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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
BAGDONAS BOUNCES BACK FROM CRASH TO WIN STAGE THREE OF AN POST RAS
By Shane Stokes
23 May 2012,
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Already wearing the green jersey of points leader, Gediminas Bagdonas strengthened his grip on that in the best way possible today when he sprinted to victory on stage three of the An Post R�s. The 2011 overall winner kicked hard in the final sprint, and despite celebrating too soon and needing to put his hands back on the bars to put in another burst, beat stage one winner Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) by half a wheel.
Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling) and Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team) were third and fourth, while Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) and Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) were best Irish rider and Irish county rider respectively.
�I won today�s stage, last year I won general [classification] and two stages,� Bagdonas told Irishcycling.com at the finish. �Just now it�s for the stage victory, we�ll see later, after five or six stages, about the general� Everything is possible, just 22 seconds and waiting [for the] hard days,�
Overnight race leader Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) started the day level on time with six other riders. The stage thinned out that list somewhat, with a number of crashes causing splits in the bunch and making the day more complicated than it might otherwise have been.
Dale Appleby (Britain East Midlands Metaltek), Dan Craven (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) and Christian Jerslid Jensen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling), who had started the stage second, sixth and seventh overall, all lost over three minutes. Craven hit his head hard and had some memory loss; he won�t start tomorrow�s stage. It is an unfortunate exit for the rider who had been leading the mountains classification.
With those three dropping back, James Moss (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) remain level on time with Lang. The latter needs to be very careful as even if a bunch sprint happens � as has been predicted � he needs to finish ahead of or close to his rivals so that they don�t overtake him on stage placings.
Early on, Irishmen Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11) and Tim Barry (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) clipped away halfway through the 145 kilometre stage, then were joined by Gruffud Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) and Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco Mesterhus). This was the main break of the day and would build a decent lead before a massive crash in the bunch blocked many riders and enabled those out front to eke out a bigger advantage.
Lewis led the break over the top of the category three Tir na Cille (km 83), where Moriarty lost contact and slipped back towards the bunch. Hurum took top points on Gowlaun, then found himself alone out front when Barry and Lewis each fell on the descent.
Behind, a big crash caused more complications, with many riders ending up on the ground. This number included Bagdonas, who broke his shoes, but fortunately he had a spare set in the team car and was able to change them.
The twin falls gave Hurum a little extra leeway and he extended his lead slightly. However it wasn�t enough and he was caught with two kilometres left, paving the way for Bagdonas� victory.
HOW THINGS PLAYED OUT:
A total of 159 riders took to the start of the third stage of the An Post R�s, a 145 kilometre race from Gort to Westport. The principal features were an early Post Office Sprint at Moycullen (km 48.3), then three climbs in the second half of the stage, namely that of Tir na Cille (category three, km 83), the category two ramp of Gowlaun (km 95.2) and then the first category Maumtrasna (km 104.1).
It was likely to be the toughest stage thus far and the grey skies and some splatters of rain set the scene for a difficult race.
Six riders started the stage on the same overall time as the yellow jersey Pirmin Lang (Atlas Jakroo). Dale Appleby (Britain East Midlands Metaltek), James Moss (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Dan Craven (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) and Christian Jerslid Jensen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) were only separated by stage placings, and knew a strong performance could put them to the top of the overall standings.
There were plenty of early attacks but the first move to gain any sort of time was that of the Shay Elliott memorial winner Philip Lavery (Britain Node4 Girodana). He went clear after thirty kilometres of racing, building a lead of nine seconds, but was hauled back after several minutes out front.
Next to try were Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes), who opened a similar time gap and also stayed out front for a few minutes, but were then caught.
KEY BREAK:
The bunch was policing things tightly but Tim Barry (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) was undeterred. He surged clear 39 kilometres after the start and got a half-minute lead. World track championship Omnium bronze medallist Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) and Kyle Houston (Antrim Chain Reaction Cycles) got halfway across the gap, were joined by two others, but were then caught.
