Dowling wins Wexford Two-Day

CONGRATULATIONS to Marcus Dowling. Directed by partner Kate Earlie, he got up in the last pedal strokes to top the Staffords Wholesale Wexford Two-Day A4 standings last Sunday – and pull on the overall polka dot jersey.

The A4 race came down to the wire, Dowling have kept himself in contention with a top ten on stage one, despite a mechanical, and then rocketed up General Classification with a sensational, if hectic, TT. He went into the final road stage on a mission.

He said: “Aidan Whelan from Usher was second in the GC, but he had less than a second on me. I took him in the sprint for fifth on the final stage and just gapped him enough so we didn’t get awarded the same time. The yellow jersey started the final climb with us, but he lost 11 seconds. Not good for the nerves.”

It wasn’t good for the nerves on day two, but stresses were higher on day one as stage two’s hill climb time trial didn’t exactly go to plan.

Directeur Sportif Kate Earlie explained: “Marcus missed a turn at an unmarshalled corner on his first attempt. Luckily on his second run he rode 6′ 24″ and moved into third on GC.”

Taking to social media to congratulate the Poc-headed champion, his club mates were full of praise.

Corkonian Barry Walsh said: “Good stuff Marcus. Deserved: the only fella at more races this year than Sean Rowe!”

And his team mate Marc Farrelly added: “Kate was not just phenomenal support for Marcus, but also for myself (it was unasked, but greatly appreciated). It is fair to say Tiernan’s would not have done as well on the day without her.”

Stafford Wholesale Wexford Two-Day

Final General Classification

1 Marcus Dowling St. Tiernans Cycling Club 5:37:47
2 Aidan Whelan Usher Irish Road Club 5:37:48
3 Eoin Gorman Scott – Orwell Wheelers 5:37:50
4 Cathal Glackin Gorey Cycling Club 5:37:51
5 Richard Bourke Slievenamon Cycling Club 5:37:53
6 Adrian O’Sullivan McNally Swords CC 5:37:56
7 John Farrell Blarney Cycling Club 5:37:58
8 Alan Smyth Clonard RC 5:38:04
9 Neil Morrison Deenside Wheelers 5:38:08
10 John O’Leary Barrow Wheelers 5:38:12

A4 Stage 3: 100km

1 Richard Bourke Slievenamon Cycling Club 02:48:28 .
2 Cathal Glackin Gorey Cycling Club 02:48:38
3 Adrian O’Sullivan McNally Swords CC 02:48:38.44
4 John O’Leary Barrow Wheelers 02:48:41.65
5 Marcus Dowling St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:48:41.66
6 Aidan Whelan Usher Irish Road Club 02:48:42.77
7 Shane White Raparee Cycle Club 02:48:42.78
8 Neil Morrison Deenside Wheelers 02:48:47.39
9 Ruairi White Clontarf Cycling Club 02:48:47.310
10 John Farrell Blarney Cycling Club 02:48:47.311

A4 Stage 2: Hill Climb TT

1. Eoin Gorman Scott – Orwell Wheelers 1 00:06:16.2
2. Aidan Whelan Usher Irish Road Club 1 00:06:24.0
3. Marcus Dowling St. Tiernans Cycling Club 1 00:06:24.3
4. John Redmond Slaney Cycling Club 1 00:06:29.2
5. John Farrell Blarney Cycling Club 1 00:06:29.3
6. Shane White Raparee Cycle Club 1 00:06:31.1
7. Cathal Glackin Gorey Cycling Club 1 00:06:31.5
8. David Dempsey Rossbury Racing 1 00:06:32.1
9. Malcolm Kell Team Smartlamp 1 00:06:32.3
10. Gavin Hendley Lucan Cycling Road Club 1 00:06:32.3

A4 Stage 1: 97km

1. Cathal Glackin Gorey Cycling Club 02:42:41,9
2. Alan Smyth Clonard RC 02:42:42,3
3. Adrian O’Sullivan McNally Swords CC 02:42:42,4
4. John O’Leary Barrow Wheelers 02:42:42,5
5. Malcolm Kell Team Smartlamp 02:42:42,6
6. Aidan Delaney Cuchulainn CC 02:42:42,8
7. Shane Doyle Barrow Wheelers 02:42:42,9
8. Marcus Dowling St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:42:43,6
9. Eoin Gorman Scott – Orwell Wheelers 02:42:43,7
10. John Halford Gorey Cycling Club 02:42:43,8