Picture: George Doyle
A POWERFUL Killarney cyclist made a big breakthrough on the national scene by winning the coveted and keenly contested Lacey Cup in Tralee on Saturday.
Conor Kissane of Killarney Cycling Club made his mark on the big event which is the first road-race of the season in Munster.
Kissane’s win over some big names came as a surprise to some observers but he has been knocking at the door on the national scene for some time and those watching his steady progress over recent years knew that a breakthrough was on the cards.
He has taken top placing on a number of events, including second place in the Drumm Cup, and he made a big impression in the Rás Tailteann last year by grabbing all the mountain climbers’ points on the Moll’s Gap stage.
Conor is also the Kerry county champion and was on the Killarney squad that won the team prize at the All-Ireland Cyclocross Championships in January. He also came second in last year’s All-Ireland hill-climbing championships.
Run by Tralee Manor West club, racing was intense all throughout the 76km route of the Lacey Cup but Kissane took the sprint to the line easily, ahead of Mattew Sparrow (Dan Morrissey MIG.ie Pactimo) and Paul Kennedy (Newcastlewest CC). His club-mate, John Brosnan, took an excellent 8th position.
Conor, who is only 22 and hails from Barleymount, is maturing into a very versatile rider – national class at cyclocross, hill-climbing and now road-racing – and Killarney followers will be watching his further progression with interest over the coming year.
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