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Last Updated: Apr 24th, 2008 - 18:57:01 |
Irish rider Paídi O’Brien raced into the lead on the opening day of the Vuelta a Extremadura in Spain yesterday when the An Post-M.Donnelly-Grant Thornton Sean Kelly squad won the team time trial.
The 22.4 kilometre test got the five day, 2.2-ranked event underway and the Kelly squad impressed greatly, beating second-placed team Madeinox Boavista by a full 30 seconds. Placings two through seven were all within 18 seconds of each other, showing the Irish-registered team’s domination.
O’Brien was first over the line and thus was awarded the leader’s jersey. He is the only Irish rider on the squad for the Spanish event, with the other five being Belgians Benny de Schrooder, Frank Van Kuik and Kenny Lisabeth, Britons Daniel Lloyd and Dan Fleeman plus the German rider Christian Müller.
The Vuelta e Extremadura continues today with a 157.7 kilometre stage starting and finishing in Badajoz.
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Vuelta a Extremadura (2.2), Spain, April 23-27:
Stage 1 - April 23: Mérida - Mérida TTT:
1, An Post-M. Donnelly-Grant Thornton-Sean Kelly Team, 22.4 kilometres in 25 mins 11 secs
2, Madeinox Boavista at 30 secs
3, LKT Team Brandenburg, at 31 secs
4, Palmeiras Resort – Tavira, at 37 secs
5, P3 Transfer – Batavus, at 40 secs
6, Comunitat Valenciana – CCN, at 41 secs
General classification after stage 1:
1, Paidi O'Brien (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) 25 mins 11 secs
2, Benny De Schrooder (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
3, Christian Müller (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
4, Daniel Lloyd (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
5, Dan Fleeman (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team)
6, Frank Van Kuik (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) all same time
Other:
91, Kenny Lisabeth (An Post - M. Donnelly - Grant Thornton - Sean Kelly Team) at 2 mins 22 secs
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FIRST YELLOW JERSEY DELIVERED FOR AN POST IN SPAIN (by An Post PR/Greg Keane)
The An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton team have finally delivered on the promise they had shown earlier this month in Majorca, securing the overall time trial team prize on Day one of the Tour of Extremadura, Spain yesterday.
And it was a particularly sweet win for Corkman Páidí O’Brien, who took first place in the overall standings. O’Brien was the fastest rider on the day over the 22km circuit, and is now looking to capitalise on this performance for the rest of the four day race.
O'Brien was not the only individual success story for the An Post team, with Benny De Schrooder crowned King of the Mountains, and Daniel Fleeman also taking the sprint jersey.
Team manager, Kurt Bogaerts, was overjoyed with his cyclists’ performance. "It was a superb win for the team, with obviously some excellent individual displays as well. We had some bad luck earlier this year in races, but things now seem to be coming good. The team are peaking at the right time.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a better day – lets hope we can continue this form for the next four days. It's an important race for us in our preparation for the Ras back in Ireland in May."
Tour of Extremadura, Spain, 23-27 April - An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton team:
Páidí O'Brien (IRL)
Daniel Lloyd (GB)
Benny De Schrooder (BEL)
Daniel Fleeman (GB)
Kenny Lisabeth (BEL)
Frank Van Kuik (BEL)
Christian Muller (GER)
Best team finisher: Páidí O’Brien (1st)
Best Irish finisher: Páidí O’Brien (1st)
IrishCycling.com Information
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