UCD cyclist Colm Cassidy became the first UCD rider ever to win the overall honours in a top class stage race by winning the Paddy Flanagan International Stage Race in Newbridge yesterday.

A change of clubs has made all the difference to Colm Cassidy now registered with UCD. He was formerly of Sportactive/Engraveit.ie and yesterday it was the students who were flagging their latest acquisition with overall victory in the Paddy Flanagan Two-Day over three stages. It was all set up to be an interesting final stage in Kildare town, but with good weather, traffic in the centre started to build up and cause problems for the four wheels.

In consultation with the organisation, the Gardai had no option but to reduce significantly the final event a criterium a highlight of the proceedings because it gave the public an opportunity to observe the cyclists every couple of minutes. Colm's placings on the three stages, 3rd, 2nd and 12th and his accumulative time time gave him his first major win of the season.

 

Picture courtesy of Gary McIlroy

For full results see www.irishcycling.com