Malcolm Elliott Wins Shay Elliott Memorial

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Malcolm Elliott Wins Shay Elliott Memorial

Tuesday, April 24 2007

It's twenty years to the day since Malcolm Elliott rolled across the line to take third place in Holland's Amstel Gold race, and it was the same Malcolm Elliott, now 46 years old, that dominated today's 50th edition of Ireland's biggest one-day cycle race, the Shay Elliott Memorial.

After years of trying to win this prestigious race Elliott was relieved to cross the finish line in top spot and by his own admission said, "At 46 time was running out for me to win this great race, I am happy I have finally won the Shay Elliott, now the pressure is off me."

Starting out from Bray town centre in North County Wicklow the race was almost a repeat of last year's event with the crucial break going clear as soon as the flag dropped, signaling the end of the neutralised zone. What was significant about the break was the fact that nearly all of the favourites were involved and were working hard to pull out a 30 second gap after only 5km. Malcolm Elliott, Paul Griffin, Paul Healion, Sean Lacey, Niall Delahaye, Morgan Fox and 2006 winner Andy Roche were some of the big players that would fight it out over the 161km route of the Wicklow mountains.

Settling into the racing, there was little contention as Paul Healion took the first sprint after 24km. At this point there was a 2'10 gap back to the main field, which was headed up by Ciaran Cassidy of the Myhome.ie team who had slipped up by not having any riders in the early break. Heading deeper into the county known as the 'Garden of Ireland' the roads grew narrower and the gradient steeper, so much so that even in-form riders Morgan Fox and Paul Healion (Murphy & Gunn Team) felt the going a little too tough to try and stay with the leaders and slowly slipped off the back as the pace grew more intense. It was Roche who took the first KOH on the Wicklow Gap after 69 kilometers.

At the 72km mark the gap was at 2'54 and by 100km, a large group under the initiative of riders like Rory Wyley, Brian Keneally, Eugene Moriarty and Scott McDonald were in hot pursuit. At this point the riders well and truly knew they were riding the infamous Shay Elliott as they passed Ballinaclash deep in the Wicklow hills. Ballinaclash also claimed the race's first real casualty as another in-form rider; Brian Keneally came down heavily on one of the tight corners and retired to his team car for medical attention.

Passing through Drumgoff at 113km the lead group now whittled down to five riders - Delahaye, Elliott, Griffin, Lacey and Roche started the day's toughest climb to the Shay Elliott Memorial at Glenmalure altogether but it wasn't long before the shake up started. The very large framed Delahaye was first to wane followed by Lacey leaving the two Pinarello riders Elliott and Roche with the advantage in numbers over the lone figure of Giant Asia rider Paul Griffin. Elliott, better known for his sprinting ability was first over the tortuous climb to take the second KOM sprint, and so the three headed back towards the finish in Bray via Laragh, Annamoe, Ballyduff and onto the N11 where the final battle would ensue.

This was the perfect position for the Pinarello duo being able to attack and counter attack the lone Giant Asia rider. Griffin wasn't giving up that easily though with neither Elliott nor Roche able to shake off their opponent. Finally it was Roche who cracked under the constant stream of attacks leaving Elliott and Griffin to battle it out on the final 1km rise to the finish line.

The Shay Elliott race has gone from strength to strength over the past few years thanks to the excellent efforts of the Bray Wheelers Cycling Club as well as financial backing from the Murphy & Gunn Motor Group. Hopefully April 2008 will see more exciting racing take place in this part of the world.

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