BARRY TWOHIG of the Ireland team emerged best overall in the Credit Union Junior Tour which finished over a Douglas circuit in Cork yesterday.
At the end of 460 miles in eight days 17 year old Twohig from Cork won by 22 seconds from Belgian Jo Chevalier whose teammate Kristof Freyae was third at another 15 seconds followed by David O'Loughlin (Ireland), John Mannix (Kerry) and Ross Muir (Scotland).
The final stage was over 10 laps of 4.8 miles and Ross Blayney (Ulster CF) prevented Chevalier from recording yet another win but Twohig was safely in the big group in 12th place to retain the lead he held since the time trial last Tuesday.
It was one of those occasions that occur in stage races where Twohig was best overall although his second on the opening stage and fifth in the time trial were his only top six placings while Chevalier won four stages and was also second, third and fourth.
The six miles time trial from Beaufort to Killarney proved decisive. Toby Holmes of Yorkshire was fastest but the four members of the Ireland team - O'Loughlin, Paul O'Callaghan, John McCarthy and Twohig - were next in order. Chevalier could manage only 14th place, 25 seconds behind Twohig and that was the margin Twohig led by until yesterday when the first four across the line were three seconds ahead.
Chevalier sprinted in ahead of Daragh Mortimor and O'Callaghan on Saturday after 47 miles from Dungarvan to Cork, with Blayney fourth of a breakaway group of 17 that went clear soon after the start.
Then yesterday Michael Fitzgerald of the Cork team tried to go clear on the second last lap but he was reeled in and in the final sprint up Grange Hill Blayney's finishing burst of speed surprised Chevalier with Tom Barrass third ahead of Martin Lonie.
Chevalier was the clear winner of the points classification while Twohig also headed the king of the mountains category, with Chevalier second. Ireland were the best team, ahead of Belgium and Scotland.
. Afterwards the Ireland team manager Tony Allen selected Twohig, O'Loughlin and O'Callaghan for the world junior championship in Slovenia next Sunday.
