COWAN STORMS TO VICTORY IN EAST TYRONE

Dromara CC’s Richard Cowan put on an awesome display in tough conditions today to win the A4 road race at the Cicli Sport GP.

The A4 event, part of a packed programme of 6 races hosted by East Tyrone CC, was held over 4 laps of a lumpy 9.5mile triangle circuit near Moneymore. The challenging course was made even more difficult by 30-40mph gusting westerly winds and a fast pace.   Actually, that doesn’t really do it justice.  It was brutal!

Richard, along with Dromara clubmates Stephen Irvine, Robert McDonald and some unfit lanky bloke on a tatty bike, lined up in an 80 strong field of riders.  After a fairly uneventful first lap in which any early breaks were easily reeled in by the bunch, the main protagonists at the head of the group (Cowan included!) gradually wound up the pace.  The fierce crosswinds on the homeward leg of the triangular course left nowhere to hide for those without the legs or lungs to keep up, and despite gutsy efforts by Irvine, MacDonald and yours truly, we were all “blown out” by the end of the 3rd lap.  Indeed, the pace and conditions were so unforgiving that  by the time the leaders came into view on the finishing straight for the 4^th  and final time, only 20 odd riders were left in the lead group. Richard, who had ridden strongly throughout the race and never looked to be struggling to maintain the pace, timed his sprint to perfection (well almost!) and held on to take the DCC colours first over the line by a bike length from Gerard Scullion of Carn Wheelers.

Photo courtesy of Darren Crawford Photography

The icing on the cake for the Dromara man is that the victory gives him enough points for an automatic upgrade into the A3 category, where he is sure to relish the challenge of competing against faster riders over longer distances…. Oh, and it also gives him a free upgrade into the SCRATCH group for the road races in our upcoming  Club League  (which incidentally starts this Thursday 2nd April!!).

Richard Cowan is presented with the prize for 1st place in the A4 race

Well done Rich, and GOOD LUCK!!

In the A1/A2 race, the legend that is Dromara CC’s Ronnie Smyth rubbed shoulders with some of the most talented riders in the country including Ulstermen Fraser Duncan & Roger Aiken of the newly formed Team ASEA.  This race was set off first and had to cover 6 tortuous laps of the same course. The A2’s (including Mr Smyth) were given a paltry three minute advantage over the A1 field but this had been reduced to two minutes at the end of the first lap.  A small group of A1’s broke away and put the hammer down to chase the A2s. As the A1 leaders caught and passed the A2 bunch, Ronnie was amongst a small group of A2 riders who tried valiantly to hang on for the ride, but the insanely fast pace driven by the elite field was too much.  Ronnie went on to finish strongly in the main bunch, alongside some A1 riders.  Well done sir!

Official report and photos on the Cycling Ulster website