Devins does the double in Clontarf
MATTHEW Devins continued his winning ways and shone in the recently held Leinster Youth Races in Corkagh Park, teaching his Leinster counterparts how its done in Connacht.
The Leinster Youth Races were held in Corkagh Park Clontarf, Co. Dublin - an ideal location for safe, exciting and particularly spectator friendly cycle racing.
The park is right in the heart of West Dublin, and easily accessed off the M4 at Lucan.
The park itself has numerous cycling and running paths for public use,
Cycling Ireland conduct numerous and cycling events from the park as it is closed to vehicle traffic and safety is paramount.
The Leinster Youth Races, recently promoted by Cycling Ireland consisted of a 2 stage one day event, consisting of a Short Time Trial in the morning of 1.1km, then followed by a Circuit race in the afternoon.
The entire event was done on a points system similar to Rás Mayo where the best results in both events led to defining the outright winner of the event.
Matthew, riding in the green and white of Yeats Country Cycling Club, blittzed the competition around the very short time trial course in the morning stage, clocking a time of one minute 32 seconds, winning the race against the clock by one second clear of next contender Eoghan Cooke of Ounavarra Cycling Club.
His nearest Connacht rival Keith Mulroy of Covey Cycling Club Westport in third a further two seconds back.
In the afternoon, stage 2 of the race was on the same circuit as the time trial only in the opposite direction.
The circuit race was 30 minutes in time with three additional laps.
Matthew conducted numerous attacks in an attempt to get away from the bunch but found it hard on what was basically a flat course which would favour the typical sprinter, having previously won the Time Trial he was a marked man, and was closely watched by all of his competition.
Unable to make the break and escape, the Yeats Country rider had to bide his time until the final 200m in a bunch finish,
Matthew put in a super sprint to win the race by the width of his wheel.
Matthew, in bunch sprint again, pipped his nearest rivals with Calum Owens Bohermeen in second and Keith Mulroy in third place.
Having the best results in both stages combined this there was no doubt in Matthew winning the event out right with two points, Keith 2nd on 6 points, and Calum on 7 points.
All in all an excellent day for Sligo cycling and Yeats Country Cycling Club,
Matthew continues to make everyone proud!
There is definitely more to come from this young talent, as he only begins to warm up his season.