Ulster Cycling News
26Apr/060

Southern Invasion For Tour Of Ulster

This weekend's Tour of Ulster Cycle Race, which begins in Newry on Saturday morning, will see something of a 'southern invasion' with almost 90 of the 130 entries coming from clubs south of the border. The scene is set for one of the most interesting 'Tours' in recent years with no real odds on favourite for what is undoubtedly the premier stage race in Ulster.

One of the biggest names entered for the race is Ciaran Power from the US based professional outfit Navigators Insurance. Power, who represented Ireland at the Athens Olympics finishing a superb 12th in the road race, is however a lone entry with no team to support him over the three days of racing.

Team Murphy and Gunn, Ireland's latest professional squad, have entered two teams and look very strong on paper. Their 'A' team includes Andrew Roche, winner of last weekend's prestigious Shay Elliott Road Race in Wicklow, Paul Helion who won the Ras Mumhan stage race at Easter and Conor Murphy winner of the King of the Hills competition in Munster and 3rd last week at the Elliott.

Hopes of a local victory must rest with recent Tour of the North winner Ryan Connor (Ballymena-Scotts) and Tommy Evans (Terry Dolan RT) a former Ras winner and Irish National champion. Both riders competed earlier this year in the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne and both finished in the top six in the Shay Elliott.

One of the most fiercely contested category prizes within the race will be the Under 23 competition for the Jim Traynor Memorial sponsored by The Irish News. Ulster have a number of individuals capable of lifting this award who include
Frazer Duncan and Adam Armstrong guesting for East Antrim-Audi, Paul Vaughan
(Maryland), Michael Murray and Paul Brady (Clann Eireann) and David Mulholland
(Apollo CT).

The King of the Hills award sponsored by Abmopticians.com will see the riders tackle climbs at Belleeks, Keady Mountain, Sion Finn, Gortin Glen and the Glenelly Valley in pursuit of the Polka Dot jersey. This competition will be decided on Sunday but the fight for the elusive 'Yellow Jersey' should go right down to the wire with climax coming on Monday's stage from Cookstown to Newry.

Where to see the Tour of Ulster:
Saturday 29th April
Newry(11.45am), Camlough, Belleeks (KOH), Newtownhamilton, Keady Mountain(KOH),
Keady, Armagh(1.00pm), Caledon, Aughnacloy(1.50),Augher, Clogher,
Fivemiletown(2.15),Sion Finn(KOH), Fintona(2.39), Dromore(2.53), Finish Dromore
Rd, Omagh approx. 3.13pm.

Sunday 30th April
Omagh Sports Centre (11.00am)Gortin Glen(KOH), Gortin,Plumbridge(11.29)Glenelly
Valley(KOH) Draperstown(12.19), Tobermore, Magherafelt(12.42), Ballyronan,
Coagh, Stewartstown(1.24), Cookstown Sports Centre,finish approx. 1.35pm.

Sunday 30th April
Time Trial, Moneymore-Cookstown Rd, 2.5 miles, 5pm-7 pm.

Monday 1st May
Cookstown Sports Centre(11.00am), Stewartstown,Tamnamore, Moy(11.36),
Armagh(11.52), Newry(12.38pm)-ending with laps of a short circuit based on the
Old Warrenpoint Rd(12.45-1.30 pm).

Tour Of Ulster Competitor List

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