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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
CASSIDY WINS STAGE 7 OF FBD RAS, WETTERHALL HOLDS YELLOW
By Shane Stokes
29 May 2010,
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Irish rider Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) had an excellent showing on stage seven of the FBD Insurance Rás, going clear in a break ten kilometres after the start in Gorey, and then pushing on ahead with Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) on the first category climb of Drumgoff.
The two held the advantage on the similarly-ranked Wicklow Gap and had approximately a minute to spare at the finish in Kilcullen. There, Cassidy proved much stronger in the sprint, taking the first FBD Rás victory of his career. It also marks his return to success in the race, two years after he crashed out heavily while wearing the yellow jersey.
“I’m happy, very happy,” he said after the stage. “Crossing the line, I was in complete shock and couldn’t really believe it. It was such a strange moment but it is starting to settle in now.
“You could say it is a big relief…I think this is my seventh Rás. I’ve tried so hard every year but hadn’t really won anything in the race. To finally get it is a really nice feeling.”
Cassidy and Steigmiller were out front for a long, long time and when the general classification battle heated up behind, it looked like they could be caught. However they remained focussed and the gap started to go up again, ensuring that the stage win would be decided between the two of them.
“I knew the decisive moment would be the first climb,” he explained. “The German guy pushed on there so I just stayed with him. At first I was trying to take the KOH [King of the Hills] points so that the Swedish guy with us wouldn’t take it off David O’Loughlin. But then we got a good gap…he was strong and I was quite strong as well, and we worked quite well.
“It looked like we were going to get caught with 25 kilometres to go as the gap came down to a minute, but we had a bit more left in the tank. We just gave it everything to the finish. He got a bit of jump on me in the sprint, but I think for once I wasn’t nervous. I had great confidence. He got the jump but I knew it was uphill and I just went as hard as I could to get after him. I came around him in the last 100 metres or so, I was really happy.”
Part of the satisfaction he feels is because the race has always had a big link to his family. His father Philip is a two-time winner of the event, and Cassidy junior grew up watching his victorious performances in it.
It is the second stage win for the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly squad this week; Mayo rider David O’Loughlin won stage three.
Overnight leader Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden Team Sprocket) had a tough day today, being under attack from all of his main rivals, but he has retained the yellow jersey. At times he was distanced slightly, but he was able to fight his way back on each occasion.
“I am really happy with the day, except that I was left alone in the last 25 kilometres. Our team worked in the beginning and everyone worked fine until the first climb, then after that I was more or less left alone. It was hard in the last 25 kilometres when everybody in my 20-25 man group attacked me.
“The most dangerous riders were the Motorpoint guy [Peter Williams] and [Dan] Craven from Rapha Condor. They were the strongest ones that were attacking. But the other ones, the Sean Kelly and the Thuringer guys are really strong as well, so I had a rough day today.”
Wetterhall said that he was gapped on the second climb, that of Wicklow Gap, but was able to fight back on after about a kilometre. “I thought I could catch them at the top…I did it and that was great,”
Maximillan May (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) were third and fourth, 47 and 50 seconds back respectively, while John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) led home the chase group one minute and three seconds after Cassidy. Irish riders David O’Loughlin and Connor McConvey (both An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) took tenth and fourteenth, and Wetterhall also finished in this group.
The most notable abstentee was Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis), who started the day eight seconds off the race lead in second overall. He cracked and lost five minutes and 36 seconds. Williams is consequently the closest to Wetterhall now, but is 59 seconds back.
Craven is third overall, a minute and a half behind, while McConvey is one minute 45 seconds back in fourth overall.
The final stage of the race tends not to produce large time gaps and so Wetterhall is looking good for the final overall win. However he is taking nothing for granted. “Tomorrow is a hard stage as well. So we have to do it well in the team, have good team-work,” he said. “Then we can take the jersey for the whole Tour.”
How it unfolded:
Stage seven got off to a slightly damp start in Gorey, with some light drizzle falling before the riders rolled out. That made the roads wet, but they began to dry out as the race progressed.
136 riders started the 151 kilometre penultimate leg of the race. It would cover rolling roads early on, then hit the hills after 97.8 kilometres. The riders would clash on the category one Drumgoff/Shay Elliott and Wicklow Gap climbs, as well as Slieve Corragh (cat 2) and Tober (cat 3).
