A4 race report
We had lift off tonight for the ninth year in the prestigious Tour of Omagh with two races rolling out of Omagh at 5.30pm.
Honours in the Men's race went to Barry Rogers of Harps CC in the bunch finish consisting of 70 riders in total.
Upwards of 30 riders out the back. Mixture of riders going for the KOHs competitiions. Despite a number of attacks and attempts to forge a break away nothing stuck. Last 15 miles was fairly neutral as most riders seemed to be backing the bunch sprint. All rain clouds dodged but one.. which may have resulted in a spill at the finish with one Team Caldwelll Cycles rider taken to South West Acute Hospital for treatment of a suspected collar bone injury.
George claims opening stage after Scraghey Attack
With 43 Riders on the starting line the first stage of the Omagh Three day ladies race has set the tone for what will surely be enthralling race.
In a new format introduced a lead group of 14 riders had a four minute start on the combined W1/W2 Group. With the lead group working well together it was going to take a special piece of riding to bridge across and that’s exactly what Jennifer George guesting for TC was to do. On the climb to the top of Scraghy she was to catch the lead group and ride straight through taking three riders from that group Jane Wilkinson (Cycling Ulster), Isobel Oakes (Smugglers CC) and Agnieszka Wozniak (Cork County CC) with her. They were to form a formidable alliance and stay away to the finish, with George winning the sprint.
On the road behind a chase group including two recent National Champions , Crit Champion Fiona Guihen (Cycling Leinster), Junior Champion Lara Gillespie (Orwell Wheelers) combined with Lyndsey Bryce also Cycling Leinster, Sofie Loscher (Womens Commission) and Claire Ludlow from Ardee CC were to break away from the main peloton as the two groups merged. After 35 miles Gillespie, Loscher and Guihen were to move ahead of the other two in an attempt to catch the lead group.
Stage winner George was delighted with her effort and his now looking forward to two more days in the foothills of the Sperrins in West Tyrone
“I enjoyed these rolling roads and am look forward to the climbing tomorrow and Sunday she enthused and working with the rest of the TC team to defend the pink jersey”
Tomorrow see the riders tackle a time trial in the morning and then in the after noon face a stage which takes through the village of Carrickmore twice before a fast run into Omagh along the main Cookstown road.
Full results
NOTES FOR TOMORROW
NO SIGN ON FOR TIME TRIAL ...please report to race start line 5mins before your start time Your start time is 9.01 for rider no1, 9.02 for rider no.2 and so forth