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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
BAGDONAS TRIUMPHS IN KILRUSH, ARCHBOLD NABS YELLOW FROM DOWNING
By Shane Stokes
23 May 2011,
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Gediminas Bagdonas gave the Irish sponsors of the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team an early reward in the An Post Rás when he race to victory on today’s second stage. The Lituanian rider was quickest in a four-up sprint to the line, beating Shane Archbold (New Zealand), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling) and Anatoliy Pakhtushov (Ukraine-ISD Lampre) to the line in Kilrush.
Overnight race leader Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp) rode well early on to come back into contention after missing some important moves. He made it into the final break, but cracked inside the final 20 kilometres and slipped back to a large chase group behind. He eventually came home in this bunch, one minute and 27 seconds behind the break.
As a result of that, Archbold takes over at the top of the general classification. His second place today and his fourth place yesterday gave him the edge on countback over Bagdonas, who has stage placings of first and twelfth.
“I got second in the world omnium championships in March. Coming into this, I’ve just been trying to build the road form up and up,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of training and didn’t get any [race] results. I’m happy to to get a result here today, and to wear yellow is a pretty big achievement.”
The stage was a particularly difficult one due to strong winds. It took the riders almost five hours to cover the 164 kilometre distance, averaging just 33.4 kilometres per hour, and there were many drained riders at the finish.
“It was a long day with very strong wind,” Bagdonas said. “The whole team worked and helped me…in the last 30 kilometres I attacked and worked with the others. Later I waited for the sprint, and today I was quickest. I’m very happy.”
Archbold also emphasised the tough conditions. “It was a very difficult day today. It was 160 kilometres and it took five hours – that says it all,” he stated. “There was a headwind most of the way, it was a tough day all round. The climb was probably the easiest part of the day because it was sheltered, and there was a nice road surface.”
That climb was the ascent of Corkscrew Hill, which came 92.7 kilometres after the start in Portumna. Five riders were in contention for the prime points there, and the one who was first to the summit was Irishman Martyn Irvine (Giant Kenda).
He was one of the most aggressive riders on the stage, clipping away just two kilometres in with Kohei Uchima (Italy D’Angelo & D’Antenucci). They were joined soon afterwards by six others, namely Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling), Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Hector Gonzalez (Greece KTM Murica), Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) and Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge).
This group rode well into the winds, but started to thin down before the climb. Uchima, Gonzalez, and Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) all dropped back, and Kelly slipped off the back on the slopes. The latter rejoined after the summit, but the others did not get back on.
Irvine was first to the summit, beating Shaw, McNally and Karwowski to the prime line, and as it was the day’s sole climb, he was awarded the mountains jersey at the end of the stage. He’s happy to have it, but sees it as something which is temporary. “I think this will be too hard to defend. I can get over the shorter ones but the longer ones down around Kerry are not my cup of team,” he admitted. “It’s just good to have a jersey.”
Irvine was out front for a long time, and was clear on how difficult the stage was. “It was a horrible day. My plan was to be aggressive and get into groups, but it wasn’t to be in the long break. It was a war of attrition…it was the hardest wind I have been riding in.
“I attacked after two kilometres or something like that…I looked around and it was 30 seconds. I said that somebody would come up. I think with the crosswinds it was hard for everybody all day. That is what I was thinking in my head…keep riding, stay out of trouble, and the wind will take its toll on everybody.”
He eventually cracked and finished in a group nine minutes and 45 seconds back. “I can’t go GC or anything like that now, so I’ll try to take another opportunity to get away and finish the job on a less windy day,” he said. “Or it might be to help David [McCann], he is up on GC. That is the big prize, I might have to help him out.”
The latter was one of six Irish riders who were in the chase group behind the leading four. Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) was fifth, one minute 23 seconds back, while Adam Armstrong, Mark Cassidy, Sean Downey and David McCann were eighth, 15th, 17th and 22nd. Each were one minute 27 seconds behind Bagdonas, as was Downing.
McCann is best placed of them overall in sixth, one minute 24 seconds behind Archbold. That seems like a lot after two days, but the An Post Rás is known for being a very changeable race and gaps like that are nothing in the bigger scale of things.
