The Tour of the North 2014

Sunday, April 20, 2014
The Tour of the North three day stage race took place from its Ballymena base over the Easter weekend.
The race started on Saturday with a 68 miles road stage which was run off at an average speed of 27.53mph. The route took the 109 starters from Ballymena out through Glenwherry to the first king of the hills climb at Shane’s hill.
Eddie Dunbar of  the Cycling Ireland junior team won the climb here and he was also first up Glenarm glen, where the leading group of eight riders had a 55 seconds lead over the first of the chasers.
Then it was back down Glencloy to the coast road and Carnlough before KOH three at Tower road. Richard Hepworth (Velosure) won this one but Dunbar didn’t score although he was to secure the climbers jersey, by just one point, when he was second to James Cullen (Velosure) at the top of Glenariff.
Red Hand Trophy winner Fraser Duncan (Northern), who had initially missed the winning break but chased and joined them on the coast road before Glenarm, went again in the closing miles and won the stage at the Fry’s road finish after 2 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds racing.
Duncan achieved this despite the fact that he had three riders from the Velosure team to contend with in the leading break. To attack and win from this position is an outstanding achievement. One Velosure rider, James Cullen did manage to hold on to Duncan but he had to be content with second place. The leading pair were 29 seconds ahead of third placed Richard Hepworth. 
Ballymena Road Club’s Chris Beattie had a great day and finished with the main pack of 69 riders who were contesting eighth place 2 minutes 23 seconds behind the winner – well done Chris. Matthew Brennan and Clifford Grant finished the stage although they were 26 minutes and 55 minutes adrift. William Loughridge failed to finish.
Tour of the North 2014 - Stage 1 
(1) Fraser Duncan (Northern) 2 hours 28 minutes 32 seconds 
(2) James Cullen (Velosure Giordana) same time 
(3) Richard Hepworth (Velosure Giordana) at 29 seconds 
(4) Brad Morgan (Velosure Giordana) 
(5) Sebastian Baylis (Champion Systems) 
(6) Eddie Dunbar (Cycling Ireland Juniors) all at 29 seconds 
(7) Chris Dredge (Spirit Bikes RT) at 2 minutes 03 seconds 
(8) Brian Stewart (Phoenix) 2 minutes 23 seconds 
(9) James McMaster (North Down) 
(10) Ed Clements (Spirit Bikes RT) all at 2.23.
The race continued on Sunday morning with a 2.43 miles individual time trial from Woodgreen to Ballee.
Marcus Christie (North Pole) was fastest with a time of 4 minutes 38.45 seconds.
James Cullen was third in 4 minutes 42.58 seconds which was 11 seconds faster than Fraser Duncan’s 4 minutes 53.62 seconds.
This meant that Cullen took over the race leader’s yellow jersey for Sunday afternoon’s road stage at Randalstown.
Chris Beattie recorded 5 minutes 28 seconds. Matthew Brennan 5.45. Clifford Grant 6.03.
Stage 2 time trial results
(1) Marcus Christie (North Pole) 4m38.45s 
(2) Tom Bustard (Velosure Giordana) 4m41.79s 
(3) James Cullen (Velosure Giordana) 4m42.58s 
(4) Richard Hepworth (Velosure Giordana) 4m47.44s 
(5) Brad Morgan (Velosure Giordana) 4m50.69s 
(6) Fraser Duncan (Northern) 4m53.62s