The tractor beam of the bunch also proved too much for Varry, who was caught prior to the An Post sprint in Moycullen (km 48.3). Michael Vingerling (Netherlands Koga Cycling) was first to the line there.
Following his go earlier in the stage, Kelly decided to try again. He clipped away just over an hour into the stage and got an eighteen second lead. Patrick Clarke (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) tried to get across but was caught; ditto for Christian Varley (Isle of Man), who set off in pursuit prior to Oughterard (km 62). The bunch again gave little leeway and reeled them both in.
The race was heading into a much more rural area, with undulating, twisting roads being more helpful to breaks. Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11) and Tm Barry (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) clipped away approximately 72 kilometre in, the halfway point of the stage, and were joined by Gruffud Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling). They got 30 seconds, but Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco Mesterhus) was able to bridge across several kilometres later.
The gaps were still tight but the bunch�s momentum was disrupted when there was a very large pileup. Many riders were hurt, several bikes had to be replaced and the roads were completely blocked. It broke the peloton into several pieces and caused a lot of frantic chasing.
The leaders were ahead of the chaos and pushed on, riding hard to try to bolster their lead. Lewis took the category three climb of Tir na Cille (km 83), beating Hurum, Barry and Moriarty to the line. The latter slipped back between there and the next climb, the second category Gowlaun (km 95.2), where Hurum picked up the ten points ahead of Lewis and Barry.
Further back, mountains leader Dan Craven picked up four points to try to protect his jersey.
The three man lead group became one when Barry and Lewis crashed on the descent of the climb. Further back, there was a very big pileup in the chasing group, with the riders affected including last year�s winner Gediminas Bagdonas, who had to change his shoes after one broke, plus his team-mates Bennett and McLaughlin.
Hurum pushed onwards alone and held a twenty second lead over Lewis. This doubled by the time he crested the summit of the first category Maumtrasna, while Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) and Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) led the next group across.
The yellow jersey of Lang had been delayed and was in a group 35 seconds off the riders in that Hawins group.
Hurum continued to ride strongly and with 25 kilometres to go he had a 53 second lead over the next chasers, who had caught Lewis.
Those in that group were An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly riders Bagdonas, Bennett, Sean Downey and Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), plus Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha), Ondrej Pavek (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha), Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling), Jelmer Asjes (Netherlands Koga Cycling), Marcel Aregger (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo), David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing), Felix English (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport), Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), James Moss (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Matthew Higgins (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Philip Lavery (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling), James Lowsley-Williams (Britain UK Youth Cycling), Brian Ahern (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre) and Patrick Clarke (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge)
They were 22 seconds head of Lang�s yellow jersey group, but the junction between the two was finally made twelve kilometres from the end. That led to a slight stall, which enabled Hurum�s lead to go up to eighteen seconds again, but an attack by David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing), Fredrick Johansson (Britain UK Youth Cycling) and Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) spurred the bunch into action and it sped up again.
Those three chasers were gobbled up soon afterwards, while Hurum fought on until two kilometres to go. Bagdonas then moved forward and powered home ahead of stage one winner Bialoblocki, Eefting and the rest in that group.
Lang crossed the line in eleventh and when the placings of the other riders on the same time were calculated, he remained in yellow. James Moss (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) are now second, third and fourth, with Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) twelve seconds back in fifth. Stage winner Bagdonas is an additional ten seconds behind in seventh place, but was relaxed about the time difference at this early point of the race.
He�s three points clear of Bialoblocki in the sprints competition, while Craven is the same margin ahead of Hurum in the One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains race. However he won�t start tomorrow due to injury.
Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) leads the Irish Sports Council Under 23 ranking. Keith Walls (Meath Stamullen Martin Donnelly) tops the Cycling Ireland second category list and Adam Armstrong is best of the county riders.
Britain Node4 Girodana and Dublin West Eurocycles are top international and county team respectively.
