Newry three day.

Sunday, July 5, 2015
Matthew Brennan was Ballymena Road Club’s sole entrant in last weekend’s Newry three day stage race. He gives a brief account of the event. "The Newry 3 day stage race entry was for teams of 5 but I managed to get a last minute place from the organiser and even though I was outnumbered riding on my own, I had decided my form was good and that I would give it a real go.

Stage 1.    A flat and fast stage on the dual carriageway between Newry and Warrenpoint, ending in a few laps of Warrenpoint town centre. It was always going to finish with a bunch sprint and I kept up to the front and out of trouble finishing safely in the front group.

Stage 2.  I decided overnight to make a move early in this stage.  Two miles in I attacked with last year's winner Derek Cunningham and we were quickly joined by two others. Riding bit and bit we quickly moved clear of the main bunch and over the next 50 miles opened a 2 minute gap. Unfortunately the bunch chased hard on the last two climbs and we were caught 5 miles from the finish. It was a do or die effort and on another day fortune may have favoured the brave.

Stage 3.   Individual Time Trial.   
I wasn't too sure how the legs would have recovered from the morning stage exploits, but I managed 15th place of 90 riders just 20 seconds behind the winner. 

Stage 4.
A 75 mile romp around the Mournes. Legs were definitely tired but when an early move went I skipped across with another rider. We lasted about 10 miles but we eventually splintered and we're absorbed by the main field. I eventually finished in the second group on the road, some 30 seconds behind a small breakaway of 8 riders.