2 seasons in one day.  Winter and a rubbish version of spring.   Thats what conditions where like on Sat 12th May at the Tommy Givan races promoted by Maryland Wheelers.   Now the Hillsborough course is tough in the best of conditions, but add some torrential rain and hail into the mix and it was a day for 2-wheel suffering.

In the A race, many of the usual Phoenix suspects rolled out.  New A2 and fresh from success in Cork,  Mike Millar got into early break alongside Brian Stewart.  Brian took 5th, Mike 6th.  The ever-agressive Marcel took bunch sprint to place in 7th.  Well done guys.

Brian (5th), Mike (6th) and Stephen Harkens (4th) – Photo courtesy of Marian Lamb

Full race report here

The month of May is here. Warmth and sunshine awaits.  It was a busy weekend for Phoenix racers and non-racers alike.

Stu takes first round of Spires TT Trilogy

The weekend started on Thurs 2nd May.  Challenging conditions for all the testers who lined up at Toome course – cross/head winds and damp.  Stu Bennent took first place for  Phoenix.  Strong rides from Jim H. and Ed  Boyle.  Well done Stu.

Success at the Hugo Loughran

The following evening, 3rd May saw the Hugo Loughran GP run by Island Wheelers.  Geoff Hewitt took second in A4 race, narrowly missing out on victory in gallop to the line.  In the A3, John Smyth placed fourth with Joe Henry coming in 6th.

Mike the pick of the stage racers

The Tour of Ulster was run over weekend with Ali, Fergus and Marcel representing Phoenix.  A hard race with many strong teams using it as preparation for the RAS.  The team were active throughout, getting into breakaways and representing club with distinction.  Well done guys.

While attention up north was on Tour of Ulster,  the Kanturk 3-day for A2/A3 riders was on in Co. Cork.  Phoenix-man Mike Millar was rewarded for making the trip with 2nd place on stage 1 and 10th in GC.  Drew Millar provided following race summary:

Stage 1: Mike got into a break at 30k which stayed away to the finish at 90k. He broke away with 1k to go but was caught on the line and got 2nd. Stage 2: 8k TT. Mike was 18th, leaving him 12th on GC.  Stage 3: 70k. Mike in 16 man break which stayed away for 60k to the finish. maximum advantage was 45 seconds but brought down to 10 seconds on the line.  Stage 4: Mike rode well although was heavily marked after Sunday result. He finished in the bunch on the uphill finish and we thought that he had retained 6th in GC. Unfortunately it was decided that there had been a 1 second split in the bunch which left Mike at 21 seconds. This dropped him to 10th on GC.

Fantastic Mike.  Well done and congratulation on getting points for upgrade to A2.

Tour of the glens 2013

Phoenix had large representation at Tour of the glens.  This year the weather was kind, the grub was good, and the 200km as tough as ever.  Thanks to Castlereagh CC for a really well run and professional event.

The final weekend in April saw more success for Phoenix. Some riders said it even felt like spring, well for a short while.

First up on Sat 27th April where the Beggs/McGreevy races hosted by Banbridge CC. This year due to roadworksthe organizers where challenged to find an alternative circuit. Any riders expecting or hoping for an easier ride where to be disappointed.  Reports from the road say that it was possibly tougher, with more hills, less selective than the old course resulting in larger groups and more attacking.

As usual there was strong Phoenix presence in A1/A2, A3 and A4 races. In the A1/A2 race, Ali, Brian, Desi and Fergus where very active in many of the early breaks but unfortunately missed the winning moves.

In the A3 race, Phoenix had big squad of guys riding. Jay was in the some of the early moves but got reeled back.
Building on the form of recent weeks, Alex got away in final lap only to be caught by small group of chasers. He had enough in tank to take a fine 2nd place, a result which sees Alex upgraded to A2. Well done Alex, good reward for a hard winters training.
After a few other riders Aaron McGrady took bunch sprint and 6th place. Another man on form, it surely wont’ be long until Aaron gets upgraded also. Mike Millar took 9th – good job Mike.  A tough day on bike , well done to all riders.