The An Post R�s continues tomorrow with a flat, fast 135 kilometre race from Westport to Bundoran. A bunch sprint is expected to be the most likely outcome, but even if that occurs, Lang must still fight to preserve his advantage over the rivals who are on the same overall time.
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An Post R�s (2.2) Stage 3, Gort to Westport:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 144.7 kilometres in 3 hours 9 mins 3 secs
2, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
3, Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
4, Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team)
5, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence)
6, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
7, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
8, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
9, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
10, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles)
11, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
12, Mark Sehested Pedersen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
13, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy)
14, Krister Hagen (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus)
15, Brian Ahern (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre)
Primes:
An Post Prime at Moycullen (km 48.3)
1, Michael Vingerling (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
KOM cat. 3 at Tir na Cille (km 83):
1, Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 5pts
2, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco Mesterhus) 4
3, Tim Barry (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) 3
4, Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11) 1
KOM cat. 2 at Gowlaun (km 95.2):
1, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 10 pts
2, Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 8
3, Tim Barry (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) 6
4, Dan Craven (Meath East Spin 11) 4
5, Simon Richardson (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) 3
6, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) 1
KOM cat 1 at Maumtrasna (km. 104.1).
1, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 15
2, Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 12
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) 10
4, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) 8
5, Matthew Higgins (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 6
6, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) 5
7, Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga Cycling) 3
Cuchulainn Crystal county rider:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) 3 hours 9 mins 3 secs
International team stage:
1, Britain Node4 Giordana, 9 hours 27 mins 9 secs
2, Netherlands Koga Cycling
3, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, both same time
4, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly, at 7 secs
5, France AVC Aix En Provence, same time
County team stage:
1, Dublin West Eurocycles, 9 hours 30 mins 33 secs
2, Dublin South UCD, at 40 secs
3, Meath East Spin 11, at 3 mins 15 secs
4, Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce, at 3 mins 17 secs
5, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 3 mins 23 secs
General classification after stage 3:
1, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 9 hours 52 mins
2, James Moss (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
3, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
4, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
5, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) at 12 secs
6, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 20 secs
7, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 22 secs
8, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence) at 26 secs
9, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
10, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
11, Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling) at 28 secs
12, Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team)
13, Mark Sehested Pedersen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
14, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles)
15, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) all same time
Post Office Sprints:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 32
2, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 29
3, Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling) 24
4, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence) 22
5, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 21
One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains:
1, Dan Craven (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) 32
2, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 29
3, Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 25
4, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 20
5, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) 16
Irish Sports Council Under 23:
1, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 9 hours 52 mins
2, Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team) at 28 secs
3, Mark Sehested Pedersen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
4, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy)
5, Marcel Aregger (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) all same time
CI Category 2:
1, Keith Walls (Meath Stamullen MartinDonnelly) 9 hours 52 mins
2, Art MacManusa (Dublin South UCD) at 1 min 37 secs
3, John O'Shea (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) same time
4, Ciaran O'Sullivan (Antrim Chain Reaction Cycles) at 2 mins 58 secs
5, Christopher Reilly (Meath Stamullen MartinDonnelly) same time
Fitz Cycles county rider:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) 9 hours 52 mins 28 secs
2, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) same time
3, Ryan Sherlock (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) at seven secs
4, Sean Lacey (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy)
5, Conor Murphy (Dublin West Eurocycles) all the same time
International team:
1, Britain Node4 Girodana, 29 hours 36 mins 50 secs
2, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, at 2 secs
3, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly, at 13 secs
4, Netherlands Koga Cycling, at 34 secs
5, France AVC Aix en Provence, at 41 secs
County team:
1, Dublin West Eurocycles, 29 hours 40 mins 48 secs
2, Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce, at 6 mins 31 secs
3, Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes, at 8 mins 5 secs
4, Dublin South UCD, at 9 mins 39 secs
5, Meath Dunboyne DID
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