2018 SPAR Tour of Omagh rides to success

The final day in the SPAR Tour of Omagh proved to be a real cracker in both the A4 and Women’s races. In the A4 race, up to 25 riders were within 30secs of the overall lead so it was all to play for. After the 2^ndKOH of the day, the first dangerous attack came from Damian O’Hagan (Clogher Valley Wheelers), who opened up almost 30secs of a gap in a solo effort. However, he suffered for his efforts as the race went deeper into the Sperrins and on the final Cat 1 climb at Gortin, the KOH leader David Irvine (Team Caldwell) stamped his mark on the race and by the top had over 40secs on a chasing group of 10 riders. The yellow jersey at this point had lost almost 2mins.

The chasing group would make the connection to Irvine, and it came to a sprint at the finish with Clogher Valley rider Tomas Knapcock taking the stage win. Irvine though would take the overall win for the event, and he also extended his lead in the KOH competition sponsored by Capital Reinforcing. Barry Rodgers (Harps CC) took the overall Points competition, and Shane Murray (Oldcastle CC) took the Best Young rider competition. Harps CC also took the best overall team competition. Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC)was the Best Unplaced Master.

In the Women’s event, Ellie Mc Ardle (Cycling Ulster), Lyndsay Bryce (Leinster) and Ciara Ni Fhlathartaigh (Orwell) were determined to make it a hard chase for the scratch group and with almost 4 mins of an advantage approaching Drumquin it looked to be playing dividend as the scratch group was being carefully contained by The TC Riders protecting the pink jersey.

This was to change very quickly between Drumquin and Castlederg with Jennifer George in the Pink Jersey launching an attack of the front which was quickly covered by the group but the increase in speed meant the gap to the front group had reduced dramatically and by the time the race reached Castlederg the cars between the group were removed.

The group eventually merged on the descent to Victoria Bridge and from then to the finish we witnessed some super racing, first to go on the attack just after the group merged was Jennifer bates from Cycling Leinster, she was to be caught on the climb out of Victoria Bridge and then her team Maria Claffey (Leinster) was to go off the front open a 15 second lead before being absorbed by the group. As the peloton turned in Newtownstewart to head another Leinster rider Sinead Molloy was to jump of the front of the group. Sinead was to gain a maximum of about 20 Seconds before being caught.

The next break was to be the decisive one as Fiona Guihen from Leinster and the white jersey holder Lara Gillespie were to attack on the final climb into Gortin before the riders reached the Category 1 Climb on Lenamore Road. Gillespie was to forge on quickly distancing herself from Guihen as they approached the climb. By the foot of the climb Gillespie has opened a 30 second lead with only George in the pink Jersey closing the gap with a smaller group further back. The pink and white jerseys crested the climb together and had a lead of over a minute on a group of two Isabel Oakes (Smugglers Cc) and Ellen Barker (IOM) with another group of five, Maria Claffey, Fiona Guihen, and Aisling Flanagan all Leinster with Sofie Loscher (Womens Commission) and Eleanor Davies (IOM) a further 40 seconds back with the rest of the bunch in pieces on the climb.

A furious descent of the glens towards Omagh ensures that the stage win will be fought out between the pink and white jerseys, and with 1 km to go they were still locked together with National Junior Champion taking the sprint to claim her second stage win of the weekend and George with a second place retaining the Pink Jersey.

Yet again the women delivered some top class racing vindicating host club Omagh Wheelers commitment to the Ladies Race.

Thanks to all the volunteers in Omagh Wheelers and local clubs who helped including Strabane-Lifford CC, Lakeland CC, Termon Wheelers, Omagh Motor Club, Omagh Tri club, Clogher Valley Wheelers, and East Tyrone. Thanks to the PSNI and Ambutran for their valuable assistance and co-operation. And thanks to Drumragh Sarsfields GAC.

A4 Overall Classification
1^st. David Irvine (Team Caldwell)
2^nd. Jakub Tarnowski (Fixx Roulers)
3^rd. Tomas Knapcock (Clogher Valley Wheelers)
4^th. Jay McCauley (Strabane-Lifford CC)
5^th. Padraig Dougan (Carn Wheelers)
6^th. Simon Woods (Keevan CC)
7^th. Sean Maguire (East Tyrone CC)
8^th. Frank McDermott (Oldcastle CC)
9^th. Lee Somerville (Lakeland CC)
10^th. Peter McBride (Banbridge CC)

A4 Points Classifcation
1^st. Barry Rogers (Harps CC)
2^nd. Tomas Knapcock (Clogher Valley Wheelers)
3^rd. Jakub Tarnowski (Fixx Roulers)

A4 King of the Hills
1^st. David Irvine (Team Caldwell)
2^nd. Paddy Maguire (Omagh Wheelers CC)
3^rd. Steven Wensley (East Tyrone CC)

A4 Team Classification
1^st. Harps CC
2^nd. East Tyrone CC
3^rd. Lakeland CC

Best A4 Young Rider
Shane Murray (Oldcastle CC)

1^stUnplaced Master
Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC)

Women’s Overall Classification
1^st. Jennifer George (TC Racing)
2^nd. Isobel Oakes (Smugglers CC)
3^rd. Agniesica Wozniak (Cork County CC)
4^th. Jane Wilkinson (Cycling Ulster)
5^th. Lara Gillespie (Cycling Ulster)
6^th. Fiona Guihen (Cycling Leinster)
7^th. Sofie Loscher (Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission)
8^th. Ellen Barker (Team Isle of Man)
9^th. Eleanor Davies (Team Isle of Man)
10^th. Aisling Flanagan (Cycling Leinster)

Women’s Points Classifcation
1^st. Jennifer George (TC Racing)
2^nd. Lara Gillespie (Scott-Orwell Wheelers)
3^rd. Fiona Guihen (Cycling Leinster)

Women’s Best Young Rider
1^st. Lara Gillespie (Scott-Orwell Wheelers)
2^nd. Ellen Barker (Team Isle Of Man)
3^rd. Eleanor Davies (Team Isle of Man)

Women’s Team Classification
1^st. TC Racing
2^nd. Cycling Ulster
3^rd. Scott-Orwell Wheelers