Johnny wonders how hard new course could be (photo courtesy of Marian Lamb)

On Sunday 28th, Harps CC hosted the mid-ulster GP. Wet, cold and windy conditions greeted riders.
Building on their success at North Down a few weeks back, Jude Moffat and Michael Tolan won the ladies and masters races respectively.
Jude took a convincing win the ladies race, getting into break and working hard at front throughout. Likewise Michael was instrumental in the break, doing large share of work at front and still having strength to take the win. Well done to both.

Jude wins at Mid Ulster (photo courtey of Marion Lamb)

Michael really wanted this win (photo courtesy of Marian Lamb)

This weekend sees the Tour of Ulster with Ali, Marcel and Fergus in action. Good luck lads.

Amy takes first win with new club

Amy Brice won the womans race at Drogheda on Sun 21st April, taking the sprint in fine style from a large field.  Amy, now riding for D.I.D Ladies Racing Team took the win by a few lengths. Amy started her cycling career with Phoenix and will always have her roots deep with the club. We wish her well and every success racing both at home and abroad in what will be an exciting new adventure with the new team.
Race report on StickyBottle here
 

Aaron and Marcel score at Bann valley

Living up to his growing reputation as an agressive rider, Marcel Kock put the hammer down right from the start of the A3 race at Bann valley classic on Sun 21st .  He was joined in an 8 man breakaway by Phoenix new rider Aaron McGrady. Despite really big effort from chasing groups, the breakaway stayed away.  In the final sprint Aaron took 3rd place and Marcel got a reward for his efforts as he took 6th place. Well done guys.

Aaron and Marcel in A3 break at Bann Valley

Race report on Cycling Ulster here

North Down GP

Saturday 13th April saw North Down GP hosted by NDCC with some mixed fortune for Phoenix.

In the A1/A2 race Marcel got into the early move for a few laps but got pulled back by chasing group. Ali McCauley was in this group and although missing out on podium this time, came away with 4th place.   For 2nd weekend in a row,  Brian Stewart showed that class never goes away by taking bunch sprint and 6th place points which means he now is upgraded to A1.  Marcel came in as first A2 – a big result can’t be far away for the DutchCub.

Marcel gives it the beans (photo courtesy of Marian Lamb)

In the A3 race, Jay Gault was in 9 man break with 20secs on peleton when commissionaires called halt due to crash at finish.  As result all riders in the break got 4 points.  Congratulations to Jay and also to Jude Russell took 3rd place in Womens race and Michael Tolan took a fine 4th in Masters.

Unfortunately, Michael Hewit was suffered a bad crash in Masters race resulting in fractured femur. Latest reports are that he is on the mend. We wish Mike and all other riders who crashed a speedy recovery.

full report and photos

Ciaran wins at Carn Wheelers Classic

Sunday saw some hard racing in very windy conditions.  In the A race, Fergus Rooney was in the mix right from start, got into the winning break  and came away with 4th place.   The B race for A3 again saw Alex Donald and Aaron McGrady getting into the early break.  After hard day in the break, Alex came away with 4th.

Another win for Ciaran (photo courtesy of Marian Lamb)

Result of the weekend goes to Ciaran McVeigh.   Demonstrating that his win at Newry was no fluke, Ciaran took the bunch sprint. Well done Ciaran – A3 awaits.

full report and photos

Ali McCauley continues his purple patch with a good 2nd place at the Tour of Ards 2013. With Brian Stewart 5th, David Neill 6th and Alex Donald first A3 it was a strong showing all round.

Phoenix ready to roll

Setting of at a blistering pace a lot of small groups were trying to get a way with Phoenix always represented. A group of 4 finally managed to get a bit of a gap on the run into portaferry (Ali, Gary Cranston, James McMaster, Bryan McCrystal).  Some good teamwork in the bunch from several of the phoenix riders made sure that the gap went up slowly but surely.

Although several riders managed to pull the bunch back to within sight in the final couple of miles the group stayed clear.

In the bunch Marcel put in big effort in closing stages to lead out team for sprint. Brian pulled out a great sprint followed home by David.

Thanks to Ards CC for well organized race.

