|
|
|
Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
STAGE WIN TO MIHAYLOV, YELLOW JERSEY TO BAGDONAS
By Shane Stokes
24 May 2011,
|
Email this article
|
One day after taking the first An Post Rás stage win of his career, Lituanian rider Gediminas Bagdonas returned to the podium for another major award; the yellow jersey of race leader.
The 25 year old An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly competitor was part of a 17 man break which went clear during the stage. He finished in a chase group 15 seconds behind the stage winner Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) and runner up Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental).
That duo were also part of the same long distance move, but broke clear on the category one climb of Crag Cave, which came inside the final 13 kilometres of the 175.3 kilometre stage to Castleisland.
They raced down the descent to fight it out for the win between them, while behind Bagdonas finished sixth and had more than enough time in hand to take over from previous race leader Shane Archbold (New Zealand).
He ended the day one minute 16 seconds clear of Sheydyk and Mihaylov, with Tour of Ulster winner Pete Williams (Motorsport) a further 11 seconds back.
“It is my third win this year,” a smiling Mihaylov after the podium presentation. “The sprint wasn’t easy as we did many kilometres today and my legs were tired in the final kilometres. But I was good today and I am happy.
“I am a climber and I was waiting all day for the final climb. I did my attack there.”
With harder terrain in the days ahead, he knows that he is in a good position to make a move for the race leader’s jersey. He’ll try to grab the lead, but also wants to chose the moment well. “I look forward to the climbs, I feel better there,” he said. “I hope it’s possible to take yellow. At the moment I will wait, because it is a difficult race.”
The rider who took over the lead today, Bagdonas, attacked alone with 30 kilometres to go and when that didn’t work, he tried again on the finishing circuit. He was reeled in on the climb, though, and was sixth on the stage.
He was frustrated with the tactics of those who took first and second, saying they hadn’t shared the pacesetting as much as they should have. “The guy who won didn’t do so much work today, and so too the Ukrainian rider. They sprinted for the stage win, but I am leader and am also happy. This is my first time to lead a race this big.”
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts knows that it is a tough call to defend the yellow jersey in the Rás, particularly if it is taken so early in the race. A big issue is the fact that the teams have only five riders, so that makes it very difficult to control what happens.
However, even so, he said it was important to grab the chance. “It is a little bit early in the week, maybe, but sometimes you need to take the opportunities when they come,” he said. “Today was one of these opportunities. We will keep seeing things day by day. If I had an eight man team here, we would really take it under control from now, but now we need to see…talk to the guys, see how they feel.
Bogaerts has two other options, namely Irishmen Ronan McLaughlin and Mark Cassidy. They finished in the chasing group today and are 15th and 16th respectively, 3 minutes 44 and 3 minutes 45 back. The best placed Irishman is David McCann, who is twelfth overall, 3 minutes 41 seconds behind.
Bagdonas’ stage win yesterday and high placing today have meant that he takes over from Archbold in the Post Office points classification. There was some confusion in the One4All Bikes4Work king of the mountains competition, with Guardiola been awarded the jersey, but Sheydyk being overlooked for the three points he received on the day’s second climb, Ahaneboy gap. He will be presented with the jersey before today’s start.
Looking at the other classifications, Patrick Clarke was best Cuchulainn Crystal county rider on the stage, while Aaron Gate (New Zealand) is best under 23 and Mark Gill (South Dublin Zilcom) the leading category two rider. Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) leads the Fitz Cycles county rider classification.
The race continues tomorrow with a mountainous 142 kilometre stage to Castletownbere. It covers five categorised climbs, including the category 1 Healy Pass close to the finish.
How it happened:
The wind was blowing strongly again at the start of stage three of the An Post Rás, but unlike the day before, the riders had the benefit of a tail wind in the early part of the stage. The elements were expected to push up the speeds and increase the chances of a break getting clear, and that’s how things played out; following some unsuccessful early attacks, a group of riders went clear approximately twelve kilometres into the stage and opened up a good advantage.
Erwan Brenterch (France AVC Aix en Provence) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath 53 Degrees North) started things off, and were soon joined by Peter Hawkins (Ireland Skoda Team), James McCallum (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Fraser Duncan (Dublin Eurocycles). They held a 42 seconds lead after 16 kilometres of racing, but former race winner Stephen Gallagher (Donegal Sportactive/Engraveit) was able to bridge and make it six up front.
Several others tried to join, but despite pooling their forces, Oleksander Martynenko (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) , Wei Kei Chang (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team) , Michael Fitzgerald (Carlow Dan Morrisey Better Bld), Steven Lampier (Britain Sigma Specialized Team) , Neill Delahaye (Meath Dectek), Marcel Barth (Germany Thuringer Energie), Lachlann Norris (Australia Drapac Cycling) and Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) were unable to break the elastic and shake off the peloton’s chasing.
