Joyce wins Connemara Bog week 2 day.

After 173km of rolling roads,  cross winds and aggressive racing Derek Joyce of Galway Bay finally comes of age, the Veteran Bronze medallist has been showing good form of late with a host of good placing then a stage win at the Ballinrobe 2 day and then another win in the TT this morning but to win the overall has to be his best win to date.

Joyce laid the foundation for his overall win at Stage 2  TT winning by a few seconds and in the afternoon stage he used his Galway Bay team to good effect controlling any potential breakaways, a select group containing John Murray Lakeside (Stage 1 winner), Frank Dunne Slaney, Sean O Malley Western Lakes did getaway briefly bridging across to the A3 group who had got a 3 minute handicap on the stronger A1, A2 bunch.

At Maam Cross a split in the chasing group gave Joyce some breathing room when he got into a small chase group containing a few A3 riders, David Brennan Castlebar CC sensed the danger and jumped across, these 2 strong men dragged their group across to the breakaway containing 12 riders of mostly A3 riders along with Dunne, Murray and O Malley who jumped across earlier.

By Maam with 30k to race the 2 groups merged with the remains of the bunch at 2minutes, by Leenane another attack had created a new front Group containing 6 riders, David Brennan, Derek Joyce, Sean O Malley,  Cale Coen, John Murray and Mark Shannon Burren CC.

On the climb up by the K2 hostel,  Brennan attacked, Joyce wasn’t in any mood to let the yellow jersey go and jumped across, these 2 forged ahead and opened a minute gap on the 4 chasers..

At the finish Brennan won the sprint with Joyce holding onto yellow jersey for the overall win.

Young Castlebar rider Cale Coen jumped clear to get third on the stage as well as picking up third overall.

The organisers would like CEECC and Western Lakes CC the sponsors – Renvyle House Hotel, Rogan’s Gala and Marrey Bikes for their generous support.  Thanks to everybody who helped with the running of this event especially the Marshall’s, Gardai and Ambulance Service.  Without large amounts of voluntary help events like these simply wouldn’t happen. 

Stage 1

1^st John Murray Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar

2^nd Mike Ryder Galway Bay

3^rd David Nugent Seven Springs

4^th Derek Joyce Galway Bay

5^th Liam Corcoran NRPT

6^th Frank Dunne Slaney CC

Stage 2 TT

1^st Derek Joyce 6.36

2^nd Cale Coen 6.40

3^rd David Brennan 6.42

4^th Padraig Marrey 6.46

5^th David Nugent 6.50

6^th Frank Dunne 6.54

Stage 2b

1^st David Brennan Castlebar

2^nd Derek Joyce Galway Bay

3^rd Cale Coen Castlebar

4^th Mark Shannon Bureen CC

5^th Sean O Malley Western Lakes

6^th John Murray Lakeside Mullingar

Overall

1st Derek Joyce Galway Bay

2^nd  David Brennan Castlebar @14”

3^rd Cale Coen Castlebar @1.22

4^th John Murray Lake side Mullingar @1.58

5^th Mark Shannon Bureen CC@ 2.22

6^th Sean O Malley Western Lakes @2.25

 Full GC Results.