THE Lakeland Cycling Club’s road league continued on Sunday morning on the very tough Knockmore/devils ‘S’ circuit.

With a field of more than 30 taking to the start line, no-one expected this race to end in a bunch sprint. Recognised as the toughest race on the calendar, for most, the reality was completing the course within their group.

The long drag to Derrygonnelly departing from Fuels and Lubricants was just a softener as it was quickly followed by the climb of Knockmore.

As usual, the groups set off with their time gaps and, in an attempt to make it competitive, a ‘superscratch’ group was formed which contained the A1+ riders: Darnel Moore, of Vitus Pro; Adam Ward, of Antiga Casa; and Angus Fyffe, Caldwell Cycles.

Group One made a good fist of working together to get over the climbs before being caught by the faster groups.

Group Two disintegrated very soon after the start and became, for a large part, an individual battle.

However, this was to be a common theme, as over such tough terrain many individuals found themselves dropped from their groups and facing a long, lonely race to the finish line.

Group Three was the largest of the day, containing mostly A3 riders with a few A4s, and they were followed by Scratch, once again marshalled by local man, Conor Sprice.

Superscratch caught them halfway up the Knockmore climb, and Moore had already opened a gap on the others before the top of the climb.

He then went on to pick up the remnants of groups Two and Three on the descent to Cashel Cross, and a large group re-formed on the road to Belcoo.

But the truce was only temporary, and once the left turn onto the Devils ‘S’ was taken, this group shattered into various groups along the road.

There was, however, hope for the two remaining riders from group Two – Val Gough, of Breffni Wheelers and Fergus McGirr – who had managed to continue working and remain out front.

Indeed, they were unlucky to be caught over the final few kilometres, and Darnell Moore outpaced Adam Ward up the final hill to take the victory.

With Ward taking second, Val Gough rounded off a great performance to place third. Philip Bremner was the first Lakeland man home, with Conor Sprice just behind.

There is still all to play for with both the visitors league and Lakeland Leagues’ standings not decided before next week’s final race. Promising to be a fast race over a new circuit from Kesh/Pettigo/Boa Island, the final league placings may come down to a final day’s sprint.

In a busy week for the Lakeland club, the time trial league also continued on Wednesday night last.

Conor Sprice once again was fastest man in a time of 23.57, with Seamus McGovern and Brian Kelly (Four Masters) tying for second place. Patrick Withers, of Fintona CC, took first place on the TT bike section with a time of 24.31.

With just one week of racing left on the calendar, the Chasing TT, a fun event, takes place on Wednesday evening on the Five Points circuit, with the final League Race on Saturday at 5pm.