Neill Delahaye (Dublin Eurocycles) tried twice to get across, only to be reeled in on both occasions. His efforts were followed by a chase involving James Williamson (Britain Sigma Specialized), Wesley Murphy (UCD), Tony Brady (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly), Conor Dunne (Ireland Team Skoda) , Lachlann Norris (Australia Drapac Cycling), Ralf Matzka (Germany Thuringer Energie), Tom Faiers (USA Wonderful Pistachios), Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Motorpoint) and Conor O'Shea (Galway Black Rose) They bridged 40 kilometres into the stage, and were joined soon afterwards by another chase group involving Delahaye, Oleksandr Sheydyk(Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) and Peter Williams(Britain Motorpoint).
The An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team recognised the danger and chased hard to bring back the move. A total of 48 kilometres had been covered at that point, and with this being done in the first hour, the speed of the tailwind was shown.
Although the break didn’t succeed, the hard chase caused the bunch to split into two halves, with one minute between the segments.
Heading past Bunratty Castle, 63 kilometres into the stage, a dozen riders had opened up a gap that would prove to be crucial. Those present were Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team) , Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling), yesterday’s stage winner Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Marcel Barth (Germany Thuringer Energie), Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica), Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental), James McCallum (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint), Aaron Livsey (Isle of Man Microgaming), Christian Varley (Isle of Man Microgaming), Simon Kelly (Meath 53 Degrees North Optimun), Derek Finnegan (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly), and were then joined by Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence), Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team) and Patrick Clarke (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm).
With the lead going out to well over a minute, Kohei Uchima (Italy D'Angelo & D'Antenucci) and Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) recognised the danger and set off in pursuit. The latter’s team-mate William Bjergfelt sat up from the break and waited for the duo, then helped them to make the junction after 88 kilometres. By that point, the leading seventeen riders were over two and a half minutes clear, and continuing to gain time. It was the move to be in.
Realising this and frustrated by the stall behind, six county riders decided to try their luck. Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles), Anthony Walsh (Dublin UCD), Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge), Neill Delahaye (Meath Dectek), Christopher Coyle (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) and David Brennan (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) sped away and were three and a half minutes back at the feed zone, 96 kilometres after the start.
The peloton had almost come to a halt in the meantime, dropping to eight minutes behind. Bagdonas and the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team were happy with the situation, as he started the day level on time with Shane Archbold (New Zealand) and was race leader on the road.
With the stage win disappearing down the road and the general classification threatened, Sean Downey (Ireland Team Skoda) , James Sampson(Britain Motorpoint) and Conor Murphy(Dublin Eurocycles) clipped away and bridged to the six chasers approaching the day’s first King of the Mountains climb at Barnagh Gap (km 124.5).
Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica) was first to the summit, edging out Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling), Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) and William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint) and drawing level with the Giant Kenda rider Martyn Irvine in that contest.
The chasers continued to push onwards but lost one rider when Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge) was dropped on the climb. They were finally caught by the peloton after 130 kilometres of racing, by which time the bunch had reduced its deficit to four minutes 45 seconds.
Final battles for stage win:
Concerned by the lack of cooperation, Bagdonas attacked the break. He was closed down soon afterwards, though, and the leaders continued onwards together. With 25 kilometres to go they had three minutes 45 seconds, making it likely that they would stay clear, but also illustrating that their gains would not be as much as they would have thought when the gap was eight minutes.
Heading towards the first crossing of the finish, McCallum decided to try a move before the climb and built a lead of ten seconds going past the line. He pushed hard but was overhauled on the first category climb of Crags Cave. Bagdonas then attacked, but was caught and passed by several others; Sheydyk and Mihaylov were strongest and crested the summit alone, ahead of Guardiola, Richardson, Goesinnen and Bagdonas.
The leading duo sped down the descent and raced on to the finish, where Mihaylov was quickest and won the stage.
Fifteen seconds later, Williams led in the next chasers when he beat Barth, Goesinnen, Bagdonas and five others to the line for third. The rest of the break came in in bits and piece, with Sam Bennett (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) leading the bunch home for 17th place on the stage. They conceded 2 minutes 32 kilometres to the leading duo.
Bagdonas ended the stage a healthy one minute 16 seconds ahead of Sheydyk and Mihaylov, with Williams a further nine seconds back. Overnight leader Archbold dropped to eighth, two minutes 17 seconds down.
David McCann remains best Irishman but fell to twelfth, three minutes 41 seconds behind. It’s still early days in this An Post Rás, but it’s advantage to Bagdonas and the An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team right now.
