At a warm and sunny Co Donegal today Ryan Connor Team Pezula wins today's John Deere Classic, riding away from Paul Vaughan Maryland Wheelers, to take the win with 17 seconds to spare. 47 riders signed on for the Four Masters promoted Slane Classic League event over the 56 mile loop, which took the riders through Glenveagh National park, and over several gruelling climbs before returning back to the village of Kilmacrennan outside Letterkenny. The race only started to take shape after 15 miles, by which time there were 15 riders dropped, including Leo McAllister Ballymena/Scotts, who had the misfortune to come off in the first two miles. There were several attacks before Connor and Vaughan broke away at 35 miles to open a gap of 1.10 over the chasing pack of five, which had Duncan Northern/Dave Kane, Martin Clann Eireann/Linen Green, Simon Williams, Juiced Orchard, Glen Kinning Castlereagh, Conor McAllister Ballymena Scotts, and Cathal Smyth, Phoenix. However Smyth was the first to get dropped falling back to the next bunch on the road, which at this point were 5.30 behind Connor and Vaughan. Then in the last 10 miles Duncan, Kinning and McAlister broke away from Martin and Williams, to come in 1.40 down on the winner, with Martin pulling away to take the sixth spot. With prizes for the 1st three in each category, along with the 1st six, and a spread to please all, the Four Masters club are to be commended for this well sponsored aand organised race. Today Top Twenty Home Ryan Connor Team Pezula
Paul Vaughan Maryland Wheelers
Fraser Duncan Northern CC/Dave Kane
Glenn Kinning Castlereagh CC
Conor McAlister Ballymena/Scotts
Thomas Martin Clann Eireann/Linen
Simon Williams Juiced Orchard
Mathew Ward Usher IRC
Davy McKnight Dromara CC
Jim McConnell East Antrim/Audi
Marcus Christie Usher IRC
Lewis Ferguson Northern CC/Dave Kane
Tim Edgar Castlereagh CC
Sean Wright Ballymena/Scotts
Adrian McDermott Four Masters
Tommy Wilson Ballymena/Scotts
Darren Weir Dromara CC
Sean McFadden
Cathal Smyth Phoenix CC
Warren Francis Ards CC