Besides, Archbold admits that he’s unlikely to fight for the final yellow jersey. “I am a track rider, so I don’t go uphill so well. I can get over the odd climb if I have to, but I definitely won’t be contending for the yellow jersey in a few days time,” he said.
“The team are all track riders. So we all do struggle when it goes uphill. We’ll have to wait and see…stage wins are what we are here for.”
Tomorrow’s stage to Castleisland includes four categorised climbs, including the cat one ascent of Crag Cave inside the final 13 kilometres. Bagdonas is one who could be in the hunt for the jersey.
“Maybe I’ll get yellow later, we will see,” he said. “My climbing is sometimes good…if I have good legs, I’ll climb well.”
How the result played out:
The second stage was one marked by strong headwinds and it was certain that the riders would face a long, difficult day in the saddle. Despite that, Irishman Martyn Irvine (Giant Kenda) and Japanese rider Kohei Uchima (Italy D’Angelo & D’Antenucci) clipped away almost immediately after the start in Portumna, being joined soon afterwards by six others.
They were Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team), Marytn Irvine (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling), Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Hector Gonzalez (Greece KTM Murica), Kohei Uchima (Italy D'Angelo & D'Antenucci), Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) and Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge).
Three others tried to get across, namely Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix en Provence), William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint) and Irishman John Dempsey (Donegal LK Bikes). However after getting to within 40 seconds of the leading octet, the gap went out to over a minute and Dempsey and Sarreboubee sat up.
Bjergfelt kept riding and was joined approximately 28 kilometres after the start by Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda) and Christian Varley (Isle of Man Microgaming). The gap was up to over three and a half minutes at this point, but the advantage moved to the chasers when approximately 50 kilometres into the stage, 27 others bridged across.
They were David McCann (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team), Yin Chin Wang (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team), Lachlann Norris (Australia Drapac Cycling), Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Erwan Brenterch (France AVC Aix en Provence), Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence), Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence), Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix en Provence), Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie), Bernardo Riccio (Italy D'Angelo & D'Antenucci), Yuriy Agarkov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Maksym Vasyliev (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Menso de Jong (USA Wonderful Pistachios), Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Casey Munro (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team), Thomas Copeland (Britain Sigma Specialized Team), Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint), James Sampson (Britain Motorpoint), Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint), Michael Fitzgerald (Carlow Dan Morrisey Better Bld), Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles), Patrick Clarke (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) and Simon Kelly (Meath 53 Degrees North Optimun).
At that point the leaders were three minutes clear, with yellow jersey Dean Downing one minute and 45 seconds behind this big chase group. However Downing and yesterday’s Irish runner-up, Sam Bennett (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) later got up to the chasers and, with 85 kilometres completed, the 40 man bunch was three minutes behind the break.
Gonzalez (Greece KTM Murica), Kohei Uchima (Italy D'Angelo & D'Antenucci) and Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) all dropped back before the second category ascent of Corkscrew Hill (km 92.7), where Irvine was first to the top. As the day’s only climb, it guaranteed that the Irishman would get to wear the King of the Mountains jersey tomorrow.
He was followed over the summit by Shaw, McNally and Karwowski; Kelly was dropped on the climb but got back on after.
Because of the strong winds, the riders had averaged just 32 kilometres per hour after three hours racing. This reflected the tough conditions, and saw the main bunch over 13 minutes behind at this point.
Approximately 100 kilometres after the start, eight riders clipped away from the big chase group and set about reeling in the five leaders. Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda), Lachlann Norris (Australia Drapac Cycling), Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team), Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) and Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) made good inroads, and were joined soon afterwards by Gedminias Bagdonas (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), James Sampson (Britain Motorpoint) and Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie).
They made the junction, but the yellow jersey group then got across. Things broke up again after Enistymon, with a group of 13 riders moving clear and holding a 20 second lead at the feedzone, 50 kilometres from the finish.
They were David McCann (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling), Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling), Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence), Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence), Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Simon Richadrdson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team), Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigma Specialized Team) and Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint).
Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda) and Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) set off in pursuit of that group, and were joined first by Myron Simpson (New Zealand National Team), Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles) and Javier Benitez Pomares (Greece KTM Murica), then by Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team), Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) and James Sampson (Britain Motorpoint). Race Downing also got across with Shane Archbold (New Zealand), and together these ten riders reeled in the 13 leaders 125 kilometres after the start.
Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) then clipped away 31 kilometres from the line, being joined by Shaw and Sampson. The latter dropped back, with Bagdonas talking his place and then being joined by Downing and Archbold.
They rode well together and with 20 kilometres to go, they were 50 seconds clear of the chasers. Downing was coming under pressure, though, and cracked soon afterward, going back to the group behind. The other four continued onwards and had a very healthy two minute lead with five kilometres remaining.
Pakhtusov tried to attack inside the final two kilometres but his efforts were covered; Bagdonas then proved quickest in the sprint to the line, beating Archbold and Shaw into Kilrush.
Archbold was however better placed on countback and he took over the yellow jersey of race leadership. He’ll hold that going into tomorrow’s stage, but readily admits that the hillier roads which lie ahead may prove to be too tough.
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An Post Rás (2.2) stage 2: Portumna to Kilrush:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 164 kilometres in 4 hours 54 mins 18 secs
2, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team)
3, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling)
4, Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) all same time
5, Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 1 min 23 secs
6, Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) at 1 min 25 secs
7, Myron Simpson (New Zealand National Team) at 1 min 27 secs
8, Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles)
9, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence)
10, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental)
11, Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
12, Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence)
13, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigma Specialized Team)
14, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling)
15, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) all same time
Primes:
KOH category 2 at Corkscrew Hill (km 92.7):
1, Marytn Irvine (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team) 10 pts
2, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling) 8
3, Mark McNally ( Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 6
4, Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team) 4
5, Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge) 3
6, Tim Barry (Carlow Dan Morrisey Better Bld) 1
An Post primes:
Lehinch:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas ( Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
Quilty:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas ( Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
Cuchulainn Crystal county rider:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles) 4 hours 55 mins 45 secs
2, Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge)
3, Neill Delahaye (Meath Dectek) both same time
International team:
1, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, 14 hours 45 mins 44 secs
2, New Zealand, 14 hours 45 mins 44 secs
3, Britain Motorpoint, 14 hours 47 mins 13 secs
County team:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 15 hours 20 mins 54 secs
2, Carlow Dan Morrissey Better Bld, 15 hours 26 mins 43 secs
3, Mayo Western Edge Medical, 15 hours 48 mins 33 secs
General classification after 2 stages:
1, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) 8 hours 42 mins 11 secs
2, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) same time
3, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling) at 4 secs
4, Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) same time
5, Dean Downing (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) at 1 min 17 secs
6, David McCann, at 1 min 24 secs
7, Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) at 1 min 25 secs
8, Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) same time
9, Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 1 min 27 secs
10, Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) same time
11, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 1 min 28 secs
12, Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence) at 1 min 31 secs
13, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental)
14, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence)
15, Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda) all same time
Irish Sports Council Under 23:
1, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) 8 hours 42 mins 11 secs
2, Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence) at 1 min 31 secs
3, Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda) same time
Cycling Ireland category 2:
1, Mark Gill (Dublin South Dublin Zilcom) 9 hours 6 mins 34 secs
2, Martin Cullinane (Waterford Comeragh) , at 2 mins 42 secs
3, Sean McFadden (Donegal LK Bikes) , at 3 mins 6 secs
Fitz Cycles county rider:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles) 8 hours 43 mins 42 secs
2, Derek Finnegan (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 8 mins 14 secs
3, Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge) , at 8 mins 18 secs
Post office sprints:
1, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) 26
2, Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) 21
3, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 19
4, Dean Downing (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 15
5, Sam Bennett (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 14
One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains:
1, Marytn Irvine (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team) 10
2, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling) 8
3, Mark McNally ( Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 6
International team:
1, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, 26 hours 9 mins 27 secs
2, New Zealand national team, at 8 secs
3, Britain Motorpoint, at 1 min 29 secs
County team:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 26 hours 44 mins 41 secs
2, Carlow Dan Morrissey Better Bld, at 6 mins 6 secs
3, Mayo Western Edge Medical, at 27 mins 43 secs
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