Stage winner and new mountains leader Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix en Provence) and his brother, the team soigneur

French rider Nicolas Baldo raced into the yellow jersey on today’s gruelling fifth stage of the An Post Rás, riding strongly over the Mamore Gap climb and reaching the finish in a chase group eleven seconds behind another strong Frenchman, Thomas Rostollan.

Baldo’s effort saw him move above his Switzerland Atlas Jakroo team-mate Pirmin Lang in the overall standings; Lang finished in a group 39 seconds back and dropped to fourth overall, with Rostollan (France AVC Aix en Proven) and Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) slotting into second and third overall.

“The climb today was really steep,” Baldo said, referring to Mamore Gap. “It’s not a climb I enjoyed because I’m a heavy rider and it’s hard for me to go to the top. But it was ok, I had good legs. It was more a terrain for my team-mate Jonathan Fumeaux; I really hurt myself to stay with him, and afterwards we could help each other. It was good to finish together on the line.”

The new race leader was actually on the attack early on during the stage. Approximately 41 kilometres after the start, he and Fumeaux jumped clear. Ten others got across, including former race winners David McCann (RTS Racing) and Simon Richardson (IG Sigma Sport), and while the peloton draw back up to them, Fumeaux, Baldo and Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water) raced ahead together and opened a big lead.

They were one and a half minutes clear after 64 kilometres, putting Baldo into provisional yellow, and forcing the teams behind to chase. Ten kilometres later the gap was down to half a minute and, weighing up that difference plus the hard roads ahead, Baldo and Fumeaux decided to ease back.

“In the beginning it was a mistake because we didn’t expect such big road and open landscape. We said that maybe we can make the race harder and preserve some force for our leader in the back [Pirmin Lang] by going together with my team mate at the front, but it was like suicide. We stopped the effort.”

Approximately nine kilometres later five riders pushed ahead and while this group didn’t last long as a unit, breaking up on the climb of Slavary (111.5), it provided a springboard for Rostollan to surge clear there, racing solo over the remaining 38 kilometres, collecting maximum mountain points on several climbs including Mamore, then grab the stage win.

Things blew apart behind, with race leader Lang being dropped by several others including Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana) on Mamore, but being able to get back by the finish. It wasn’t enough to save his jersey, though, but it remained within the team with Baldo.

“It’s really difficult to have a strategy like in other UCI races,” said the latter. “We are only five riders, there’s thirty five teams, everybody goes in breakaways and it’s a war each day. So, today it was me and my team mate Jonathan, maybe tomorrow it will be Pirmin again.

“The important thing is that we don’t loose the jersey. It doesn’t matter if it’s me or him in the yellow jersey, the important thing is not to lose the race.”

Best Irish riders on the stage were Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) and Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles), who finished seventh and tenth respectively. The latter has been best county rider on three separate stages, has led that particular classification since stage two, and was also top ten on day three.

“It was a complicated stage, with the Swiss up the road and the jersey sort of behind. An Post missed it. It was a really funny day, you know – it was hard, but it took an awful long time for the stage to actually spring into life,” he said. “It wasn’t until we hit the last 32 kilometres when it really opened up on the second category climb. And then we had Mamore Gap…it was just unbelievable, I think the continentals were scared of it.

“I went up in 39x26. I would never ever use that in any climb in Ireland. I changed especially last night for today, because the climb is that bad and basically I used that for most of the climb. I’d be quicker walking up it, to be honest!”

After Mamore, Armstrong was in the second group on the road, racing with David McCann (RTS Racing), the yellow jersey Pirmin Lang and last year’s winner Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly). They got back up to the group ahead inside the final five kilometres, then crossed the line 39 seconds behind stage winner Rostollan.

The battle will continue tomorrow on the tough 134 kilometre race from Buncrana to Killybegs. It features four climbs, including the category one Glengesh pass, and should see more splits occur.

“I’m not as worried about tomorrow,” said Armstrong. “Today I was worried because a steep climb like that doesn’t suit me at all, it’s not something I’m good at. Tomorrow it’s a hard stage, there’s a first category climb again, but it’s not quite as steep. I’m feeling good, I’m recovering really well every day, I still have good legs.”

