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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
VICTORY FOR KIRSIPUU IN CAHIRCIVEEN, NO CHANGE IN YELLOW JERSEY
By Shane Stokes
19 May 2009,
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KIRSIPUU WINS IN CAHIRCIVEEN, NO CHANGE IN YELLOW JERSEY
Irish riders third and fourth on stage
Showing the finshing speed that netted him four stages in the Tour de France plus over 120 other wins, Estonian rider Jaan Kirsipuu galloped to a fine victory on the third stage of the FBD Rás in Cobh.
The 39 year old had little problem in beating double Rás winner Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor), 2004 race victor David McCann (Ireland National Team) and Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) at the end of the 188.6 kilometre stage.
Kenneally had done his utmost to jump clear, attacking twice inside the final kilometre and a half, but Kirsipuu was fully in control and brought back each move. He then led out the gallop and easily beat the other three.
“The stage was very hard. But my confidence grew and grew and finally I saw that I should win in front of these three guys,” the Estonian said. “The Irish riders tried to attack towards the end, especially the guy in red [Brian Kenneally] - he put a couple of good attacks. Luckily I was aware. The others did not attack really so I was pretty confident for the sprint.”
“I am very pleased to win for my team. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to come here to Ireland.”
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| Riders off the front on Stage 3 of the FBD Ras - Picture by Tim Hayes |
McCann was involved in a lot of the day’s moves and said that he didn’t expect to be in contention for the stage win. “I was surprised to still be up there at the end. The plan was to go for the mountains jersey, so I had to go really early to get the points. I was surprised I still had the legs to go with the other guys who came up from behind...they had much fresher legs than me.
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| The chasing bunch on Stage 3 of the FBD Ras - Picture by Tim Hayes |
“Kirsipuu was so strong I just followed him. I tried to get around him, but no chance. Anyway, the goal now is to try to defend the mountains jersey.”
The day was defined by almost constant attacking. McCann made his first move 21 kilometres into the stage but was soon brought back. 22 kilometres later a group of eight went clear and this formed the nucleus for the day’s big escape.
McCann got across just before the day’s second climb, the second category ascent of The Coom (km 88.4) and took maximum points on the climb. More riders bridged across over the next hour or so of racing, including overnight race leader Ian Wilkinson, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) and Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken), second and third overall. However these latter riders missed out when the group split again before the final climb and eight riders pressed ahead. Kirsipuu, Newton, McCann and Kenneally then made their move out of this group, leaving Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls), Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken) and Conor Murphy (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) to take placings five through to eight.
Kenneally did what he could to win the stage, but was too closely marked. He was nevertheless satisfied with how he rode, particularly after being sick with a cold last week.
“It was good hard racing today,” he stated. “Towards the end, we started attacking outside Waterville. I then jumped with a kilometre to go and then again with 600 or 700 metres to go, but Kirsipuu nailed me each time.
“On the hill where we got away originally Newton and myself blew him out. I was fading at the end of the stage, but he was strong there. I gave two jumps, he just nailed me [both times] and then led it out and still won. He is that class.”
Yellow jersey Wilkinson ultimately finished at the head of the main bunch, coming home one minute and 39 seconds behind Kirispuu. Richardson and Christensen were also in that group. While they conceded some time to those ahead, the gaps they opened yesterday ensure that they remain at the top of the general classification. The only significant change is that Newton and McCann have edged into the top ten.
“I still have the yellow jersey, but it was a harsh day out there,” he said. “We set off trying to let the race progress itself and it did for quite a while. But it was quite aggressive when we came into those little roads and when we got over the main climb of the day. It was kind of intact then but, after the feed, they were going and coming back all the time.”
He implied that there was a bit of negative racing going on. “Simon (Richardson) was pretty much following me all day. He was well stuck to my wheel. But it was dangerous. Rapha ended up with four of the best riders in the break which was brilliant for them but dangerous because they are all capable of winning overall.
Fortunately we have a good time buffer on them.
“I felt fine today. Obviously there was that little bit of fatigue [after yesterday’s break]. Maybe tomorrow will be a day for good legs again.”
How it unfolded:
Following two days of bad weather, the peloton lined out in somewhat brighter conditions for the start of stage three of the FBD Insurance Rás. 158 riders signed on for what was the longest stage in this year’s race; it was also the first mountainous leg, with the category three Coolavokig preceeding the category one climbs of The Coom and Coomakista. With the third of these topping out just 22 kilometres from the finish, it was certain to play a big part in the stage result.
There were a number of unsuccessful early attacks, include a two kilometre break by David McCann which he started at kilometre 21. Following his recapture the eighteen year old Tour of Ulster winner Sean Downey (Ireland national team) went clear, and was joined 26 kilometres into the stage by James Sampson (Britain Candi TV – Marshall’s Pasta) and John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey). They built a twenty second lead and were joined 37 kilometres into the stage by Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers), Kasper Jebjerg (Denmark Designa Kokken) and Robin Kelly (Waterford Comeragh CC). However four kilometres later the bunch had hauled them back.
