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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
FBD Insurance Rás (2.2) – Ireland, May 17-24, 2009.
Stage 8 – May 24th Clara-Skerries, 155 km
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| It has been said that riding the Rás could put years on some of the riders. This young man was in contention for the best placed rider U-23 after Stage 2. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The Britain Halfords Bike Hut team get psyched up for the start of Stage 8 in Clara, County Offaly. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Thumbs up for the start of the final stage from Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut). ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The KOM classification was hotly contested on the roads to Skerries in north County Dublin. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The Rapha Condor team of race leader Simon Richardson were ever vigilant, on the lookout for threatening moves developing after KOM sprints. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| There was no time for chitchat among the riders as the race embarked on the first of two laps of the finishing circuit in Skerries. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Stage 8 saw temperatures rocket and liquid refreshment was in high demand. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The final 30 kilometres were technical and undulating. Conditions demanded maximum concentration as Paul Griffin’s (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies) expression illustrates. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Race leader Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) looking focussed. With overall victory in his sights the final kilometres must have been a anxious time. No chickens could be counted until the finish line was crossed. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The crowds were treated to the spectacle of bunch sprint with Estonian national champion Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) making sure of victory with a powerful display of his strength and experience. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| After victory on Stage 3 and numerous podium places during the week Kirsipuu was satisfied with his second stage victory. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) reaps the rewards for his consistent efforts by taking overall victory in the 2009 Rás. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Mellow Yellow: Richardson’s calm, friendly demeanour off the bike masks a fiery competitive instinct on the road. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Darren Lapthorne congratulates his team-mate on a well deserved victory. As ever, Richardson was quick to pay tribute to his Rapha Condor team. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| As easy as they made it look, Darren Lapthorne’s expression pays testament to the hard graft that he and his Rapha Condor team-mates put in defending Richardson’s race lead. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Winner of Stage 8, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) seemed pleased with his week on the roads of Ireland. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Yet again, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) took the prize for best placed county rider on Stage 8. There can be no doubt that the 2009 Rás has been an affirmation of his class, if one was needed. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Best Placed U-23 Rider overall, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut). ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| King of the Mountains for 2009 David O’Loughlin (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) receives the Brendan Carroll memorial trophy. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The battle for the Points classification went right down to the wire with Belgian rider Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) taking the overall victory. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| After a closely fought contest, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) took home the Cavan Crystal trophy for Best Placed County Rider on the 2009 Rás. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Winners of the County Team prize, the Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC team. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Overall victor of the 2009 FBD Rás, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor). ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) celebrates victory in the 2009 FBD Rás. ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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| The men of the 2009 FBD Rás. Should have mounted my fisheye lens for this one... ©: Stephen McMahon. |
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