The 159 kilometres to Castlebar most likely favours the gallopers as the only climbs – the category three Lecarrow and Killanena – come shortly after the start in Scariff. However it’s certain that breakaway riders will try to foil the sprinters and slip away early on, setting the scene for a gripping pursuit match in the final hour.
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11.00: Howdy and welcome to a scorching sorry, slightly overcast sixth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás. There were 148 riders at the start of today’s 159 kilometre stage in Scariff, with Ciaran Cassidy (Ireland Development Under 23)and Hugh Mulhearn (Tipperary Dan Morrissey)not signing on.
11.04: A six man break has gone clear. They are Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Paul Healion (Ireland National Team), Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken), David Brennan (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge), Patrick Clarke (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge)and Mark Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey).
However after a couple of kilometres of freedom, they have been reeled in.
11.07: Others try to go clear.
Eeckhout and James Moss (Merseyside Kuk Kinesis Bikes)are away. John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey)now gets across.
The riders are about to start the category three climb of Lecarrow, which tops out 8.1 kilometres from the start. However they have been caught before the top.
Category 3 climb, Leecarrow (km 8.1) :
1, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 5pts
2, Bjorn Glasner (Germany Kuota-Indeland) 4
3, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport) 3
4, Georgi Georgiev (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar) 2
After about 12 kilometres of racing, David McCann (Ireland National Team), Jacques j.v.Rensburg (China Trek Marco Polo)and Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)jumped clear. Russ Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)got up to them soon afterwards.
11.21: Fifteen kilometres into the stage, Stefan Poll (Austria Arbo KTM Junkers)has got across now. There are five leaders and they have twelve seconds.
11.26: The gap went out to sixteen seconds, but has dropped a little since then. The leading quartet has started the day’s second and final climb.
After 20km of racing, the field is back together again. We are not sure if they stayed away until the top of the climb or not, but will get those results soon.
11.28: David McCann (Ireland National Team)is trying to go clear again. However he’s been caught.
We’ve just got a message from John Carty, today’s stage end organiser. He said that there will be a prize today at the finish in Castlebar for the first rider from Castlebar CC. There are six in the FBD Rás – five on the Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge team and David Cawley on the Galway Nigel’s Bike squad. Thanks for that news, John.
11.33: McCann got third on that climb.
Category 3 at Killanena (km 18.3):
1, Spas Gyurov (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar)5pts
2, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken)4
3, David McCann (Ireland National Team)3
4, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor)2
McCann started the day third in the KOM classification, 15 points behind O’Loughlin. He’s now 17 points behind after two climbs, so the An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly rider is looking better and better.
11.39: Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia)and Eugene Moriarty (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)attacked. They were caught a couple of clicks later.
11.43: Another couple of riders tried to get away but were caught.
11.44: Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshall’s Pasta)has attacked.
11.45: After 31 kilometres, the field is all together.
11.52: 36 kilometres after the start, Martyn Irvine (Ireland National Team), Peter Ronsse (Australia Cinelli-Down Under), Espen Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia), Russ Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls), Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport)and Stephen Surdival (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers)went clear.
11.52: They have twelve seconds.
11.56: The field have pulled them back. That was quick.
12.05: Other groups have tried to get clear but nothing is sticking.
12.08: After 49 kilometres of racing, Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken)and Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)went clear.
They were then joined by Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), Peter Ronsse (Australia Cinelli-Down Under)and Espen Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia).
The riders covered 45 kilometres in the first hour.
12.09: This five-man break now has 17 seconds...all good so far. Wilkinson crashed yesterday with about 20km to go, but got back up and finished third on the stage.
12.10: The leaders have gone through the 50km banner. They have 22 seconds.
12.20: Hmm...Anto Moran was in touch to say that the update page is blank. Don’t worry, the race didn’t get cancelled...we’ll upload it again. Thanks Anto..
12.21: Wilkinson has been dropped from the break...that’s unexpected. Maybe he is having problems after his crash yesterday.
