Will Draper completed back-to-back wins on successive weekends with victory in the Isle of Man Road Race cycling championships at Andreas on Sunday.

Seven days after winning the inaugural Gravel Fondo, the 26-year-old international triathlete highlighted his all-round strength when sprinting to victory in Ellan Vannin CC’s Nick Corkill memorial Tour of the North.

Averaging around 21 minutes for each of the five 9.5-mile laps, the scratch group reeled in the two smaller age group races (on four-lap schedules) ahead of them on a course that skirted Ramsey and the villages of Andreas and Bride.

It came together as predicted on lap three of the longer open championship race. Shortly afterwards, Tyler Hannay went off the front on his own. He was away for around one-and-a-quarter laps before being caught by Adam Kelly, Draper and impressive junior Roch Morgan approaching Ramsey on the final lap.

Hannay attacked again on the steep ascent of Bride Hill, followed separately by Kelly. Remaining calm, Draper worked with Morgan and Collins over the crest of the climb and when the gap got down to about five seconds he jumped across and caught Hannay and Kelly off guard, opening the sprint with about 500 metres to go. ‘I thought neither of them would want to lead it out so I could use that to my advantage,’ said Will.

He took one further quick glance behind him approaching the finish, producing one last kick before crossing the line to win the Nick Corkill memorial for a second time (2018 previously), for his first IoM road race vest.

Former race winner Hannay was six tenths of a second behind, with Kelly third at another tenth of a second.

Simon Harding, who’d ridden up a group to contest the open championship, did well to grab fourth place in front of Collins and junior title winner Morgan who had endured an overnight trip on the Ben-my-Chree having contested the National RTTC 25-mile time trial championship in Norfolk the previous day.

The ex-Derby Mercury rider, now a welcome addition to the Mezzo IoM Junior team, finished second junior in the ‘25’ with a time of 54m 56s.

Cycling
Gianni Epifani leads 40-49 age group champion Andrew Cavendish and overall support race winner Thomas Kirk, who took the youth title (JW) ( (Photo: John Watterson) )

The four-lap support race went to 15-year-old Ballakermeen High School pupil Thomas Kirk (and with it the youth title), followed at 0.5s by Craig Bishop (30-39 age group winner), Andrew Cavendish (40-49) and Gianni Epifani (50-59). Tom Broadbent was fifth with Paul Magee taking the 60 plus honours in sixth spot.

Cav’s younger brother Andrew is contesting IronMan Copenhagen the weekend after next.

Lily-Ann Scott, the only female, retired at half-distance.

Cycling
The prizewinners after the Nick Corkill road race on Sunday at Andreas. (L-r) Over-60 and O50 age group winners Paul Magee and Gianni Epifani, overall Isle of Man road race champion Will Draper, junior winner Roch Morgan, over-30s winner Craig Bishop and youth champion Thomas Kirk (JW) ( (Photo: John Watterson) )

Nick Corkill Memorial Road Race, incorporating the Isle of Man Open championships (5 laps - 47.5 miles): 1, Will Draper 1hr 47min 09sec; 2, Tyler Hannay @0.64; 3, Adam Kelly @0.77; 4, Simon Harding @0.97; 6, Owen Collins @1.02; 7, Roch Morgan @1.70 (first junior); 8, Matt Harrison @15.81; 9, Bradley Woodruffe @25.94; 10, Christian Varley @34.86; 11, Paul Buchanan @5m 50.50;s 12, Zach Jones @6:32.72 (jnr); 13, Niall Quiggin @6:32.90.

Age category - support race (4 laps - 38 miles): 1, Thomas Kirk 1:31.24 (youth); 2, Craig Bishop @0.50s; 3, Andrew Cavendish @2.28; 4, Gianni Epifani @3.56; 5, Tom Broadbent @3m 51.04; 7, Paul Magee @5:29.15; 8, Luke Coomer @6:30.43; 8, John Garrood @20:13.10.