Wheelers have strong performance in Gorey

Newry Wheelers entered 6 riders in the Gorey 3 Day, one of the major Easter stage races in Ireland last weekend.

Mark McKinley, Declan Reid, Rory Farrell, Kevin Lynch and Drew Mc Kinley lined out for the newry squad with Cathal Clarke being selected for the irish junior team.

The Gorey 3 day is now famous throughout Europe for its fast speeds, attacking racing and famous winners and attracted a very strong line up which included teams from France, Germany, Britian and Holland.

The Newry team hopes were set on Mark Mc Kinley in Gorey however sickness the week meant a change of strategy for the team.

Stage 1, Dublin to Gorey

Stage 1 was an 80 mile race from Dublin to Gorey,   a fast one and while all the lads where in the action early on they didn’t make the crucial break which decided the final of the first stage. Rory Farrell and Kevy Lynch finished in the bunch with the rest of the team got caught up in a crash in the last kilometre looking a few seconds.  Declan Reid in particular looked strong and was most disappointed with the way the race panned out.

Reid – Points on King of Hill 

The Sunday Stage included a morning Time Trial and a 60 mile road stage in the afternoon .  Kevy Lynch was best of the wheelers in 20th place after the mornings early time trial.

Mark Mc Kinley showed his class on Sunday getting away in the break for 50 of the 60 miles stage. He was by far the most aggressive rider in the race but his efforts where in vain as the Irish junior team where defending the yellow jersey of O’Loughlin from Cork and the French team had a top class sprinter so they wanted to set him up for that. The French won the stage in a hectic finish.

Declan Reid was showing good form on this stage and was climbing well even taking points in the King of the hills competition.

Cathal Clarke rode particularly well also riding on the front with his team mates to control the break and help keep his team leader in the yellow jersey.

Monday’s stage 4 was the 60 mile stage back up to Blessington in Wicklow and with the sun shining all where in high hopes of an early break away. Farrell in particular was very active with Lynch trying hard later in the stage. Again the Irish junior team kept tabs on all the moves and the French squad where looking another bunch sprint for their man and they succeeded taking the final stage.

While the wheelers didn’t get up in the overall results the weekends racing will help with their form coming into the main months of the Irish Racing season.