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Bugter Grabs Final Overall Victory Ghys Wins Dramatic Last Stage Of Ras Tailteann
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner in two Classifications Yellow Jersey and Points |
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| Robbe Ghys, Belgium National Team winner of the final stage of the 2018 Ras Tailteann |
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Overall Winner |
On what was a highly dramatic final lap of racing in Skerries, Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team) won the last stage in the Rás Tailteann, while Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) snatched the yellow jersey from longtime leader Cyrille Thiery (Switzerland National Team).
Ghys and Bugter made their move on the second and final lap of a 13.7 kilometre finishing circuit, bridging across to Bugter’s teammate Sjoerd Bax and then driving hard all the way to the line. Thiery chased and at one point looked like he would defend yellow, but finally ended up finishing 12 seconds behind Ghys, 11 behind Bugter and, crucially, one second back from Bugter overall.
“I was in the top five every day. I won a stage, I am in the best form of my life. It went really well,” said Bugter. “I knew there was a chance that I could take the win on the last day, I had to take some seconds on the leader as there are no bonuses at the finish.
“Our team did an amazing job. One rider attacked on the final climb and I was attacking after him and I went to him and we were riding together. And a guy from Belgium came to us and we were three guys. We went full gas to the finish. Then I heard that I had enough seconds to win – it was a crazy feeling.” More>>>
Varley Takes Superb Solo Vctory In Naas
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| Julian Vaelwy Britain KTM winner of stage seven in Naas |
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| Julian Varley Britain KTM stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team Race Leader |
Climbing superbly on a tough day through the Wicklow Mountains and then resisting the chase behind on the mainly flat roads towards the finish, Julian Varley (Britain Team KTM) took the biggest success of his career on Saturday in Naas.
The 21-year-old Briton reached the line 18 seconds clear of a 16 man group led in by Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team), Jacob Rathe (USA Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis), Jason van Dalen (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) and Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X).
Lindsay Watson (Antrim Velo Cafe Magasin PowerHouse Sport) was best of the home riders in sixth, taking the prize for the best county rider on the stage, while Mark Dowling (Cycling Leinster) also finished in the group and deposed best overall county rider Ronan McLaughlin (Westmeath Viner – Caremark – Pactimo) of his blue jersey.
“It is the best result of my career, easily,” said Varley. “I won some races in the UK, but never UCI events. I knew I had good legs for the climb. I knew I just had to go big or don’t today.”
He made his move on the second of the day’s two first category climbs, the Wicklow Gap, jumping away about halfway up the climb and opening up a lead over a select group containing the race leader Cyrille Thiery (Switzerland National Team) and many of the other main contenders. More>>>
McKenna Grabs First Rás Tailteann Stage Win In Carlow
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| Sean McKenna, Holdsworth Pro Cycling Winning stage six of Rás Tailteann in Carlow |
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| Sean McKenna, Holdsworth Pro Cycling Stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team In Yellow with two days to go |
Sean McKenna landed his best-ever result in the Rás Tailteann on Friday when he won stage six into Carlow town. The Ireland Holdsworth Pro Racing Team rider sprinted in ahead of Claudio Imhof (Switzerland National Team), Netherlands Delta Cycling X duo Luuc Bugter and Rens Tulner, Ireland national team rider Marc Potts and Matteo Cigala (Westmeath Viner-Caremark - Pactimo).
It was a huge result for McKenna, who has been suffering from knee problems in the race. “I was thinking this was just going to be another bunch kick,” he said, “but coming through the last roundabout, my teammate Damien Shaw let my wheel go.”
The split gave McKenna and those ahead of him a slight advantage over the others, and he made the most of it, blasting through to grab the win.
He is from a famous cycling family and said he was delighted to land the victory for his father Mick, a former international, his uncle Ciaran, who is now Cycling Ireland president, and others who had helped him during his years racing. More>>>
German Sprinter Carstensen Speeds To Victory In Mitchelstown
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| Lucas Carstensen Germany Bike Aid stage winner in Mitchelstown |
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| Lucas Carstensen Germany Bike Aid stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team In Yellow after stage five |
He went close on stage three, taking second into Listowel; things worked out perfectly for German competitor Lucas Carstensen on Thursday’s fifth stage of the Rás Tailteann, with victory into Mitchelstown.
The Germany Bike Aide rider was best on the uphill rise to the line, beating Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team), Jason van Dalen (Netherlands Delta Cycling X), best county stage rider Matteo Cigala (Westmeath Viner-Caremark - Pactimo) and the rest of an 83-man main bunch.
Fintan Ryan (Cycling Leinster) was best Irishman in tenth, one place ahead of Kerry Killarney’s Richard Maes.
“My team brought me to the front in the last five kilometres,” said Carstensen shortly after the sprint. “I think at three kilometres there was crash, maybe at position 40. I just heard it from the back. And then in the last kilometre two of my teammates brought me to the front on the second-last corner. I think then there was a gap behind me. More>>>
Van Dalen Grabs Rás Tailteann Glory in Glengarrif
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| Jason Van Dalen Delta Team Netherlands winner of stage four In Glengarriff |
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| Jason Van Dalen Delta Team Netherlands stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team In Yellow for the fourth day |
Having been race leader on the road on stage 3 but then being caught before the finish, Jason van Dalen (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) likely ended Tuesday frustrated with the missed chance for Rás Tailteann glory. However he secured a key place in the prizes on Wednesday when he won stage four into Glengarrif.
