For Photo’s by CycleSeen’s Eric Blayney, CLICK HERE

It was the toughest stage of the Tour so far on the final day.  A 70-mile race through South-Down that seen Glen Kinning take the win and Ryan Connor hang onto his yellow jersey for the over all victory.  It’s the third time Connor has won the event in the past five years having previously took the overall title in 2005 and 2007. MORE »

No photos today . . . Photographer Eric Blayney was on marshalling duty for todays race.

It was hardly a sprint to end all sprints but it was a windy day to end all windy days.  At least thats what it felt like out at Dixon road on the East side of Bangor.  A freezing wind was blowing across the home straight and right off the Irish Sea that must have made racing conditions tricky throughout.  A number of riders tried attacking throughout the stage but the wind was never going to let anything serious work and it came down to a sprint finish.  Again the wind played a factor in that and the crowd gathered at the line were not treated to a classic. MORE »

For Photo’s by CycleSeen’s Eric Blayney, CLICK HERE

Tom Vanbecelaere and Ryan Connor split the race wide open today when they attacked the field and rode away.  Vandecelaere took the victory over Connor but third place Adam Armstrong finished over two minutes behind.  Vandecelaere from De Cock Capino team in Belgium finished with a time of 02hrs 55mins 50secs and took over the race lead heading into the double-stage tomorrow in County Down.

Tomorrow’s race starts with a 4-mile time-trial from Donagadee to Bangor in the morning with a stage-race in the afternoon around the Ards-Peninsula.

RESULTS MORE »

For Photo’s by CycleSeen’s Eric Blayney, CLICK HERE 

It was a freezing cold night on the hill in the grounds of Stormont tonight as the Tour of the North got underway.  A stiff headwind blew down the hill towards the starting gate exactly one mile from the finish outside the main doors of local parlament.  With a small crowd gathered around the Carson statue to cheer the riders over the top of the worst part of the crowd the riders set off in 30 second intervals at 6 p.m.  By the time the 100th rider came over the brow of the hill it was dark out and the temperature had dropped even more.  It’s not often you see racing after the sun has gone down but Stormont makes for a good setting.

It was hard to know who was pulling in the fastest times except for a push and shove around the small white board that was updating the riders times.  At one stage the board recorded a time of 2.05 for one rider over the one mile climb.  A distinct mistake.  Well either that or a drug scandal wasn’t far away from hitting the ToN.  Of course it was put down as a timing error and when all times were ironed out it was teenager Sean Downey of the Ireland Juniors team who set an impressive time of 2:23.  Exactly 1.13 seperated Downey from the last place time of the 101st rider meaning everyone is still in contention heading into tomorrows first race stage in the Antrim hills.

RESULTS MORE »

Run off on a first class course in great weather todays main race was comfortably won by Roger Aiken of Banbridge. Lewis Ferguson had a race long battle with Liam McGreevy, but edged ahead in the closing laps to secure second. Glenn Kinning, after a poor start (sack the mechanic) rallied to an excellent fourth. The supporting MTB race was won by Paul Ferguson of North Down over Paul McMenamin. Full results and report to follow.

 Photos here:  Race Photos