Gater takes Laragh Classic after titanic breakaway battle
September 14, 2014 – AQUABLUE’S Keith Gater lifted the Friends First Laragh Classic Cobble after a grueling three-man breakaway ride with UCD’s Sean McKenna and fellow Aquablue rider Damien Shaw
The trio left the bunch early on the 116km race and wrenched a one minute lead out to as much as three minutes over the hilly, 24km circuit. The racing was hard and fast and lasted almost to the line as Gater jumped in the final metres, leaving McKenna to sprint for second over Shaw.
Full results are on the Laragh Classic page and below is a more three dimensional look at an absolutely blinding day of racing at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains.
It began thusly
Sign on this morning… @StTiernansCC @sticky_bottle #laraghclassic 2014 #Irishcycling pic.twitter.com/PSPRN5erRR
— karen m. (@eddie_km) September 14, 2014
The break digs in
The Break – A1,2 @StTiernansCC @sticky_bottle @AquablueCC @UCD_Cycling #laraghclassic #Irishcycling pic.twitter.com/AQFnG1T5k7 — karen m. (@eddie_km) September 14, 2014
The race for the fabled Laragh Classic cobble was ON
2kg of glory
Last lap leaders #LaraghClassic #blurryphoto pic.twitter.com/egWNqkgxOJ — Fergalmay (@fergalmay) September 14, 2014
@StTiernansCC there they are now. Still together. McKenna in an Aquablue sandwich at flamme rouge.
— Ruairi Ferrie (@RuairiFerrie) September 14, 2014
#laraghclassic a1winnerkeith Gator from sean McKenna and Damian shaw pic.twitter.com/QDFRvUWmaU — Brian Kilbride (@miniboonen) September 14, 2014
Aquablue’s Keith Gater punches the air at the line, McKenna and Shaw sprinting for the final podium places
Glimpse of the undercard
Spotted above Annamoe
When the course attacks
UCD’s Colm Cassidy crashes out. . .
. . .but bounces back with a cuppa!
Last year’s A4 race winner, Fixx Rouleur Squeak O’Reilly, was also taken down on the tough and technical course. . .
@SqueakOReilly recover well. Big spill today at the #laraghclassic. Thanks to the #materhospital … the only thing broken is the bike
— Fixx Rouleurs (@FixxRouleurs) September 14, 2014
Hard luck & get well soon to @SqueakOReilly & @ColmCassidy who crashed out. Heal fast lads @UCD_Cycling
— The Bike Hub (@Bikehubdotie) September 14, 2014
Got something to say?