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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
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| Walker just edges out Kirsipuu. Photo courtesy of Seamus Shortall/Rapid results |
Galloping to victory on the slightly-uphill rise to the line in Scariff, 20 year old Australian rider Nicholas Walker edged out quadruple Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirspuu by a tyre’s width and took his second successive stage win in the FBD Insurance Rás.
The Australia Cinelli-Down Under rider lunged at just the right moment to hold off a fast-closing Kirsipuu, with former race leader Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) third. Joachim Tolles (Germany Kuota-Indeland), Paul Healion (Ireland National Team) and Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) completed the top six.
Walker, the younger brother of former Australian road race champion Will Walker, said yesterday that the stage four win was his biggest to date. He was therefore delighted to repeat the feat 24 hours later.
“I was a little bit ahead in the sprint but I saw Jaan [Kirspuu] coming back at me really, really quickly,” he said. “I was able to hold on. I didn’t think I’d get one stage win in this race, so I’m very, very pleased with two. Whatever happens in the rest of the race, I’m very happy regardless.”
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| Nicholas Walker (top) narrowly beats Jaan Kirsipuu. Photo courtesy of Frank Gibson/Cycling Ireland |
Kirsipuu was a little disappointed not to add to his victory of Tuesday, but wasn’t too stressed. “I started from a little way back and was trying to get through, but there were riders across the road. I was waiting for a gap and when one opened, I was able to sprint properly. I was closing up but I ran out of time before the line.”
Wilkinson took third, riding well despite a crash earlier in the stage. Just behind him, Healion, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) and Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World) made it three Irish riders in the top ten when they netted eighth and ninth.
It was Bennett’s third top eight finish in five days, marking a fine FBD Rás debut for the 18 year old He’s also fourth in the Under 23 classification, second in the county rider competition and twentieth overall.
“If I am in the right position I know I can compete with those fellows,” said the Carrick on Suir rider. “I feel in my heart and soul that I can. Maybe in the next few days I can get in another group, get in a good position and finish further up.”
The day was an impressive one for the Rapha Condor team, which controlled things cleverly and saved energy that they will need for the days to come. Their manager John Herety is one of the most experienced in the race and that showed today; Instead of chasing down breakaway moves, the team took advantage of the fact that Darren Lapthorne and Chris Newton both started the day inside the top ten and simply tried to ensure that one or other of them got into each break that went clear.
That had a dissuading effect on potential escapees, who realised that the Rapha Condor riders would not have to work as Richardson was race leader, and that they’d most likely take the stage win or, even, the yellow jersey if the gap was sufficient.
Newton did eventually get away in a long distance move, jumping with seven other riders at the 40 kilometre point.
Marking David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Morten Kruse Brink (Denmark Designa Kokken), Luke Roberts (Germany Kuota-Indeland), Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia), Rob Partridge (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), he and the group gained two and a half minutes and caused a stir behind.
This forced the Denmark Designa Kokken and Austria Arbo KTM Junkers teams of Mads Christensen and Jan Barta to ride, as they realised that second and third place overall could be lost.
The net effect? Simply that Rapha Condor had to do very little and could remain fresh for the final three stages.
“The jersery was never really under threat,” said Richardson. “The only one who could get close was my own team-mate. The break got two minutes tops, and Chris was more than that behind [in the overall standings]. Anyway, everything wento to plan today. As much as possible we had a fairly easy day in the bunch, as KTM and Designa Kokken did 90 per cent of the work to bring that break back.
“At the end, there quite a few last-minute attacks by the other contenders. So we had a bit of work to do then, but it all worked out fine.”
Former Olympic team pursuit champion Roberts attacked 35 kilometres from the finish, and was eventually joined by Newton and Mayo rider O’Loughlin. The latter took maximum points on the day’s second climb, the third category Barnagh Gap, and thus cancelled out the gains made by David McCann (Ireland National Team) when he took the earlier climb of Glansharoon.
O’Loughlin extended his lead over his closest rival, but the stage win was also a big goal. All three were however mopped up by the main bunch with about five kilometres to go, just after Eugene Moriarty and Rob Partridge had jumped away.
“On the last hill the guy from Halfords took off at the top and nobody else was able to react.,” said the former. “In fairness, I had been minding myself for the last 25k and trying to do as little as possible, partly because it was really hard.
“I managed to get across to him and we dropped the hammer. Then, all of a sudden the cars began to pass us out and the bunch was bearing down on us. We just did not have enough momentum into the wind with just the two of us.
He sounded frustrated with how things had panned out in the break. “It had been a long day at the front. There was a lot of messing especially early on and nobody was riding.. On any other day, if either Chris Newton wasn’t there or the Halfords rider wasn’t there, I think we would have taken three or four minutes out of the bunch. Nobody was riding. Even when we got up to two minutes everybody was just ticking over and doing just enough.