How things unfolded:

What was on paper the toughest stage of the 2012 An Post Rás was run off under stunning weather conditions. The 149 kilometre stage from Bundoran to Buncrana included seven climbs, namely the third category ascents of Barnesmore Gap (km 41), Maghera Beg (km 78.8), Slavary (km 111.5) and Old Mountain (km 117), the category two Pinch Mountain (km 120.7), the first category Mamore Gap (km 136.9) and the third category Old Mountain (km 139.5).

A total of 152 riders took to the start, with another one - Peter Tuohy (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) – not continuing in the race.

There were the usual steady stream of attacks and short-lived moves after the drop of the flag, including a break including the yellow jersey Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) and a subsequent 15 man move which went away on the early slopes of the third category Barnesmore Gap, but was caught before the top.

Krister Hagen (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) took top points there ahead of Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling).

After the top, approximately 41 kilometres into the stage, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) and his team-mate Nicolas Baldo jumped clear. Ten others got across, including former race winners David McCann (RTS Racing) and Simon Richardson (IG Sigma Sport), and while the peloton draw back up to them, Fumeaux, Baldo and Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water) raced ahead, helping push the average speed up to 47 kilometres for the first hour of racing.

The time gap continued to grow and 57 kilometres after the start, the three leaders were 52 seconds ahead of lone chaser Daniel Bichlmann (Germany Bike Aid) and a further eighteen up on the peloton. Bichlman realised he wasn’t going to get across and sat up.

The three leaders continued to plug away and were one minute 28 seconds back at kilometre 63. Baldo had started the day just 20 seconds behind his team-mate Pirmin Lang, the race leader, and so he had a provisional grip on the yellow jersey at that early point.

The gap fell to a minute and this prompted Sam Bennett (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Jiri Nesveda (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha), Matthew Higgins (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Stephen Halpin (Britain East Midlands Metaltek) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) to try to get across.

They were hauled back, but not before Bennett pushed on alone for some time prior to his recapture.

At the halfway point the gap between break and bunch was down to just half a minute and, weighing up the situation and feeling they were wasting energy, the two Atlas Jakroo riders decided to sit up. Hansen persisted for a few more minutes but was brought back.

Having taken the day’s first climb, Hagen picked up top points on Maghera Beg (km 78.8). Approximately four kilometres later five riders surged ahead, namely Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence), Daniel Bichlmann (Germany Bike Aid Cycling Team), Richard Lang (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Matthew Higgins (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) and Christian Varley (Isle Of Man Bikeline P/B Micro).

Lang took the An Post sprint in Burt, 92.5 kilometres after the start, by which time the break was a minute clear.

Several riders set off in pursuit, with Stephen Halpin (Britain East Midlands Metaltek) being joined by Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) and Stephen O’Sullivan (Meath East Spin 11). The three rode hard but were caught and dropped by eleven others, namely yesterday’s lone break rider Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly), Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha), Rostislav Krotky (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha), Rolf Nyborg Broge (Denmark Blue Water Cycling), Rapheal Tapella (France AVC Aix En Provence), Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing), Fredrick Johansson (Britain UK Youth Cycling), Rhys Lloyd (Britain East Midlands Metaltek),
Daniel Clifford (Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical) and race leader Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo).

They closed to 58 seconds of the leaders, while the peloton slipped to over two minutes behind.

Up front, the leaders were tackling a series of climbs that would likely break up the peloton. It had the same effect on the break, as Rostollan pushed clear on on the climb of Slavary (km 111.5), taking top point there. His former break companions were caught, increasing the chase group to fifteen.

Rostollan also picked up top points at the prime of Old Mountain (km 117), where he was 55 seconds clear of the chasers, and two minutes five seconds ahead of the bunch, then raced over the top of Pitch Mountain to further add to his haul. He continued to ride well and with twenty kilometres remaining, had a 49 second advantage over the next chasers.

GC battle heats up:

Behind, there were several attacks, with some riders getting clear in ones and twos from the chase group prior to the start of the climb. Rostollan wasn’t distracted by what was happening behind, though, focussing on getting up the Mamore Gap as quickly as possible, then continuing his push for the line over the second passage of Old Mountain, then on to the line.

On the wall-like Mamore, Fumeaux blasted clear of the chase group and overtook the riders who had clipped away prior to the start of the climb. Meanwhile his team-mate Pirmin Lang was in trouble, slipping back while Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana) put the pressure on.

