McLaughlin delighted with Irish Silver
BURNFOOTCYCLIST, Ronan McLaughlin produced an impressive second place finish in the Under-23 section of the Irish Road Race Championships after 168 kilometres in Dunboyne, Co Meath, on Sunday.
SIMON COLLINS reports
The Donegal man was also an excellent sixth place overall, finishing four minutes and 49 seconds behind winner, Nicolas Roche.
McLaughlin, who races for the An Post M. Donnelly, Grant Thornton, Sean Kelly team, was leading the race with one lap of the 32-kilometre circuit remaining.
However, eventually professional Roche, son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen, came through to win by 11 seconds from McLaughlin’s teammate, David O’Loughlin from Cong, Co Mayo.
Sean Downey (Banbridge CC) finished fifth overall, taking the gold medal and shamrock jersey for the best young rider and McLaughlin took the Under-23 silver medal.
Despite leading the race with just a lap remaining, McLaughlin was delighted to finish in the medal positions.
“I am delighted to get a medal, I am just a little bit disappointed that the team didn’t get the win,” explained the Burnfoot rider, “We got second and third which is great, but we were after the jersey.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the Under-23 race until the last lap, I was just thinking about helping the team as much as I could.
“Even though I was cramping up on the second last lap, I had to put in a couple of attacks and try to open up the race for the boys. I attacked on the hill on the third last lap, and went again about four kilometres before the climb on the second last lap. I enjoyed doing that for them.”
McLaughlin was keen to praise the team, saying he considered it an ‘honour’ to ride for Kelly’s setup.
“If they had told me to ride at the front from the gun, I would have done it. I am just so grateful for the opportunity they gave me.”
Irish national road race championship - Elite road race - 1, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) 168 kilometres in 3 hours 48 mins 17 secs; 2, David O’Loughlin (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 11 secs; 3, Padi O’Brien (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time; 4, Martyn Irvine (Curran Racing) at 1 min 27 secs; 5, Sean Downey (Banbridge CC) at 1 min 31 secs; 6, Ronan McLaughlin (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 4 mins 49 secs; 7, Philip Lavery (KTM Winning Solutions) at 5 mins 10 secs; 8, Robin Kelly (Comeragh CC) at 5 mins 22 secs; 9, Michael Fitzgerald (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) at 5 mins 23 secs; 10, Stephen Barrett (Fermoy) at 5 mins 24 secs.
Under-23 - 1, Sean Downey (Banbridge CC); 2, Ronan McLaughlin (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 3 mins 18 secs; 3, Philip Lavery (KTM Winning Solutions) at 3 mins 39 secs.
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Weather for Derry
Monday 13 February 2012
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