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Shane Stokes Reports: Scottish
rider Alex Coutts won the first stage of the NCBI Junior Tour on Tuesday
evening, storming up the Howth Head hillclimb 2 seconds clear of the
next rider and taking the first yellow jersey in the process. Coutts
recorded a time of 6 minutes 44 seconds for the 2.4 mile time trial,
beating last year's winning time by a full 23 seconds. VC La Pomme
riders Julian Antomarccii and Philippe Tesson were second and third,
with times of 6 minutes 46 and 6 minutes 49 respectively.
'I am going to try to hold the jersey for as long as
possible', vowed Coutts, in his thick Scottish accent, 'but it will be
difficult. I have been training hard this summer and have matured as a
rider so that should help.'
Best of the Irish was Stephen Roche's son Nicolas, 7
seconds off the winning time in 4th place, and best of the first year
juniors. The Cote d'Azur rider now lives in France, speaks fluent French
and has a French mother, but nevertheless describes himself as Irish.
Philip Duignan was best of the national squad, racing up Howth in 6
minutes and 56 seconds to claim 8th place on the Dublin Bus-sponsored
stage. |