Fumeaux went over the summit 30 seconds behind Rostollan and ten ahead of Bialoblocki. Lang was one minute ten seconds back there, but he and his group would ride hard on the descent and up Old Mountain to catch Bialoblocki before the finish.

Rostollan raced onwards to take a fine solo win in Buncrana, hitting the line nine seconds ahead of Hunal and Fumeaux and a further two up on Baldo. Bagdonas led in the yellow jersey group for fifth, 39 seconds back, and picked up enough points to retake the lead in the An Post sprints competition.

Lang’s deficit of 28 seconds to Baldo saw the Frenchman grab the overall lead from his team-mate, who slipped to fourth overall. Rostollan and Hunal pushed into second and third, three seconds and seven seconds off the yellow jersey.

There was also a change in the One4All Bike2Work mountains standings, with Rostollan’s rampage putting him level on points with Hunal but ahead on climb placings.

Richard Handley (Rapha Condor Sharp) remained best in the Irish Sports Council Under 23 contest, while Art McManusa (Dublin South UCD) moved over eight minutes clear in the CI Category 2 standings. Adam Armstrong was once again best county rider on the stage and ended the day seven seconds clear of Ryan Sherlock (Tipperary Carrick Iverk Produce).

Switzerland Atlas Jakroo and Dublin West Eurocycles are best in the international and county team contests.


An Post Ras stage 5, Bundoran to Buncrana:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence) 149.4 kilometres in 3 hours 31 mins 28 secs
2, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) at 9 secs
3, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) same time
4, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 11 secs
5, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 39 secs
6, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
7, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
8, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence)
9, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
10, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) all same time
11, Jelmer Asjes (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
12, David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing )
13, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
14, Bouke Kuiper (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
15, Rapheal Tapella (France AVC Aix En Provence) all same time


KOM cat 3 at Barnesmore Gap (km 41):

1, Krister Hagen (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 5pts
2, Gruffudd Lewis (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 4
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) 3
4, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 1

KOM cat 3 at Maghera Beg (

1, Krister Hagen (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus)
2, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
3, Christopher Stevenson (Britain UK Youth Cycling)
4, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus)

KOM cat 3 at Slavery:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
2, Matthew Higgins (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
4, Daniel Bichlmann (Germany Bike Aid Cycling Team)

KOM cat 3 at Old Mountain:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
2, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
4, Daniel Bichlmann (Germany Bike Aid Cycling Team)

KOM category two Pinch Mountain (km 120.7):

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
2, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
4, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
5, Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
6, Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)



KOM cat one at Gap of Mamore:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
2, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
3, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
4, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
5, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
6, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
7, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)

KOM cat three at Old Mountain:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence)
2, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
3, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
4, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)


Cuchulainn Crystal county rider:

1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles)


International team:

1, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, 10 hours 35 mins 23 secs

County team:

1, Dublin West Eurocycles, 10 hours 43 mins 21 secs

General classification:

1, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 16 hours 19 mins 44 secs
2, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence) at 3 secs
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) at 7 secs
4, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 8 secs
5, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) same
6, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) at 11 secs
7, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 14
8, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 19
9, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 23
10, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix en Provence) at 27
11, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) at 29
12, David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing ) same
13, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) at 34
14, Jelmer Asjes (Netherlands Koga Cycling) at 39
15, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) at 42


Post office sprints:

1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 54
2, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 53
3, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence) 43

One4All Bike4Work King of the Mountains:

1, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence) 40
2, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) 40
3, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 32


Irish Sports council Under 23:

1, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 16 hours 19 mins 52 secs
2, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) at 1 min 45
3, Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) same time


Fitz Cycles county rider:

1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) 16 hours 20 mins 26 secs
2, Ryan Sherlock (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) at 7 secs
3, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy) at 1 min 11 secs


CI Category 2:

1, Art MacManusa (Dublin South UCD) 16 hours 30 mins 54 secs
2, John O'Shea (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) at 8 mins 20 secs
3, Christopher Reilly (Meath Stamullen MartinDonnelly) at 9 mins 6 secs


International team:

1, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, 48 hours 59 mins 36 secs
2, France AVC Aix en Provence, at 51 secs
3, Netherlands Koga Cycling, at 1 min 39 secs


County team:

1, Dublin West Eurocycles, 49 hours 12 mins 55 secs
2, Tipperary Carrick Iverk Produce, at 9 mins 19 secs
3, Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical, at 14 mins 8 secs