Dominic Jelfs (Ireland Development team) was the first attacker of the day, going clear shortly after the start and holding a brief lead. Then, about ten kilometres into the stage, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Fredrik Johansson (Sweden – Team Sprocket) surged ahead. They were joined soon afterwards by four others - Neil Delahaye (Ireland Subway National Team), Simon Williams (Ireland Subway National Team), Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Frazer Duncan (Dublin Eurocycles).
Jelfs and Jon Mould (Wales) tried to get across and were 30 seconds back after 25 kilometres of racing. The peloton was 1’40 behind at that point. However the two chasers would be unable to get across, and Jelfs dropped back to leave Mould to soldier on alone.
Adam Armstrong(Ireland Subway National Team), David O'Loughlin(Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Niklas Gustavsson(Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) also tried to bridge, but were unsuccessful. So too Roger Aiken(Team PlanetX), Stephen Barrett(Team PlanetX) and Conor Murphy(Dublin Eurocycles), plus a later effort by Stephen Gallagher and James Williamson (both Britain Sigmasport Specialized).
At the end of the first hour of racing, the leaders had covered 43.5 kilometres. At that point the peloton was
1'08 back. Soon after, Aiken, Mark Lovatt (Team PlanetX) and Thomas Martin (Dublin Eurocycles) attacked and were chasing, and managed to bridge across after approximately 60 kilometres of racing.
Further back, Stephen O’Sullivan (Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie) tried his own bridging attempt and was joined by Patrick Clarke (Ireland Development team). They hovered a minute and a half back, and then Colin Robinson (Meath Martin Donnelly) and David Brennan (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) got across. However, despite the reinforcements, they would not succeed in getting much closer.
Approximately 75 kilometres into the stage, Kit Gilham, James Williamson (both Britain Sigmasport Specialized) and Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) jumped away and were soon joined by Marc Ryan (New Zealand) and Niklas Gustavsson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro). This group meant business and quickly caught the O’Sullivan group. At this point in time, the peloton had slipped over five minutes behind the leaders.
On the approach to the climb of Drumgoff, Delahaye crashed out of the front group. He had problems in changing his bike and went back to the bunch.
Mountainous second half causes big splits:
Once on the mountain, both the lead group and the chase group started to fragment thanks to the steep slopes. The distance between the two groups at the bottom was one minute 40 seconds, but heading towards the top the two leading chasers – Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Niklas Gustavsson(Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) were catching some of those ahead. They picked up Lovatt and Duncan going over the top. At this point Cassidy and Steigmiller had gone clear and were two minutes five seconds ahead, with Johannson, Aiken, Martin and Williams also still ahead of those chasers. The yellow jersey group was 4 minutes 25 seconds down.
Heading onto the category one climb of Wicklow Gap, Johansson and Aiken were 55 seconds in arrears. They rode flat out up the climb but conceded a further ten seconds to the leaders. Further down the slopes, Wetterhall was being attacked by the other riders in his group; McConvey, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Jon Tiernan-Locke (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) dropped him temporarily, but he fought back on and led his group over the summit. They were two minutes 40 behind at the prime line.
Thirty-six kilometres remained from there and the two leaders knew that they really had to keep the pressure on if they were to stay clear. Those behind had all been mopped up and by the time Cassidy led Steigmuller over the second category Slieve Corragh climb, they were just one minute ahead.
The yellow jersey group split and Wetterhall, McConvey, Williams, Degenkolb, Tiernan Locke, Pieter Ghyllebert (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialized), Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Jon Tiernan-Locke (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) pushed on. They were 48 seconds back at the top of the last climb, Tobar, with Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigmasport Specialised), David O'Loughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Maximillan May (Germany Thuringer Energie), Rob Partridge (Wales), John McEvoy (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) and Mark Dowling (Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie) temporarily distanced.
A number of attacks were fired off from there to the line. Ghyllebert tried but was caught with about five kilometres remaining. May and Sybrandy then kicked hard and broke the elastic, staying clear to take third and fourth behind a victorious Cassidy and a vanquished Steigmuller.
Degenkolb led the yellow jersey group in one minute and three seconds later. Most of the main contenders were there, with the obvious exception of Kugler. He lost time and this ensured that Wetterhall should feel more secure heading into tomorrow’s final stage.
