UCD cyclist defeats field of 190 riders to become King of the Mountains

Posted April 21, 2017

• Morton also won the title at 2016 (opens in a new window)An Post Rás

Amateur cyclist Eoin Morton overcame a field of 190 riders to claim the King of the Mountains jersey at the 500-kilometre (opens in a new window)Rás Mumhan. Morton finished seventh in the overall classification.

The King of the Mountains jersey is awarded to the best climber over the four-day series. Racing took place in County Kerry, home to the ten biggest peaks in Ireland. 

Delighted to take home the King of the Mountains Jersey (opens in a new window)@Rasmumhan . The form is building towards the big goal of the season. (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/eZIGzc8DRn

— Eoin Morton (@EoinMorton) (opens in a new window)April 19, 2017

Several category two climbs were included in the first two stages of the race. Stage three saw riders cross to Valentia Island before taking on the only category one climb at Coom an Easpaig. The final stage was a mostly flat section with repeated laps of Killorglin town.

Photo credit: Pat Doherty/(opens in a new window)Irish Cycling News

(opens in a new window)UCD FitzCycles’ Morton was awarded Male Rider of the Year at the 2016 Irish Cycling Awards following a breakout season. He won a stage of the 2016 An Post Rás, becoming the first amateur to do so since 2009. Morton also claimed the King of the Mountains jersey during the event.

The five-man UCD team was completed by Louis Carnec (who finished 34th), Ian Richardson (51), Niall Dwyer (119) and Terry O’Malley (126).

By: Jonny Baxter, digital journalist, UCD University Relations