“It was hard into the wind. David O’Loughlin did most of the driving early on. He was the man who really established the leading group. I tried to do as much as I could but it was just so hard.”
O’Loughlin has been aggressive throughout the race. While he missed out on the stage win today, he promised to give it another shot.
“It was very frustrating,” he stated afterwards. “I felt good today but we were caught. I’m feeling stronger each day, though, and so I will keep trying for a stage win.”
Providing he recovers in time, he may well kick clear on Thursday on the mainly flat 159 kilometre leg to Castlebar. It goes close to his home town of Cong and he will be motivated to give it another shot. As for Richardson and the Rapha Condor team, they’ll be under more attacks from their general classification rivals, but will try to play things tactically once again.
Some pictures of the uphill run in to the finish we received courtesy of Barry Sutton.
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| A KTM rider had attacked with one kilometre to go... |
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| He was caught at 300m... big bunch sprint... |
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| 200 meters to go |
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| 100 meters to go |
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| The yellow jersey Simon Richardson finishing |
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| This set of pictures are courtesy of Barry Sutton |
How it unfolded:
With the two tough mountain stages behind them, 151 riders lined out for the start of a shorter, flatter day in the saddle. The 154.6 kilometre stage from Killorglin to Scariff featured just two category three climbs, namely Glansharoon and Barnagh Gap, and both came in the first half of the stage.
Five riders went clear shortly after the start, namely Stephen Barrett (Ireland National Team), James Spragg (China Trek Marco Polo), Morten Kruse Brink (Denmark Designa Kokken), Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia) and Rob Partridge (Britain Halfords Bike Hut). At the same time, Leon Van Bon (China Trek Marco Polo) retired from the race.
The group was soon reeled in, as was a solo move by Morten Kruse Brink (Denmark Designa Kokken), and a subsequent attack by Neil Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations), Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls), Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers), former race leader Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Darren Lapthorne (Britain Rapha Condor), Benny De Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken), Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia), Seán Downey (Ireland National Team) and Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC).
The Rapha Condor team of race leader Simon Richardson was putting one of its other top ten riders in each dangerous break. With Darren Lapthorne fourth overall, three minutes and 24 seconds back, and Newton two minutes and five seconds further back in seventh place, their infiltration of the moves tended to see the other riders give up.
However, shortly after David McCann (Ireland National Team) beat Jan Barta (Austria Arbo KTM Junkers) to take the third category climb at Glansharoon (36.2km), a time-gaining move did go clear. David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Morten Kruse Brink (Denmark Designa Kokken), Luke Roberts (Germany Kuota-Indeland), Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia), Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor), Rob Partridge (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) rocketed away after approximately 40 kilometres of racing and swiftly built a good lead, despite the presence of Newton there.
Although the double Rás winner was sitting at the back of the group and wouldn’t go through, the other riders knuckled down and set about stretching their lead. Averaging 46 kilometres in the first hour thanks in part to a tailwind, the leaders were one minute and 12 seconds ahead of lone chaser Ian Bibby (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) after approximately 60 kilometres of racing. He was subsequently caught by the peloton.
O’Loughlin fortified his grip on the mountains jersey when he took top points at the category 3 ascent at Barnagh Gap (65.5 km), beating Jogert, Moriarty and Roberts to the line.
Approximately 95 kilometres into the stage, the gap over the peloton had jumped up to two and a half minutes. James Stewart (Merseyside KuK Kinesis Bikes) had by then been chasing alone for quite some time. Meanwhile Newton was sitting on the break, as was expected. With Richardson behind, he had no obligation to work.
Behind, the steadily increasing gap had caused panic for the Austria Arbo KTM Junkers team of third-placed Jan Barta, plus the Denmark Designa Kokken squad of Mads Christensen, the rider who was the closest challenger to Richardson. The two squads began to ride hard at the front in order to reduce the lead of the break, and the pace soared. After approximately 115 kilometres Stewart was just 45 seconds behind the leaders, while the peloton was one minute and 27 seconds down.
The momentum of the break became interrupted due to squabbling amongst the riders. With 35 kilometres left Luke Roberts decided that he’d be faster on his own and he cleared off. He got a lead of 50 seconds and then Newton and O’Loughlin managed to shake off the others, combining to close up on the leader.
They bridged across with approximately 15 kilometres remaining but the chase group had got its act together and itself closed up soon afterwards. However the bunch had accelerated and it finally mopped up all those in front just before the five kilometre to go board.
Several other riders tried to clip away, including the second-placed rider overall Mads Christensen. He was brought back, as was an Austria Arbo KTM Junkers rider who attacked in the final kilometre. There was to be no preventing a big bunch gallop, where Walker timed things to perfection and edged out a seasoned old pro.