42 clicks into the stage, eight riders went clear. They were Martyn Irvine (Ireland National Team), Eric van de Meent (China Trek Marco Polo), Kristian House (Britain Rapha Condor), Tom Southam (Britain Rapha Condor), Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls), James Stewart (Merseyside KuK Kinesis Bikes) and Kit Gilham (Britain Cheshire Sigmasport).
There were several strong riders in the group and it had built a 50 second lead by the time it hit Macroom, 62 kilometres after the start. Niko Eeckhout, David O’Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton) and David Fletcher (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) attacked the peloton and tried to bridge, as did a later move by David McCann and Sean Downey (Ireland national team), Josef Kugler (Austria Arbo KTM Junkers) and Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC). Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshall’s Pasta) was also in the latter group, but the chase was ultimately unsuccessful.
The front group shrank to seven when Stewart was dropped on the day’s first climb, that of Coolavokig (km 71.9km). Williams was first to the summit, beating Gilham, House and Van de Meent. Behind, McCann started chasing again when he joined up with Benny De Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) and Barry Monaghan (An Dún Newry Wheelers). The latter was dropped just before the two groups joined, making it nine up front.
Soon after the junction, McCann took top points at the top of the category one climb of The Coom, 88.4 kilometres into the stage. Williams, De Schrooder, McNally, Southam, House and Gilham were next past the prime line, holding a lead of approximately a minute and a half over the next big group on the road.
Various others were trying to chase, but finding it hard to get across. Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant Veoila) had tried earlier but was unable to do so, but he was more successful when he teamed up with Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor). Matthew Stephens (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport) and Simon Kelly (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations). They drove hard and closed up to the leaders at kilometre 122, making it a group of twelve riders at the head of affairs.
Behind, Downey, Fletcher and Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) were also chasing hard. However they were eventually caught by the peloton, which had reduced the lead to under a minute.
Downing was feeling good and was soon off again, combining with stage one winner Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) and yesterday’s third-placed rider Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken) to bridge at the 135 kilometre point, just before Sneem.
Several others also made the junction soon afterwards, namely race leader Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), second rider overall Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor), Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor), Ole Jorgen Jensen (Norway Giant-Veolia), David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken) and Ray Clarke (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies).
Conor Murphy (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) was riding really strongly behind, attempting to come across on his own.
The front group was too big and several riders tried to get away. After nearly 150 kilometres of racing Newton (Britain Rapha Condor), Kenneally and Didier cleared off and started opening a gap on the other leaders, who had been b y then joined by Murphy. Eeckhout, McCann and Kirsipuu then clipped away and bridged across, making it a new six-man lead group, which swelled to eight just before the Coomakista climb when Downing and Murphy thundered across. The Ian Wilkinson group was a minute and a half back at this point.
Once on the climb, Didier accelerated clear close to the top and took full points. McCann, Kirsipuu, Kenneally, Newton, Eeckhout and Murphy were next past the summit, and these joined up again on the descent. After Waterville (km 172.1), Kenneally, McCann, Kirsipuu and Newton kicked clear and pulled steadily ahead. That set things up for a four-man sprint, and while Kenneally tried several times to jump away, Kirsipuu was too strong. He controlled things and then had little problems in the gallop, beating the others to the line.
Eeckhout jumped away from Downing and Didier for fifth, 51 seconds later, and then Murphy came in a further 32 seconds later in eighth place. Local rider Paul Griffin (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies) netted twelfth, one place ahead of race leader Wilkinson, who led home a 64-man main bunch.
Despite the time gains, the large gaps on day two meant that there wasn’t much change to the top ten. Barta gained 22 seconds on Wilkinson and moved from seventh to fourth, while Newton and McCann moved up from 14th and 29th to ninth and tenth. They still have a lot to do if they are to displace the race leader, though; Newton will start stage five minutes and 48 seconds back, while McCann is a further 40 seconds in arrears. However they’ll be hoping to isolate Wilkinson, Richardson and Christensen once again.
Downing (points), McCann (mountains) and Jorgen Jensen (young rider) have the green, pink and white jerseys for tomorrow’s stage, while Britain Rapha Condor and Dublin IRC Usher Insulations are best of the international and county teams.
Stephen O'Sullivan (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) is top county rider and Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World) is leading the CI category 2 race.
What’s next:
Killorglin is the finish location for stage four, the uphill sprint to the line coming after the wearying riders complete another marathon – and gruelling - day in the saddle. Over the course of 178 kilometres from Cahirciveen, they will slug it out over five category three climbs, at An Draighneain, Anascaul, Ballintaggart, Garrai na dTor, and An Draighneain once again.
