McCann claims overall
Adam Armstrong(Eurocycles) claimed his second stage of the 2009 Suir Valley 3 Day today winning a three up sprint for the line in Clonmel.
The aggressive racing that has been seen all weekend continued today right from the start as the Isle of Man team took to the front on the climb to Ballymacarberry. This produced a platform for Tim Kennaugh (IOM) to launch the first big attack but was quickly ruled out by the yellow jersey.
With two Hot Spot Sprints in the first 17miles the Eurocycles/Eurobaby team controlled the pace setting up Martin Irvine to take both sprints and seal the Hot Spot jersey for the team.
Just after the second Hot Spot Sprint at Pinewood Healthcare the Dan Morrissey Duo of Rory Wyley and Mark Power went on the attack pulling 14 others away with them. This group included the yellow jersey of David McCann (Ride Sport Racing) and all the main rivals. They quickly opened up an advantage over the main field. Once the gap reached the 1 minute mark the main field had lost interest and sat back as the race begun the 4 laps of the Knocklofty circuit.
With KOH leader Mark Heneghan (South Dublin CC) missing the move, Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond) set about securing the jersey for himself claiming the points on the climb out of Marlfield three out of the four times up the Cat 3 climb.
Beginning the final lap Ashley Finn (Herbalife/Wheelbase) begun a series of attacks. It was only after the third attempt did he succeed in getting away with Adam Armstrong and Stephen O Sullivan (Engraveit.ie). The three leaders worked well together opening a max of 25seconds. Finn tried once again to leave his breakaway companions in the final 2kms but both reacted quickly. Meanwhile the Yellow Jersey of McCann attacked the chasers and was rapidly closing down on the leaders. Finn led out the sprint but it was Armstrong who took his second stage win in the 2009 event from O Sullivan with Finn third. McCann got to within 8seconds of the leaders with the remainder of the chasers led in by Griffin a further 1 second behind.
1st Adam Armstrong Eurocycles 2hr 13min 58
2nd Stephen O Sullivan Engraveit.ie
3rd Ashley Finn Herbalife/Wheelbase
4th David McCann Ride Sport Racing @8secs
5th Paul Griffin Earl of Desmond @9secs
6th Mark Power Dan Morrissey
Final General Classification
1st McCann Ride Sport Racing
2nd Griffin Earl of Desmond @ 1’07
3rd Andy Roche IOM @1’16
4th Tim Kennaugh IOM @1’21
5th Mick Reddan Dublin Wheelers @2’33
6th Neil Delahaye Usher IRC @2’47
Points- McCann
KOH- Griffin
Hot Spot Sprints-Martin Irvine (Eurocycles)
S2- Mark Heneghan (South Dublin CC)
S3- John Ennis (Stagg Lucan)
Team- Isle of Man