July 7/10 17:58 pm - Canadian takes Lead in Junior Tour of Ireland

Posted by Editoress on 07/7/10
 

Sheila Colbourne from Velo New Brunswick has provided the following report:

Less than one week after being crowned National Junior Time Trial Champion, Stuart Wight has taken the lead in the Junior Tour of Ireland. From Alberta to Ireland, Wight arrived on Tuesday with his Hot Tubes team.

The first stage was a very hilly time trial up a course named Windy Gap, while only 4 kilometres in length, the weather was a key factor in this race, with cold, wet and wind making conditions miserable.

Having just arrived on the overnight flight from Boston took a toll on Wight, and he finished 35 seconds behind the winner's time of 6:44.

However, after a night of sleep in a real bed it was a different tale to tell. Riding in stage two - a 105 kilometre road race - Wight was able to break away with a small group, including Hot Tubes team mate Anders Newbury from Vermont. With 25 kilometres to go the two Hot Tubes boys had dropped everyone else and, with 15 kilometres remaining, Newbury found the effects of travel and previous races too much and could no longer hold on with his friend. Riding solo for the last 15 kilometres, Wight won the stage by nearly two minutes. This puts him in the yellow jersey for the start of tomorrow's 113 kilometre race. With four more stages left in the event, the Hot Tubes boys will do their best to defend the jersey and aim for the overall win.