That’s tough enough by itself, but there’s also a very difficult category one climb to consider. The Conor Pass tops out just over 60 kilometres from the finish and will have a major effect, exposing any weaknesses and allowing the strongest riders to press their advantage.
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FBD Insurance Rás (2.2),
Stage 3, Cobh to Cahirciveen:
1, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia), 188.6 kilometres in 4 hours 42 mins 23 secs
2, Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor)
3, David McCann (Ireland National Team), both same time
4, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), at 4 secs
5, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), at 51 secs
6, Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)
7, Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken), both same time
8, Conor Murphy (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations), at 1 min 23 secs
9, Jan Barta (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers), at 1 min 27 secs
10, Sven De Weerdt (Australia Cinelli-Down Under), at 1 min 40 secs
11, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport), same time
12, Paul Griffin (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies), at 1 min 42 secs
13, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), at 1 min 49 secs
14, Jaco Venter (China Trek Marco Polo)
15, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor), both same time
County rider:
1, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), 4 hours 42 mins 27 secs
2, Conor Murphy (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations), at 1 min 19 secs
3, Paul Griffin (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies), at 1 min 38 secs
KOM Primes:
Category 3, Coolavokig, 71.9km:
1, Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)5pts
2, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport)4
3, Kristian House (Britain Rapha Condor) 3
4, Eric van de Meent (China Trek Marco Polo), 2
Category 1, The Coom, 88.4km:
1, David McCann (Ireland National Team)15pts
2, Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)12
3, Benny De Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)10
4, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)8
5, Tom Southam (Britain Rapha Condor)6
6, Kristian House (Britain Rapha Condor)5
7, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport)3
Category one climb, Coomakista (164.8km):
1, Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken)15pts
2, David McCann (Ireland National Team)12
3, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia)10
4, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)8
5, Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor)6
6, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)5
7, Conor Murphy (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations)3
International team:
1, Britain Rapha Condor, 14 hours 10 mins 47 secs
2, Ireland National Team
3, Norway Giant Veoila, both same time
4, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly, at 51 secs
5, Britain Candi TV Marshall’s Pasta, same time
County team:
1, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, 14 hours 12 mins 10 secs
2, Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies, at 19 secs
3, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 26 secs
4, Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, at 2 mins 57 secs
5, Dublin Eurocycles, at 4 mins 42 secs
General classification:
1, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), 12 hours 33 mins 30 secs
2, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor), at 19 secs
3, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken), at 3 mins 8 secs
4, Jan Barta (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers), at 3 mins 21 secs
5, Darren Lapthorne (Britain Rapha Condor), at 3 mins 43 secs
6, Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia)
7, Bert Roesems (Australia Cinelli-Down Under), both same time
8, Ole Jorgen Jensen (Norway Giant-Veolia), at 3 mins 54 secs
9, Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor), at 5 mins 48 secs
10, David McCann (Ireland National Team), at 6 mins 28 secs
11, Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls), at 6 mins 31 secs
12, Alexander Gottfried (Germany Kuota-Indeland), at 7 mins 2 secs
13, James Spragg (China Trek Marco Polo), at 7 mins 3 secs
14, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), at 7 mins 12 secs
15, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers), at 7 mins 37 secs
Points:
1, Russell Downing (Britain CandiTV – Marshall’s Pasta)28
2, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant Veoila)26
3, Niko Eeckhout (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)26
4, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)25
5, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor)19
Mountains:
1, David McCann (Ireland national team)30 pts
2, Pete Williams (Britain CandiTV – Marshall’s Pasta)30
3, Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken)15
4, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor)12
5, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken)11
Under 23:
1, Ole Jorgen Jensen (Norway Giant-Veolia), 12 hours 37 mins 24 secs
2, James Spragg (China Trek Marco Polo), at 3 mins 9 secs
3, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), at 3 mins 48 secs
4, Ciaran Cassidy (Ireland Development U23), at 3 mins 57 secs
5, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under), at 4 mins 18 secs
CI Category 2:
1, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World), 12 hours 43 mins 14 secs
2, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), at 4 secs
3, Graham Hurley (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers), at 6 secs
County rider:
1, Stephen O'Sullivan (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), 12 hours 41 mins 21 secs
2, Neil Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations), at 11 secs
3, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), at 14 secs
4, Micéal Concannon (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies), at 20 secs
5, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), at 29 secs
International team:
1, Britain Rapha Condor, 37 hours 50 mins 20 secs
2, Norway Giant Veoila, at 5 mins 27 secs
3, Britain Halfords Bike Hut, at 5 mins 39 secs
4, Australia Cinelli Down Under, at 9 mins 42 secs
5, Denmark Designa Kokken, at 9 mins 47 secs
County team:
1, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, 38 hours 5 mins 25 secs
2, Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies, at 1 min 47 secs
3, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 2 mins 11 secs
4, Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, at 5 mins 7 secs
5, Waterford Comeragh CC, at 7 mins 15 secs
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