County Rider Morton Secures Magnificent Stage Two Victory
UCD Fitz Cycles rider, Eoin Morton, put on a exciting performance to emerge victorious on stage two of An Post Rás today. The Dubliner battled it out with Louth native, Bryan McCrystal (Louth Asea Wheelworx), on the home straight to take his first ever stage win on the race in front of a packed Charleville main street.
Day two of An Post Rás was to be the longest of the eight gruelling days. The peloton left Westmeath this morning, making their way 183 kilometres down south to Charleville, Cork.
Morton signalled his intentions from the off, attacking out front three times with various riders but the bunch managed to reel him eventually on each occasion. The UCD rider was persistent though and on his fourth effort he managed to stay clear, being joined solely by McCrystal.
The duo broke away inside the 90 kilometre mark and worked tirelessly together, establishing a huge lead of over seven minutes. Despite the gap slowly dwindling to the chasing bunch headed by Matteo Cigala (Cork Aquablue), Morton and McCrystal were not to be denied. McCrystal attacked Morton but the Dubliner staved off the challenge, managing to accelerate away in the final kilometres to claim a famous victory.
It was a fight to the finish today as Irish riders Eoin Morton and Bryan McCrystal battled for victory in todays’ 183.7 Km stage of An Post’s 2016 Rás. The riders pulled away in the longest stage of the race to establish a sizable gap between themselves and the rest of the field that forced a sprint finish as they approached the stage two finish line in Charleville.
Morton continues on a family legacy of Rás winners, following in the path of his father, Peter Morton who claimed a stage victory, just down the road in Mallow on the 1979 edition of the race.
Clearly delighted with the win, Morton admitted he was in total shock.
“Speechless. I have no words to describe it. A lad with a nine to five job takes a stage of the Rás. I have to go to work to teach a few kids on Monday. It’s incredible, I’m so happy.”
Morton and McCrystals’ control over today’s stage highlights the talent in the Irish cycling scene. Morton will hold on to the King of the Mountain jersey for a second day, while McCrystal was presented with the Irish County Rider title. Nicolai Brochner of Denmark's team Riwal Platform took third finishing 11 seconds behind Morton’s impressive winning time of 4:14.15.
Sunday’s Stage one winner, Taco van de Hoorn of Dutch team, Join-S De Rijke retains the coveted leader Yellow Jersey for day three; while New Zealand national team rider, Dylan Kennett retains the Under 23 jersey as the riders head off tomorrow towards Dingle.
Stage three’s 133.2Km route will take the riders out towards Kerry with some tough mountain climbs before finishing at the Dingle Peninsula.
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| The Start Of Stage 2 In Mullingar |
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| Eoin Morton Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles Winner Of Stage Two An Post Rás |
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| Taco van der Hoorn Netherlands in the Race Leaders Jersey For The Second Day |
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| Nicolai Brochner, Denmark Riwal Platform |
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| Eoin Morton Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles In The Mountains Jersey, |
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| Dylan Kennett ,New Zealand National Team In White For The Second Day |
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| Brian McCrystal ASEA Wheelworx Louth 2nd onStage |
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| Richard Maes, Kerry Get To Wear The First County Rider Jersey |
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| Eoin Morton Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles In The Mountains Jersey, Taco van der Hoorn Netherlands in the Race Leaders Jersey, Richard Maes, Kerry in the Blue Jersey, Dylan Kennett ,New Zealand National Team In White Jersey, Brian McCrystal ASEA Wheelworx Louth in the Orange Jersey, Nicolai Brochner, Denmark Riwal Platform in the Green Jersey |
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| Bryan McChrystal ASEA Wheeleorx Louth Leads Eoin Morton Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles ON The Way To Charleville |
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| Country Side View Of The An Post Rás Passing |
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| Conor Dunne JLT Condor & Jordie Sloof Netherlands |
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| Sean McKenna,Team Aquablue Cork |
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| Timothy Mitchel, CCB Racing U.S.A. |
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| Kenneth Kennedy Tipperary Nenagh |
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| Eddie Dunbar, Ireland |
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| Paul Kennedy Cork Strada 3 Velorevoluation |
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| Aidan Crowley, Strada3 Velorevulation Cork |
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| Fergus Fegan, Navan Avenmore |
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| Eugene Moriarty. Meath Dunboyne |
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| Joschka Beck. Stradalli Bike Aid Germany |
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| Shane O'Donoghue, Velo Cafe Magasin Cavan |
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| The Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles Team |
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| The Britain Neon Velo Team. |
