Connor makes debut for Cycling Ulster @ Newry

Monday, July 2, 2012

Ballymena Road Club – Chain Reaction Cycles – rider Connor Young was selected to ride for the Cycling Ulster team at last weekend’s Newry three day stage race.

Connor’s race started well and he finished Friday night’s opening stage in the same group as race winner Nigel Quigley (Bann Wheelers)

Connor recorded 5 minutes 04 seconds in Saturday morning’s time trial stage. This was 55 seconds slower that stage winner Ian Richardson (UCD) who clocked 4 minutes 09 seconds and took over the race lead as a result.

Stage three saw Connor finish 33rd, just 1 minute 41 seconds behind the stage winner Ross Collins (UCD). However fourth placed Art McManus (South Dublin) took over the race lead by 4 seconds from Cormac Clarke (Newry) with Ross Collins third at 7 seconds.

The final stage on Sunday was won by Matty Blaney (North Down) who led in a group of 22 riders in 2 hours 37 minutes. Connor came in with the next bunch just 6 seconds behind the stage winner and finished 37th overall at 2 minutes 19 seconds, to mark what had been a memorable debut in the Cycling Ulster team colours. The youthful Cycling Ulster team was eighth of the seventeen finishing teams.

The attentive Art McManus was fourth on the stage and this gave him the overall race win by 4 seconds from Cormac Clarke with Ross Collins third at 13 seconds. (There were 84 finishers)

Afterwards Connor was quick to praise the race organisers, "It was a very well organised event by Newry Wheelers. The roads we were using were excellent and this meant the racing was brilliant too. I can’t wait for next year’s event”