the finish Ray had gained over 30 seconds & was the winner of the final yellow jersey. Ray is no stranger to wearing jerseys of this colour, having been part of the winning team in the 2011 Tain Team Tour. Dundalk's Gerry McCabe also had a good race, finishing 5th overall & first vet.

Meanwhile on Easter Sunday Cuchulainn hosted the 3rd round of the  Irish Veterans Cycling Association league. The race featured 2 events, with Irish Champions Sé Weston & Martin Grey racing in the first event. While both missed the winning move they did finish in another chasing group, coming in some 15seconds behind the winner. Jimmy Flynn, Damien Faulkner and Ray Fedigan were the club competitors in the second event. This race, on the same course, was a lively affair with many riders trying to break away. No one escaped until, with 8k to go, a brave lone rider slipped away and made it to the finish with seconds to spare. Ray Fedigan used his local knowledge to great advantage and was second in the bunch sprint and third overall.  Jimmy Flynn and Damien Faulkner both came home in the bunch.

On the club scene this Thursday (April 12th) sees the start of the FPM Accountants Summer Cycling League, which starts with a 10mile time trial on the old Dublin road. Full details of the league can be found at www.dundalkcycling.comand those interested in competing need to register online.