An Post Rás (2.2), Kilrush – Castleisland:
1, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) 175.3 kilometres in 4 hours 13 mins 50 secs
2, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) same time
3, Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) at 15 secs
4, Marcel Barth (Germany Thuringer Energie)
5, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling)
6, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
7, Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica)
8, Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team)
9, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team)
10, James McCallum (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
11, William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint)
12, Christian Varley (Isle of Man Microgaming) at 40 secs
13, Patrick Clarke (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) at 2 mins 6 secs
14, Derek Finnegan (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly)
15, Simon Kelly (Meath 53 Degrees North Optimun) both same time
An Post Prime: Lissycasey: Erwan Brenterch (France AVC Aix en Provence)
An Post Prime: Patrickswell: Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling)
KOH Category 3: Barnagh Gap (km 124.5):
1, Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica) 5pts
2, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling) 4
3, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) 3
4, William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint) 2
KOH Category 3: Ahaneboy (km 153.6):
1, Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica) 5pts
2, William Bjergfelt (Britain Motorpoint) 4
3, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) 3
4, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling) 2
KOH Category 1: Crag Cave (km 167.2):
1, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) 15
2, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) 12
3, Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica) 10
4, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team) 8
5, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling) 6
6, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 5
7, Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) 3
Cuchulainn Crystal County Rider Stage:
1, Patrick Clarke (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) 4 hours 15 mins 56 secs
2, Derek Finnegan (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly)
3, Simon Kelly (Meath 53 Degrees North Optimun) both same time
International Team Stage:
1, Britain Motorpoint, 12 hours 44 mins 32 secs
2, France AVC Aix en Provence, 12 hours 46 mins 34 secs
3, Ukraine ISD-Lampre, 12 hours 46 mins 34 secs
County Team Stage:
1, Mayo Western Edge Medical, 12 hours 50 mins 52 secs
2, Carlow Dan Morrissey, 12 hours 51 mins 18 secs
3, Dublin Eurocycles, 12 hours 51 mins 36 secs
General Classification:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 12 hours 56 mins 16 secs
2, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) at 1 min 16 secs
3, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) same time
4, Peter Williams (Britain Motorpoint) at 1 min 27 secs
5, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigma Specialized Team) at 1 min 31 secs
6, Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team)
7, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling) both same time
8, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) at 2 mins 17 secs
9, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Cycling) at 2 mins 21 secs
10, Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) same time
11, Dean Downing (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) at 3 mins 34 secs
12, David McCann (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team) at 3 mins 41 secs
13, Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) at 3 mins 42 secs
14, Dean Windsor (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) same time
15, Ronan McLaughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 3 mins 44 secs
Irish Sports Council Under 23 Overall:
1, Aaron Gate (New Zealand National Team) 12 hours 57 mins 47 secs
2, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) at 46 secs
3, Bob Rodriguez (France AVC Aix en Provence) at 2 mins 17 secs
CI Category 2 Overall:
1, Mark Gill (Dublin South Dublin Zilcom) 13 hours 24 mins 2 secs
2, Sean McFadden (Donegal LK Bikes) at 3 mins 24 secs
3, Christopher Coyle (Mayo Western Edge Medical Comm) at 7 mins 16 secs
Fitz Cycles County Rider Overall:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin Eurocycles) 13 hours 4 secs
2, Derek Finnegan (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly) at 7 mins 48 secs
3, Simon Kelly (Meath 53 Degrees North Optimun) at 7 mins 52 secs
Post Office Points Classification:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 29
2, Shane Archbold (New Zealand National Team) 26
3, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) 22
4, Tobyn Horton (Britain Motorpoint) 21
5, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) 20
One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains
1, Oleksandr Sheydyk (Ukraine ISD-Lampre Continental) 21
2, Salvador Guardiola (Greece KTM Murica) 20
3, Nikolay Mihaylov (France AVC Aix en Provence) 12
4, Floris Goesinnen (Australia Drapac Cycling) 12
5, Marytn Irvine (Asia Giant Kenda Cycling Team) 10
International Team Overall:
1, Britain Motorpoint, 38 hours 55 mins 28 secs
2, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, at 48 secs
3, New Zealand, at 56 secs
4, Ukraine ISD-Lampre, at 8 mins 59 secs
5, Australia Drapac Cycling, at 9 mins 18 secs
County Team Overall:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 39 hours 35 mins 17 secs
2, Carlow Dan Morrissey, at 5 mins 48 secs
3, Mayo Western Edge Medical, at 26 mins 59 secs
4, Dublin UCD, at 42 mins 4 secs
5, Donegal Sportactive, at 1 hour 7 mins 45 secs
___________________________________________________________
Photo courtesy of Inpho Photography
Visit our online library of sports photography @ www.inpho.ie
|
|
|
|
