Team Microgaming Isle of Man’s senior cycling team participated in a tough 4 Day Ras Mumham stage race in Ireland over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
The five man team who made their 2012 debut at the race and represented the Island in over 500 km of racing included Darren Bell, Andy Roche, Aaron Livsey, Elliot Baxter and Graeme Hatcher who all succeeded in finishing in the bunch on the opening stage of the 101 km race which started and finished in Killorglin, East Kerry on Good Friday.
During stage two of the race Baxter put in a fantastic performance through a hilly 130km which started in Dingle and ended at the top of Conor Pass. Bell finished in 17th position, 1m 27s behind Mark Dowling, the stage winner. Baxter finished in 23rd position, 1m 59s behind the stage winner.
Stage three of the race saw evergreen Andy Roche finish seventh on Easter Sunday. Roche was in a break which went away once the flag dropped for the start of this stage of the race. This race was a 142 leg commencing and finishing at Waterville, South Kerry. Roche managed to finish a mere 29 seconds behind stage winner Conor Murphy (Eurocycles). The rest of Team Microgaming Isle of Man’s senior cycling team all succeeded in finishing in the bunch.
The fourth and final stage of the race took place in lashing rain on Easter Monday and finished on a tight four mile circuit. Bell and Hatcher withdrew from the race when reaching the finishing circuit.
In the final stage of the race, Aaron Livsey was the first one home for Team Microgaming Isle of Man crossing the line in 17th place. Baxter finished 39th in the same time as Livsey while Roche finished in the peloton.
Gary Hinds, Team Manager of Team Microgaming Isle of Man, commented that it was an extremely hard race this year and that the weather on the final stage made the race even tougher due to the freezing rain. He added that all the lads rode well against very touch competition.