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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
FBD Insurance Rás (2.2) – Ireland, May 17-24, 2009.
Stage 7 – May 23rd Castlebar-Clara, 150 km
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| Leader of the Points Classification was feeling dog rough at the start of Stage 7 in Castlebar, County Mayo. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Beware the dreaded broom wagon: the only consolation riders have if they drop out of the race is that they get to spend some time in the company of the funniest man on the Rás, Mick Lawless. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Members of the home cycling club, Castlebar C.C., escorted the riders out of town and on their way to Clara in County Offaly. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Flying solo: Stephen Barrett (Ireland National Team) took on the entire race today on the road to Clara, County Offaly. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| It was déjà vu all over again on Stage 7 with the Britain Rapha Condor team setting a high tempo to discourage any potential threats to Simon Richardson’s race lead. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Men in black: the Britain Rapha Condor dodge the showers on Stage 7 of the 2009 FBD Rás. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) tried to get his motor running on Stage 6 but his efforts were neutralised. The multiple stage winner will doubtlessly give his all on the final stage tomorrow. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| With its flat profile and long finishing straight, a bunch sprint was always likely on Stage 7. Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) gave the big guns of the race an exhibition in sprinting, taking his first stage win in his first Rás on Stage 7. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Eighteen-year-old Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) left the cream of the race’s sprinters in his wake on the long run into Clara, County Offaly. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Go on ya good thing: Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) celebrates his victory on stage 7. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) dedicated his stage win to his mother, Helen, who was there to witness her son’s achievement. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The first year senior rider was overwhelmed when the significance of his victory started to sink in. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) realised the dream of every Irish competitive cyclist with his win on Stage 7. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| It was all too much for the young man from Carrick-on-Suir in County Waterford. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| ‘Welcome to the club, Sam’: Multiple Rás stage winner David O’Loughlin (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) congratulates Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) on his stage victory. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) took third place on Stage 7. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Joachim Tolles (Germany Kuota-Indeland) took second on the stage into Clara. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The winner of Stage 7 salutes the crowd as he is called forward on the podium to receive his Best Placed County Rider trophy and stage winner’s jersey. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) savours the moment as he dons his stage winner’s jersey. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| There’s a new kid in town: Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), winner of Stage 7 of the 2009 FBD Rás. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Note Bennett’s (left) choice of DIY overshoes; another famous native of Carrick-on-Suir favoured simple sports socks as an extra layer of foot wear in variable weather conditions. No doubt Sean Kelly will take some satisfaction in seeing Sam Bennett realise his considerable potential. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Stephen Barrett (Ireland National Team) was welcomed on the podium in acknowledgement of his solo efforts on Stage 7. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| It was a laugh-a-minute on the presentation podium with the category leaders and stage winner swapping jokes. C’mon lads, it can’t be all that bad. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The podium after Day 7 of the 2009 FBD Rás: (L-R): Second on the stage, Joachim Tolles (Germany Kuota-Indeland), Best Placed U-23 Rider, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Most Competitive Rider on Stage 7, Stephen Barrett (Ireland National Team), KOM Leader, David O’Loughlin (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Winner of Stage 7 and Best Placed County Rider on stage, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), Race Leader, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor), Points Leader, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Third on the stage, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia). ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Winner of Stage 7 of the 2009 FBD Rás Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey). Coming to a podium near you soon. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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