Super Shane 2nd in Newbridge

Sun, June 12th: Paddy Flanagan Memorial

Promoted by Newbridge CC

A3 Race

So after a few weeks of no weekend racing myself and Leonard o Keeffe headed up to Newbridge for a race as there was none in Munster and with Aoife on her hen party on the Saturday night I took advantage of her hangover and off we went . We had been racing in Blarney every Thursday evening and I had started the handicapped race with the A1,A2 group for about the last month, hoping it would bring me on and not kill me trying to hang on to the wheel of a few "MEN OF THE RAS" and a former pro with a near 43km average for 40k and despite chewing the handlebars and stars dancing around my head I managed to survive with them and could feel myself getting stronger every week.

The blarney races brought me on a lot but the week before the race in Newbridge I decided to make a route for a spin with AJ, Ken and Long John o c , by God did I forget who I was making the route for...

Bar Ras mumhan it was the hardest cycle I've done all year AJ and Ken tried to kick the living sh%$e out of each other on the bike, both not giving an inch with me and John stuck on their back wheel.

They both took a KOM from ballyhooly and knocked over 2mins off the previous KOM, on a leader board that had some of those heavy hitters from the Blarney races on it so the pace was vicious, so being able to stay with that pace the form was good . Despite nearly getting lost on the way ( race was in Kildare open farm we went to Newbridge) we made it to the sign on and went for a quick warm up, the course was fairly flat except for a few small drags and with the surface perfect the race was going to be fast and I expected it to be a bunch finish . In the first lap I tried to jump in a break but we were reeled in straight away,a few other attempts and eventual a break away got away but only ever had 40 seconds max and with an eager bunch and a few strong pulls at the front from Leonard it was all back together at the half way point, 40k done my average was about 39kmph.

I felt comfortable enough but with every attempt to jump the bunch reeled them back, then as one fella was 100 yards up the road another fella jumped to join him and I jumped from about 10th place caught and went past him another two had got on my wheel so we now had 5 and with all riding through I thought we'd have chance but with in half lap I could feel the bunch behind and we were all together again, then we had 2 laps left 24km.

The bunch started slowing with fatigue and the thought of the finishing sprint, a fella jumped and I followed and another jumped on my wheel we drove it as hard as we could each giving an agreed 20sec hard at the front before rolling to the side for a brief ease of pain before hammering it again, after 5Km one lad started sitting at the back stopped coming through ,I thought we're doomed , so with a little "light" encouragement ( COME F&€&@&€ing ON DO U FU%#}|ing WANT IT OR WHAT) we got him to do a few turns but with a gurning face on him that made Thomas Voeckler look like a super model I knew he was of no more use to us.

we passed the finish line for 1 lap to go ,12km, I looked back no sign of the bunch.

The motor bike came up beside us, 1 min back the bunch, that's a nice gap with 12 k to go and with us out of sight the fox couldn't see the rabbit , we had a side wind for 3 km then took a left turn to a welcome tail wind.

The Motor bike pulled up beside us again, 1min 18seconds I looked down at my avg it had increased to 40.2kmph, we were going faster than the bunch, we drilled it for another 3 km then another left turn in to a head wind for another 3k and the Commissaire pulled up in the car 50sec the gap was coming down, we had to push on.

We turned left again and on the last drag we put in a big effort dropping the wheel sucker, I looked back to see the Voeckler look alike gurning away 50 yards back no sign of the bunch, it was between the two of us the pace dropped a bit 2km to go, we both did a turn and I found myself at the front as we rounded the last corner to see the inflatable finish line, "bollox" for the first time he wouldn't come through, I weaved across the road from one side to the other, he still wouldn't come through.

It's now that I should have went but I waited for him to jump, he did and by the time I got on his wheel the line was to close to come around him , 2nd would have to do but more satisfying was getting in to a winning break.

I think it's every racers goal to get in a winning break so I can tick that off the list just have to get the win next time . Shane

Editors note:

With this mighty result Shane has bagged enough points to move himself up to A2.

This is rich deserved for what has been an incredible season so far for Shane who gets better and better by the week, Well done Shane super stuff

AJ, King of Munster's M50 TT! Again!

AJ Murphy yet again has won the Munster TT Championships in in Patrickswell, Co Limerick today.

The event run by The Newcastlewest CC Was a tough route with a extremely high standard of talent on Show.

Aj sits comfortable on top of the podium for the M50 by 16 Seconds over the second placed Patrick Bergin from Nort Tipp, and a huge 2 mins and 1 second over third and Michael Corkery from De Ronde Van Cork, who came third.

Aj's time was interesting in that it would have been good enough to not only win his category but also win A4 and take second in A3.

Aj, the Raining National M5 Hill climbing champion has proved himself as a rider to be feared in all races against the clock in the M50 Division and we look forward to seeing can he win Gold at the TT Nationals in a few weeks time.

Aj was not the only Mctc Rider on show today as Marc Dalton Also produced a great effort to come in 5th in the A4 Division. Marc has been training hard this season and it seems it won't be long till we talk about Marc getting on podiums.

Well done to Marc and Aj.

Midleton San Remo A TALE FROM MIDLETON CTC

The inaugural Midleton CTC club road race drew more competition than expected. While Milan San Remo might be a hard fought monument, Midleton San Remo is won in a colosseum. The break that counted got away by a mistake on the so called Poggio, the last climb before returning into Midleton. Derry Cadogan, who had been placing in the front all day, shipped his chain just after the first corner as Ken Cummins applied the pressure up the hill. There was confusion as Derry's lost momentum halted the long line behind him. "Who's away?" implored Richie Watkin, but Derry couldn't answer. His race was run.

Each of the five gathered their thoughts: Ken: ‘will I attack again?’ Shane Fuller: ‘just keep the wheels’. Peter Moloney: ‘hydrate and breathe’. Jim Cronin: ‘ignore pain’. Brendan Hennessy: ‘I'm suffering’. For all the Poggio felt longer than before. There was the road ahead yes, but the chase behind too.

Heads still, eyes on the wheel in front and watchful of the derailleur of the next man. Keeping a rhythm that allows enough to respond to a new pace. Pull the pedals up, push them down. The chasers weren't catching.

Over the top, Peter took to the front 'this is my forté' he thought. His pace hurt, hurt too much, everyone hung on. Next up Shane, hands on the drops, neck arched acutely he wished for someone to follow through. Jim, classy and quick, but the corner was approaching fast. Bren swung in behind a wheel, happy to hang on. Ken cursed the extra work.

Kathleen Doyle’s Hill the club chairman had explained ‘is the only safe way to finish near Midleton’. 'Safe for who?' Peter inwardly grimaced, but his concerns about the gravel had literally been brushed away. They all new Jim was the danger man, each inviting him to take the lead. Ken burst through without warning, Shane kept apace, Jim worked hard to keep up, Bren dragging himself up to Peter’s wheel. A shout. The peleton had taken the corner.

Jim took to go, so did Shane. Eyeing each other across the road they inexplicably slowed. The road narrowed, up ahead the chequered flag tickled the chairman’s legs. Ken arched to attack again, the ferocity pulling his wheel and his chances. Bren peeled off Peter's blindside, taking Jim's wheel. Peter did enough to catch Shane. Their big gears couldn't sustain more falters in momentum, and they knew it. They swung out of the handlebars, knees knocking the crossbars, high breathing and mouths pleading for hydration. Just then the peleton pushed through. I think AJ Murphy won.