Win at weekend sets Athlone cyclist up for Road Series event in Cork

Athlone cyclist Graham O'Brien helped his team to victory in the first national stage race of the year, the Rás Mhaigh Eo two-day event last weekend in Westport.

Graham's team (Team Dan Morrissey) won the General Classification and all of the classifications - yellow jersey, mountains jersey and sprinters jersey - which is the first time that has been achieved in the competition's history.

The success came against a field which included Rás Tailteann champion Daire Feeley and his All human-VeloRevolution squad.

Graham helped the team win the overall honours on the final 110km stage by riding on the front and following rival team's attacks so that teammate Matthew Devins could secure the yellow jersey and win the overall classification.

The local man will next compete in the first round of the National Road Series in Blarney, Cork, this coming weekend.

Graham previously spent three years as a full-time cyclist in Europe before returning to Ireland, where he is now competing for a place on the Rás Tailteann lineup.

He has been involved with the Shannonside Cycling Club and is studying a Masters in Sports Performance in UL on a part-time basis. He is part of the Olympic Sports Scholarship programme in UL which assists in his development as an athlete.