12.23: The four leaders have 40 seconds. We are wondering if Wilkinson was asked to go back by the others in the break, given that he was highly placed overall? He started the day sixth overall, three minutes and 29 seconds back. Now since he has gone back to the bunch, Kenneally (17th, @17’46) is next-best placed. That’s less risky for the yellow jersey, and thus the break will be given more freedom.
12.30: The four leaders had one minute and three seconds going through Athenry (km 64), so Wilkinson’s departure did help their cause.
12.35: They now have a minute and 14 seconds.
12.40: Martyn Irvine (Ireland National Team) has pulled out. We think he’s sick. He had gone back to the doctor a few minutes ago, and the decision to withdraw came after that.
12.43: John Owens has written in with a good question. He asked about a number of Italian teams which are registered as being Irish, but who have no Irish representation at all in their lineup.
We’ve checked that out and understand it’s because there is a very hefty fee for registering in Italy. Therefore teams such as LPR register through foreign federations in order to save money.
12.57: The gap is one minute and 40 seconds.
13.12: Lunch for us, and lunch for the riders in the feedzone. The gap is now two minutes and two seconds, 92 kilometres after the start.
13.24: Kenneally looks strong...he leads the break up a drag, sitting on the front and pedalling away. The other riders look under more pressure.
The latest gap is two minutes and two seconds. The break needs to pull further ahead in order to stave off the inevitable rush from the bunch towards the end of the stage.
13.30: The four leaders have a two minute lead. The bunch is just riding tempo. Martyn Irvine (Ireland National Team) pulled out a while ago..seemingly he has a saddle sore. Ouch.
13.34: The gap remains at or around two minutes...Rapha Condor are riding tempo.
13.38: The Danish riders are now helping Rapha Condor..not sure why they are doing that.
13.48: The gap plummeted. With 118 kilometres gone, the break has been caught. That was quick!
13.56: Georgi Georgiev (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar) has attacked. He has a five second gap.
We’ve been asked by Richard Conlon what time the race will be in Castlebar. The finish is likely to be around about 14.48 or so..but get there a bit earlier just in case....
The weather has been dry for most of the stage.
14.01: David McCann (Ireland National Team), Steve Calland (Britain Surrey Racing League) and Peter Hawkins (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) have attacked with 30 kilometres to go. Callard and McCann have been caught, while Peter Hawkins persists.
14.04: Hawkins has ten seconds now..
14.11: Hawkins has been caught. The field split in two several kilometres go but we don’t think any big names where there.
14.13: The riders have 25km to go...A bunch sprint looks likely, methinks. Will Kirsipuu make up for yesterday?
14.17: He said that he was slightly blocked by other riders in the buildup to the sprint, and ran out of road before the line.
14.18: A quick thanks to everyone who has written in about the coverage. We don’t have time to reply as there’s so much writing to be done, but it’s much appreciated.
14.23: The China Trek Marco Polo team is driving the race along.
14.32: The riders are inside the final ten kilometres.
The peloton is together...well, kinda...a big split opened quite a few kilometres ago. We haven't heard that any big riders lost out.
14.41: We have gone on to the finish. It's a little hairy inside the final kilometre, with two 90 degree turns. Should be fine in the dry, we think.
The front group has 50 or 60 riders, and looks set for a bunch sprint...
14.45: One km...
Paul Healion wins! He led it out from a long way, but had a good gap at the end...
Great win for him...he's been up there all week in the sprints..well done..
He beat Jaan Kirsipuu, Nicolas Walker and Niko Eeckhout, taking the first Irish win of the year's race...
