Round 4 of the Bike Station Cycling League

The Bike Station Cycling League, promoted by Cuchulainn Cycling Club, continued on Thursday last, with a relatively flat 43km course. The riders started at the Fane Bridge and headed to Dunleer, around the roundabout before taking the link road to Ardee. They then continued back the way they had come. The unseasonable weather made it look more like a winter club training spin than a summer league.

 

Race 1 saw the 3 different groups set off on a handicapped basis and by just after the half way point group six had pulled back the two groups out front. The small hills on the way into Castlebellingham saw a number of riders attack in an effort to take a solo victory, the most notable attempt being from Alan Bingham. However the strong Ardee riders neutralised everything, hoping to set up a sprint finish for their fast man Tomas McCabe

 

As the finish line approached the pace surged as people began jockeying for position, with most eyes again on the fast finishers Alan Bingham of Cuchulainn and Ardee's Tomas McCabe. However at the finish line it was strong man Alan Grey who won a close sprint finish, taking his first win of the league. Alan Bingham took second making it a Cuchulainn one two, with Declan Gollogly of Dunboyne in third.

 

Race two was run on the same course and resulted in a win for Mick Sheridan. As was the case in race 1 the scratch group caught all those in front, despite the valiant efforts of Jason Byrne in Group 1 as he attempted a solo bid for victory. Second in the sprint behind Mick was Declan Rafferty with third going to Peter O'Donoghue.