Dempsey Wins Stage 1 of Tour of Ulster

Tipperary’s John Dempsey riding for the Dan Morrissey team won today’s opening stage of the Tour of Ulster, in a 3 up sprint with 2nd place going to Belfast’s David Mc Cann (Giant Asia) and 3rd place to Banbridge’s Tommy Evans (Planet X).

The race got underway today from the Craigavon Watersports Centre for the 76 mile stage, and it wasn’t long before the action started, with a 14 man group (Tommy Evans (Planet X), John Dempsey (Dan Morrissey), Brian Truman (Dan Morrissey), Andrew Roche (Isle of Man), Andrew Cook (Isle of Man), Micheal Hennessey (Cork Select), Ben Morrow (East Antrim Audi), Philip Cassidy (Cycleways), Sean Lacey (West Clare Composite), Matthew Ward (Phoenix), Ryan Connor Connor (Ballymena Scotts), Greg Swinard (Usher IRC), Paul Mulligan (Crannog Ireland) & David Mc Cann (Giant Asia) going clear after only 5 miles. With most of the big favourites present, they soon built up a lead of 1 minute on the chasing bunch.

At the only KOH of the day outside Randalstown, Sean Lacey (West Clare Composite) was first over the top and he will now wear the Modern Tyres leader jersey for tomorrow’s stage.

The lead hovered around 1 minute until 25 miles to go when the lead group pulled away and opened the gap to over 4 minutes. With 20 miles to go another 13 man group went off in pursuit of the leaders and by the time they reached the finish they had cut the advantage to 1 minute 55 seconds, with the main bunch finishing over 7 minutes in arrears.

At the finish Dempsey proved the strongest in the sprint, winning the stage and taking the first leader's yellow of this year’s event.

The stage tomorrow starts in Craigavon (12.00 noon) and finishes in Strabane (3.30pm), and with the race going through the Sperrins. This will be a tough stage and Dempsey will have to work hard to defend his lead, with 12 riders within 9 seconds of his lead.

Other pics of the race can be viewed by clicking the gallery link below
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Stage Result
PL Name Team Time Deficit
1 John Dempsey Dan Morrissey 2h43'02"
2 David McCann Giant Asia s/t
3 Tommy Evans Planet X s/t
4 Brian Truman Dan Morrissey 2h43'10" @ 08"
5 Paul Mulligan Crannog Ireland 2h43'11" @ 09"
6 Sean Lacey West Clare Composite s/t

KOH Cat 2 at Roguery Road
PL Name Points
1 Sean Lacey 3pts
2 Andrew Cook 2pts
3 Andrew Roche 1pt

For Full GC sheet click on the link below.

Tour of Ulster Stage 1 GC Sheet

For further information, visit our website on www.tourofulster.com

Paul Nugent, PR Officer, Tour of Ulster

Pics Marian Lamb