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FBD Insurance Rás (2.2), May 17 – 24:
Stage 6, Scariff – Castlebar:
1, Paul Healion (Ireland National Team) 159kms in 3 hours 45 mins 26 secs
2, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia)
3, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under)
4, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)
5, Kasper Jebjerg (Denmark Designa Kokken)
6, Jaco Venter (China Trek Marco Polo)
7, Joachim Tolles (Germany Kuota-Indeland)
8, Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)
9, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey)
10, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)
11, Stefan Ganser (Germany Kuota-Indeland)
12, Aidan Crowley (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)
13, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)
14, Seán Downey (Ireland National Team)
15, Spas Gyurov (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar) all same time
Category 3 climb, Leecarrow (km 8.1) :
1, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 5pts
2, Bjorn Glasner (Germany Kuota-Indeland) 4
3, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport) 3
4, Georgi Georgiev (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar) 2
Category 3 at Killanena (km 18.3) :
1, Spas Gyurov (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar) 5pts
2, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken) 4
3, David McCann (Ireland National Team) 3
4, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) 2
County Rider:
1, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), 3 hours 45 mins 26 secs
2, Aidan Crowley (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)
3, Joseph Fenlon (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) both same time
Cotter Hoose CI Category 2 Stage
1, Chris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) 3 hours 45 mins 26 secs
2, Graham Hurley (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers) same time
3, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 4 mins 18 secs
4, Chris Troy (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) at 4 mins 20 secs
5, Martin Gill (Tipperary Clonmel CC) at 4 mins 48 secs
International Team Stage:
1 Ireland National Team, 11 hours 16 mins 18 secs
2 Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly
3 Australia Cinelli-Down Under
4 Britain Rapha Condor
5 Germany Kuota-Indeland, all same time
County Team:
1 Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, 11 hours 16 mins 18 secs
2 Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations
3 Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies
4 Dublin KTM Winning Solutions, all same time
5 Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 4 mins18 secs
General classification:
1, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) 24 hours 10 mins 21 secs
2, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken) at 2 mins 49 secs
3, Jan Barta (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers) at 3 mins 2 secs
4, Bert Roesems (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) at 3 mins 19 secs
5, Darren Lapthorne (Britain Rapha Condor) at 3 mins 24 secs
6, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) at 3 mins 29 secs
7, Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor) at 5 mins 29 secs
8, Russ Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) at 6 mins 7 secs
9, David McCann (Ireland National Team) at 6 mins 9 secs
10, Alexander Gottfried (Germany Kuota-Indeland) at 6 mins 38 secs
11, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 6 mins 53 secs
12, Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia) at 7 mins 17 secs
13, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers) at 7 mins 18 secs
14, Benny De Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time
15, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) at 7 mins 23 secs
U23 Rider Overall:
1, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) 24 hours 17 mins 44 sec
2, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) at 25 secs
3, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 33 secs
4, Jaco Venter (China Trek Marco Polo) at 41 secs
5, Stephen Halpin (Ireland Development U23) at 1 min 35 secs
CI Category 2 overall:
1, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) 24 hours 28 mins 1 sec
2, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World) at 23 secs
3, Chris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) at 7 mins 31secs
4, Graham Hurley (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers) at 10 mins 53 secs
5, Chris Troy (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) at 16 mins 47 secs
County Rider Overall:
1, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) 24 hours 18 mins 07 secs
2, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 10 secs
3, Paul Griffin (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies) at 1 min 38 secs
4, Peter Hawkins (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) at 3 mins 52 secs
5, Philip Lavery (Dublin KTM Winning Solutions) at 4 mins 23 secs
Points Competition:
1, Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) 59 pts
2, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 58
3, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) 56
4, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) 54
5, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) 41
Mountains Competition:
1, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 55
2, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport) 45
3, David McCann (Ireland National Team) 38
4, Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) 30
5, Tom Southam (Britain Rapha Condor) 27
International Team Overall:
1, Britain Rapha Condor, 72 hours 39 mins 56 secs
2, Denmark Designa Kokken, at 9 mins 42 secs
3, Austria Arbo KTM Junkers, at 10 mins
4, Australia Cinelli Down Under, at 13 mins 25 secs
5, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly, at 13 mins 28 secs
County Team Overall:
1, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, 73 hours 7 mins 49 secs
2, Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, at 1 min 22 secs
3, Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies, at 4 mins 37 secs
4, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, at 5 mins 36 secs
5, Waterford Comeragh CC, at 25 mins 38 secs
Great finish - we'll go get quotes, so will leave it there for now. Thanks for reading! Come back later for more...
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Here Live Reports were last updated:Feb 2nd, 2010 - 19:01:59