The Netherlands Delta Cycling X rider was quickest out of the select 26 man group which sprinted for victory, beating Italian Matteo Cigala (Westmeath Viner-Caremark - Pactimo), Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team), Jacob Rathe (USA Jelly Belly P/B Maxxis), Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X) and others to the line.
Ronan McLaughlin (Westmeath Viner-Caremark - Pactimo) was best of the Irish riders in eighth, taking over as best county rider.
More>>>
Bugter Blasts Home First in Listowel, Winning Stage 3
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| When you know you have won the stage Luuc Bugter, Delta Team Netherlands |
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| Luuc Bugter Delta Team Netherlands Stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team Race Leader |
Second on stages one and two, things came right for Luuc Bugter on day three of the Rás Tailteann, with the Dutchman winning a big bunch sprint into Listowel.
The Netherlands Delta Cycling X rider beat Lucas Carstensen (Germany Bike Aid) by half a wheel, with Lindsay De Vylder (Belgian National Team) third and stage two winner Robert-Jon McCarthy (Ireland National Team) fourth.
Belgian National Team rider Robbe Ghys (Belgian National Team) and Louis Rose-Davies (Britain Canyon Eisberg) completed the top six.
“It went well because we had one guy in the break,” Bugter said. “That got caught with eight kilometres to go, and then I knew the team was going to pull me to the front. I had good legs to win the sprint, so it was a perfect day. More>>>
McCarthy Marks Successful Comeback with second Rás Win
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| Robert Jon McCarthy, Ireland National Team winner of stage two Athlone To Tipperery |
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| Robert Jon McCarthy, Ireland National Team stage winner |
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National In Yellow for the second day |
Robert Jon McCarthy picked up the second Rás Tailteann stage win of his career in Tipperary on Monday, following up on his stage one victory in 2014. The Ireland National Team rider beat Luuc Bugter (Netherlands Delta Cycling X), Lindsay De Vylder (Belgian National Team), Simon Ryan (Cork STRATA 3 - VeloRevolution Cycling Team), Thery Schir (Switzerland National Team) and 73 others in a big sprint to the line.
In addition to Ryan’s impressive fourth place, a second Irish county rider Paídi O’Brien (Dublin Team Gerard DHL) also finished in the top ten, netting eighth.
McCarthy has had a bumpy time since winning his first Rás stage win four years ago. He became disillusioned with the sport in mid 2015 and walked away from it, but then returned to racing at the start of last year. In the meantime he changed his nationality back from Australian to Irish, and donned his first-ever Irish national team jersey on Sunday’s opening stage of the Rás. More>>>
Swiss Rider Thiery Seizes Rás Tailteann Lead In Athlone
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| Cyrille Thiery, Switzerland National Team Race Leader |
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Rás Tailteann Battle Begins On Sunday With Dynamic Mix Of Riders And Teams
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| Matteo Cigala |
Featuring the Irish national team, 11 international squads and 19 Irish county teams, the 2018 Rás Tailteann begins a 1200 kilometre battle in Drogheda on Sunday. The world-ranked event is the most prestigious race in Irish cycling and will feature ferocious competition between the international and domestic riders, as well as some of the most unpredictable racing on the world calendar.
The international squads are the Ireland Holdsworth Pro Racing setup, the Belgian National Team, Britain Canyon Eisberg, Britain Saint Piran Elite Cycling Team, Britain
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| Ronan McLaughlin |
Team KTM, Germany Bike Aid, Netherlands Delta Cycling X, Switzerland National Team, USA CCB Foundation – Sicleri, USA Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis and the Wales Racing Academy.
These include past Rás stage winner and former world and European track champions, as well as some highly talented young competitors which may well be part of the top pro scene in the future.
The Irish national team will feature 2014 Rás stage winner Robert-Jon McCarthy, as well as the gifted track and road rider Marc Potts plus the talented young competitors Darnell Moore, James Curry and Jake Gray.
Home hopes will also rest on the shoulders of former national champion Damien Shaw, Sean McKenna and Conn McDunphy, who are all part of the Ireland Holdsworth Pro Racing team.
More>>>
Promising Irish National Team Announced For Rás Tailteann
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| Robert Jon McCarthy In yellow 2014 |
With just over a week left to the start of the Rás Tailteann, the Irish national team for the race has been unveiled.
Robert Jon McCarthy, Darnell Moore, Marc Potts, Jake Gray and James Curry will don green in the UCI-ranked international event, working together to try to secure the best possible result for Ireland.
McCarthy is a strong sprinter who won the Australian junior national championship ahead of Caleb Ewan in 2012. Two years later, he won the opening stage of the Rás, but the following year he lost motivation and took a long break from cycling in 2015.
He returned to the sport in 2017 and also reverted to Irish nationality, having raced for Australia for several years. McCarthy has shown good form since his return, although it too him time to get back up to full speed. He finished sixth, seventh and eighth on stages in last year’s Rás. This year he was second in the prologue of the Istarsko Proljece - Istrian Spring Trophy in March and was fifth earlier this month on a stage of the prestigious Tour de Yorkshire. More>>>
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