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FBD Insurance Rás, Ireland (2.2, May 23 – 30)
Stage 7, Gorey – Kilcullen:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 3 hours 43 mins 48 secs
2, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 2 secs
3, Maximillan May (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 47 secs
4, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) at 50 secs
5, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 1 min 3 secs
6, Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta)
7, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
8, Pieter Ghyllebert (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
9, John McEvoy (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta)
10, David O'Loughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
11, Rob Partridge (Wales)
12, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialized)
13, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro)
14, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
15, Mark Dowling (Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie) all same time
KOM category 1 at Drumgoff, km 100.7:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 15 pts
2, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) 12
3, Fredrik Johansson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 10
4, Roger Aiken (Team Planet X) 8
5, Thomas Martin (Dublin Eurocycles) 6
6, Simon Williams (Ireland Subway National Team) 5
7, Mark Lovatt (Team Planet X) 3
KOM category 1 at Wicklow Gap, km 115.2:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 15 pts
2, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) 12
3, Fredrik Johansson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 10
4, Roger Aiken (Team Planet X) 8
5, Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 6
6, Niklas Gustavsson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 5
7, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 3
KOM category 2 at Slieve Corragh, km 129.6:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 10 pts
2, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) 8
3, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 6
4, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 4
5, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 3
6, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) 1
KOM category 3 at Tober, km 135.8:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 5 pts
2, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) 4
3, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 3
4, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) 2
International teams:
1, Germany Thuringer Energie, 11 hours 13 mins 16 secs
2, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, at 14 secs
3, Britain Rapha Condor Sharp, at 1 min 38 secs
4, Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro, at 1 min 59 secs
5, Britain Sigmasport Specialized, at 5 mins 37 secs
County teams:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 11 hours 19 mins 57 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 8 mins 33 secs
3, Limerick BDO Get BACk, at 8 mins 39 secs
4, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 8 mins 43 secs
5, Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie, at 14 mins 58 secs
General classification after stage 7:
1, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 21 hours 31 mins 9 secs
2, Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) at 59 secs
3, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) at 1 min 32 secs
4, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 1 min 45 secs
5, Jon Tiernan-Locke (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) same time
6, Rob Partridge (Wales) at 1 min 49 secs
7, Pieter Ghyllebert (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 2 mins 4 secs
8, Joseph Lewis (Australia Drapac Porsche) at 2 mins 7 secs
9, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 2 mins 19 secs
10, Maximillan May (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 3 mins 41 secs
11, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 4 mins 3 secs
12, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) at 4 mins 28 secs
13, Josef Kugler (Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis) at 4 mins 41 secs
14, John Anderson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) at 6 mins 1 secs
15, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) at 6 mins 7 secs
Points classification:
1, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) 53 pts
2, Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) 50
3, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 46
4, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) 38
5, Pieter Ghyllebert (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 37
Mountains classification:
1, Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 57 pts
2, David O'Loughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 57
3, Fredrik Johansson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 54
4, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) 42
5, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) 39
County rider classification:
1, Ryan Sherlock (Dublin Eurocycles) 21 hours 37 mins 54 secs
2, Thomas Martin (Dublin Eurocycles) at 2 mins 40 secs
3, Paul Griffin (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 4 mins 28 secs
4, Conor Murphy (Dublin Eurocycles) at 4 mins 52 secs
5, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) same time
Under 23 classification:
1, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly 2) at 1 hours 32 mins 54 secs
2, Joseph Lewis (Australia Drapac Porsche) at 22 secs
3, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 34 secs
4, Maximillan May (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 1 min 56 secs
5, Jakob Steigmiller (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 2 mins 18 secs
International teams classification:
1, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, 64 hours 35 mins 10 secs
2, Britain Rapha Condor Sharp, at 2 mins 50 secs
3, Germany Thuringer Energie, at 3 mins 40 secs
4, Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro, at 4 mins 23 secs
5, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta, at 7 mins 37 secs
County teams classification:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 64 hours 58 mins 36 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 9 mins 18 secs
3, Limerick BDO Get BACk, at 51 mins 20 secs
4, Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie, at 1 hour 3 mins 12 secs
5, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 1 hour 19 mins 1 secs
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