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| Walker just edges out Kirsipuu. Photo courtesy of Seamus Shortall/Rapid results |
FBD Rás (2.2) stage 5, Killorglin to Scariff:
1, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) 154.6 kilometres in 3 hours 30 mins 6 secs
2, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia)
3, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut)
4, Joachim Tolles (Germany Kuota-Indeland)
5, Paul Healion (Ireland National Team)
6, Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)
7, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)
8, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey)
9, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World)
10, Jaco Venter (China Trek Marco Polo)
11, Alexander Gottfried (Germany Kuota-Indeland)
12, Laurent Didier (Denmark Designa Kokken)
13, Stefan Ganser (Germany Kuota-Indeland)
14, Spas Gyurov (Greece Heraklion-Nessebar)
15, Neil Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) all same time
County Rider:
1, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) 3 hours 30 mins 6 secs
2, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World)
3, Neil Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) both same time
Cotter Hoose CI Category 2:
1, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World) 3 hours 30 mins 6 secs
2, Chris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) at 5 secs
3, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) same time
4, Martin Gill (Tipperary Clonmel CC) at 1 min 49 secs
5, Chris Troy (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) same time
International team:
1, Germany Kuota Indeland, 10 hours 30 mins 18 secs
2, Britain Halfords Bike Hut, at 5 secs
3, Australia Cinelli Down Under
4, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly both same time
5, Norway Giant Veoila, at 10 secs
County team:
1, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, 10 hours 30 mins 28 secs
2, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations
3, Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, both same time
4, Waterford Comeragh CC, at 5 secs
5, Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies, at 1 min 21 secs
Primes:
Category three climb at Glansharoon (36.2km):
1, David McCann (Ireland National Team)5pts
2, Jan Barta (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers)4
3, Benny Deschrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)3
4, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers)2
Category 3 at Barnagh Gap, 65.5 km:
1, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)5pts
2, Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia)4
3, Eugene Moriarty (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC)3
4, Luke Roberts (Germany Kuota-Indeland)2
General Classification:
1, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) 20 hours 24 mins 55 secs
2, Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken) at 2 mins 49 secs
3, Jan Barta (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers) at 3 mins 2 secs
4, Bert Roesems (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) at 3 mins 19 secs
5, Darren Lapthorne (Britain Rapha Condor) at 3 mins 24 secs
6, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) at 3 mins 29 secs
7, Chris Newton (Britain Rapha Condor) at 5 mins 29 secs
8, Russ Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) at 6 mins 7 secs
9, David McCann (Ireland National Team) at 6 mins 9 secs
10, Alexander Gottfried (Germany Kuota-Indeland) at 6 mins 38 secs
11, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 6 mins 53 secs
12, Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia) at 7 mins 17 secs
13, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM Junkers) at 7 mins 18 secs
14, Benny Deschrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time
15, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) at 7 mins 23 secs
U23 Rider Overall:
1, Mark McNally (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) 20 hours 32 mins 18 secs
2, Ole Jorgen Jensen (Norway Giant-Veolia) at 5 secs
3, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) at 25 secs
4, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 33 secs
5, Jaco Venter (China Trek Marco Polo) at 41 secs
CI Category 2 overall:
1, Daniel Clifford (Kildare Projector World) 20 hours 38 mins 8 secs
2, John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 9 secs
3, Chris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar WesternEdge) at 11 mins 58 secs
4, Don Feighery (Waterford Comeragh CC) at 14 mins 13 secs
5, Graham Hurley (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers) at 15 mins 20 secs
County Rider Overall:
1, Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC) 20 hours 32 mins 41 secs
2, Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) at 10 secs
3, Paul Griffin (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies) at 1 min 38 secs
4, Neil Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) at 3 mins 45 secs
5, Peter Hawkins (Dublin IRC Ushers Insulations) at 3 mins 52 secs
Points Competition:
1, Russ Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshalls)51 pts
2, Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 46
3, Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) 43
4, Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) 40
5, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) 38
Mountains Competition:
1, David O'Loughlin (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 50
2, Kit Gilham (Britain C'Shire Sigmasport) 42
3, David McCann (Ireland National Team) 35
4, Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) 30
5, Tom Southam (Britain Rapha Condor) 27
International Team Overall:
1, Britain Rapha Condor, 61 hours 23 mins 38 secs
2, Denmark Designa Kokken, at 9 mins 42 secs
3, Austria Arbo KTM Junkers, at 10 mins
4, Australia Cinelli Down Under, at 13 mins 25 secs
5, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly, at 13 mins 28 secs
County Team Overall:
1, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, 61 hours 48 mins 35 secs
2, Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC, at 2 mins 56 secs
3, Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies, at 7 mins 33 secs
4, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, at 8 mins 32 secs
5, Waterford Comeragh CC, at 18 mins 57 secs
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| Walker just edges out Kirsipuu. Photo courtesy of Seamus Shortall/Rapid results |
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