Photos By INPHO
Press Release By An Post
Gullen Clinches Stage Three Victory as Irishman Dunbar Climbs to Fourth Overall
James Gullen of team Pedal Heaven took a superb win on stage three of An Post Rás today. The Briton challenged several times on the category one climb of Conor Pass and despite being behind at the summit with seven kilometers to go, Gullen caught those ahead on the descent. He then attacked in the final two kilometers to solo to victory.
Runner up Aaron Gate (An Post Chain Reaction), Nikodemus Holler (Germany Stradalli Bike Aid) and 2014 race winner and today's yellow jersey, Clemens Fankhauser (Austria Tirol Cycling), finished just two seconds behind him.
Eddie Dunbar (Ireland National Team) once again finished within the top ten, moving him up the general classification (GC) to an impressive fourth place.
Albeit the shortest stage of the week, stage three proved to be a difficult test for the riders. The route held relatively flat at the start and an ambitious breakaway from Cork Aquablue’s Sean McKenna, yesterday’s stage winner, Eoin Morton (Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles), and Nicolai Brochner (Denmark Riwal Platform) shook up the pack early on. The trio were soon joined by 16 other riders but were unable to maintain a lead and were dissolved back into the peloton.
At the 43 kilometre mark, Gullen pulled away and a strong contingent of 21 chasers, including county riders Sean Lacey (Cork Aquablue) and Mark Downey (Ireland National Team), quickly pursued. The pack reeled Gullen in and established a one minute six second lead over the bunch.
Following the grade three ascent at Knockabout Cross, four riders punctured out of the group, while the strong chasing efforts of the Australian National Team dwindled the leaders’ gap to 28 seconds as the riders entered through Castleisland.
The breakaway tried desperately to shake off the chasers but their efforts proved unsuccessful; it was all together again as the peloton hurdled towards the formidable Conor Pass. The climb quickly reduced the peloton but Mark Dowling (Louth Asea Wheelworx) grit his teeth and attacked. The Irishman was quickly followed by Gullen who launched a series of attacks. However, despite being passed by several riders before the summit, he returned on the descent, timing his final attack to perfection.
Gullen hurdled on to cross the finish line in DIngle in front of roaring crowds. Commenting on the stage victory, Gullen’s first remark was of the stunning scenery around the Dingle Peninsula.
“This stage was incredible. The gorgeous panoramic views on the climbs were just breathtaking. I felt like stopping to take it all in. I’m chuffed with the win. We’ll play it by ear now and just take each day as it comes and hopefully you might be speaking to me again!’
It was another impressive display by Corkman Dunbar; he took fourth and fifth on each of the climbs and is now sitting comfortably in fourth spot on the GC.
Jai Hindley of the Australian National Team claimed the U23 Overall Rider, while Ian Richardson of Dublin UCD Fitz Cycles moved to top of Irish County Rider classification. Gate now dons the green points jersey while Holler becomes the new King of the Mountains. Clemens Fankhauser’s impressive performance is rewarded with the yellow jersey.
Day four takes the riders on a 162.8 km route starting off in Dingle and making their way through Castlemaine, Milltown, and Killorglin before hitting a category one climb at Bealach Oisín. The riders will then go on towards Waterville, up the category two climb of Coomakista, through Caherdaniel, Castlecove, and up the ascent of Letterfinish before crossing the finish line in Sneem, Kerry.
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| Start Of Stage Three In Charleville |
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| Clemens Fankhauser, Tirol Cycling Team Austria, Takes Over The Yellow Jersey On Stage 3 From Charleville To Dingle |
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| Aaron Gate, An Post Chain Reaction Ireland, Takes Over Th Points Leader Green Jersey |
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| Nikodemus Holler, Stradalli Bike Aid Germany, Takes Over The Mountains Jersey. |
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| Jai Hindley, Australia National Team, Takes Over The Under 23 White Jersey. |
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| James Gullen, Pedal Heaven Britain, In The Stage Winners Jersey |
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| Ian Richardson, UCD Fitzcycles.ie Dublin, In The Leading County Rider Jersey. |
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| Mark Dowling, Team ASEA Louth, The First County Rider Over The Line Into Dingle. |
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| Sean Lacey, Aquablue Cork, Was The First Kerryman Over The Line Into Dingle. |
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| Aaron Gate, An Post Chain Reaction Ireland, Second On The Stage |
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| Nikodemus Holler, Stradalli Bike Aid Germany,Third On The Stage |
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| Mark Dowling, Team ASEA Louth, Clemens Fankhauser, Tirol Cycling Team Austria, James Gullen, Pedal Heaven Britain, Ian Richardson, UCD Fitzcycles.ie Dublin, Jai Hindley, Australia National Team, Sean Lacecy, Aquablue Cork, Aaron Gate, An Post Chain Reaction Ireland & Nikodemus Holler, Stradalli Bike Aid Germany. |
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| Ronan McLaughlin, Ireland, On Conor Pass. |
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| Robbert De Greef, Fighting To Keep His Team Mate In Yellow Taco Van Der Hoorn, Of Team Join-s De Rijke Holland. |
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| Bunch On One Of The Climbs On Stage 3. |
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| View Of Riders On The Connor Pass |
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| Damien Garcia Stradalli, Bike Aid Germany |
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| Eugene Moriarty Meath Dunboyne D.I.D. |
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| Matthew Teggart, Ireland National Team |
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| Daniel Merriman Waterford Racing Club |
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| Elliott Porter, Neon Velo Cycling Team |
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| Andrew Bye, Down Newry Wheelers |
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| The Australian National Team |
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| JLT Condor Racing Team, England |