(Race report – Marcel, Eamon – team photo)

Cycling Ulster race report here

Photos here

There are 10km to go, a lone rider  in green and blue takes the corner and accelerates.  Total commitment.  The group of chasers follows some 1min 45 sec behind.  Some of the best talent on 2 wheels pushing hard to catch the leader. But  the solo rider hangs on to take victory by 40 seconds.  A classy victory.  Now this isn’t some pro race in a far off place.  This is stage 1 of the 2013 Gorey 3-day and the rider is Phoenix’s very own Ali McCauley taking a famous victory.  Ali would eventually finish 2nd to Dylan Foley of Irish development squad but Phoenix would be in thick of action for the entire weekend.

Getting to Gorey

With the cancellation of Tour of the North, and a few slots opening up, Ali and Marcel Kock had opportunity to boost the Phoenix team of Joe Henry, Mike Millar and John Rooney with club captain Jay Gault driving team car. Conditions where not going to be easy for any of the riders, a cold easterly breeze ensured that gilets/arm/leg warmers where order of the day.

Stage 1 saw Marcel getting into the early breakaway of 8 riders and working hard to stay away from the bunch.  With about 30km to go, Ali was in a bunch of 12 which bridged across.   Shortly after Ali made his break and after some hesitation in bunch got significant gap.  But despite the efforts of chasers Ali hung on to take the win and leaders jersey.

Ali take stage 1 in 2013 Gorey 3 day (photo courtesy of http://www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)

Easter Sunday would see two stages, a 6.4km  individual time trial followed by  road stage (4 times round 24km circuit). In the TT, Ali lost 37 seconds to Mark Downey (Irish Devleopment squad) but managed to hold onto yellow jersey by 2 seconds from Dylan Foley.  All 5 Phoenix team put in powerful rides with Marcel establishing his place in top 20.

John, Mike and Joe getting ready for TT (photo courtesy of http://www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)

 Leaving it all on the road

With many riders close in GC and very strong teams, both Irish and continental, it was always going to be a big ask for Phoenix guys to defend the yellow.  But the team stepped up.  However in final phase of race a break of 3 broke clear with Velo Club Eckwershein (France) taking 1st and 3rd place separated by Dylan O’Brien(Irish development squad) in 2nd.  Behind the front three, Dylan Foley broke clear of the chasing group containing Ali and took  GC by 14 seconds.

However Phoenix where still in the mix in final stage and had 2nd place on podium to defend.  For those further down classification, Stage 4 was survival but a fast start resulting in riders quickly getting shelled out the back.  After a hard stage with alot of aggressive riding, the yellow jersey showed his strength to get away and take second place behind John Noel Wolf (Velo Club Eckwershein). With Ali finishing in following bunch, Phoenix team had done enough to hold on to 2nd place.  Marcel finished in 15th, Mike 72nd, Joe 122nd and John 131st.  The team placed 10th in team classification.

Congratulations to the Phoenix team on a tough but successful weekends racing.  To come away with 2nd place in GC up against some of the best young talent in the country is a fantastic result. 

Phoenix would like to thank to promoting club Usher Irish Road Club and all the organizers, marshalls and helpers  for putting on a top event.  Our thanks also to all the other clubs and individuals who gave their support and to team down in Gorey.

Full results available here:  http://irishroadclub.com/index.php/stage_races

Photos and some great video highlights available here: http://www.facebook.com/BlackUmbrellaProductions

Another weekend of tough conditions for those able to get out on the bike.

Due to the adverse conditions, the Wallace Caldwell due to run on Sat 23rd March got cancelled. For many Phoenix racers this meant a long session on the tubro trainner or rollers in order to keep the legs turning over. One who didn’t let weather stop distrupt Tour of the North preparation was Ali McCauley. Ali travelled to the Lucan GP and put in a strong performance getting into the break away.

A1/A2 break away at Lucan GP (photo courtesy of Gary McIlroy)

On Sunday 24th, the PJ Logan cup hosted by Coalisland wheelers took place. Cold easterly winds greeted those brave enough to sign on, but at least there was no snow west of the Bann. In the A race, Fergus Rooney took 9th. Geoff Hewitt took victory in the over 50′s race, with brother Michael taking the runners up spot. Well done lads and all the other Phoenix riders.

Geoff wins over 50s race at PJ Logan cup (Photo courtesy of Marian Lamb)