On a day of little change in the general classification in the race, Estonian Mart Ojavee outsprinted Dominique Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) on the uphill finishing straight to win the 138 kilometre fourth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás. Rollin’s team-mate Jesse Anthony successfully defended his overall lead, staying two seconds clear of Irishman Brian Kenneally (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC) in the general classification.
These three riders were part of a 60 man main field which sprinted it out for the win on the streets of Dungloe, with Irishmen Stephen Gallagher (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC) coming home 6th and 9th respectively.
All of the major contenders finished in this group, preserving the status quo in advance of tomorrow’s tough stage over the gruelling Gap of Mamore to Buncrana.
“Every win is great,” said 25 year old Ojavee, who comes from Tailin in Estonia and who was taking his sixth win of the year. “Today I was working for my team-mate Andrei Mustonen but we didn’t know that the last kilometre was so difficult. With 200 meters to go I was alone in the front and he was a little bit dropped, so I said, ‘what the heck’ and went for it.
“I think we don’t have a chance in the mountains but if there are more sprints, we can do something then.”
Irishman Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) remains second overall, just two seconds behind Anthony. Seven others are a further two seconds adrift, including Mark Cassidy (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) and Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh).
“There were a couple of scary moments today, but we just got the team together and they organised a really good chase,” said 21 year old Anthony. “There was a group of about ten guys up the road before the king of the mountains prime. It was a dangerous group and there were a couple of guys we had to watch in there, so we got the team on the front and chased it down. The guys did an awesome job today of controlling everything. We all rode together to keep things together as much as possible.”
It was as much about brains as brawn, with the team using good tactics to help defend yellow. “In the end we let a group go away,” he continued. “We were happy with that as it got the race to settle down a bit. Then a bit later on, the whole team took control and rode really hard to bring it back.”
It’s Anthony’s first time to lead a major stage race but having retained the lead, he was sounding more assured about his chances. “I have never been in this position before. It is a little nerve-wracking for me, particularly in such a difficult race and one I don’t know. I have never done it before and so I don’t know how it is usually raced, aside from what people tell me. That said, while I know the next four days will be really hard, we are looking forward to that. We didn’t come here to have an easy race. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
After a very aggressive, wind-assisted opening hour run off at 48 km/h, a dozen riders got clear approximately halfway through the stage. They built a maximum lead of 17 seconds and made Cassidy race leader on the road, but the US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada squad clinically hauled it back.
René Birkenfeld (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) took the prime at Mountcharles (category 3, 69 km) ahead of former race leader Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands National Team U23), Peter Herzig (FRF Couriers NSWIS) and Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies).
Van der Velde, whose father Johan finished third in the 1982 Tour de France, said after the stage that he had changed focus after falling far behind in the general classification. “My goal now is to try to get the mountains jersey. It won’t be easy because there is a German rider [Birkenfeld] who is also going for it. But I am not giving up, I think I can do it. I am good uphill, so we will see…
“Yesterday was difficult. Everyone was attacking one by one and we missed the big group. I felt good yesterday but it was difficult for me to do anything in the yellow jersey.”
Following the prime, five others then slipped away and joined forces out front, namely Mark Lovatt (Team Sportscover), Graham Briggs (Britan Stena Line/Recycling.co.uk), Silvar Kibur (Estonia Kalev Chocolate), Dominique Perras (USA Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Glenn Bak (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly).
Danish rider Bak attacked with 25 kilometres remaining and opened up a 17 second lead over the others. They were all eventually reeled in with approximately four kilometres to go, setting things up for the uphill bunch sprint and Ojavee’s second victory of the race.
Anthony finished 12th in the final gallop and remains two seconds clear of Irish rider Brian Kenneally (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC). Seven others are a further two seconds adrift, including Rollin plus Irishmen Mark Cassidy (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) and Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh).
The race leader said that he would ride aggressively on tomorrow’s climbs, including the first category Gap of Mamore.
“If the opportunity presents itself I would love to get some more time,” he said. He can clearly climb, given that he is the current king of the mountains. “I think the way we are going to be able to win this race is if Dom [Dominique Perras] and I play off each other and get a bit more time each day. If we can get into a group and narrow the real players down to maybe ten, then that would be a lot easier for us. Right now, there are many guys within a couple of minutes of us, so it is hard to control that many riders.
“If we can get a three or four minute buffer on all bar ten or twelve guys, then that would definitely work to our benefit. We are going to try to be aggressive, to be sure. But it is hard with everyone watching us like this. Every time we move, everyone moves with us and no-one is willing to do any of the work for us. It is pretty much all up to us right now. It is going to be real difficult to pull it off, but I think we can do it.”
The 131 kilometre fifth stage from Dungloe to Buncrana will be crucial. Right now, 33 riders are within two minutes of Anthony’s lead. That will all change tomorrow, with a much clearer picture of the real contenders becoming apparent on the tough roads of Donegal.
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How it unfolded:
139 riders lined out in overcast conditions for the fourth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás, a relatively short 138 kilometre race from Sligo to Dungloe. Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) lined out in the yellow jersey, and also held the lead in the KOM and best young rider competition, while his team-mate Dominique Rollin has a strong grip on the green jersey of best sprinter.
About five kilometres after the drop of the flag, stage one victor Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) attacked and was joined by Nico Graf (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Adam Armstrong (Dublin Usher Insulations). They were reeled in soon afterwards, then Derek Burke (Dublin Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) made a short-lived break.
He was brought back but stubbornly went again with Graham Briggs (Britain Stena Line/Recycling.co.uk), Thomas Hruby (Czech Republic Sparta Praha), Silvar Kibur (Estonia Kalev Chocolate), Marcel Barth (Germany Thuringer Energie), Scott McDonald (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) and Hugh Mulhearne (Tipperary Dan Morrissey). This, too, was hauled back.
After passing through the seaside resort town of Bundoran, double FBD Rás winner Chris Newton (Britain Stena Line Recycling.co.uk), his team-mate Ryan Bonser and Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) kicked clear, some 38 kilometres after the start. This group built up a lead of 29 seconds and while Bonser was then dropped, he was able to regain contact when he was picked up by three chasing riders.
Together with Dermot Nally (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh), Stephen Gallagher (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Florian Frohn (Germany Thuringer Energie), he regained his place at the head of affairs and returned to helping team captain Newton.
The group had enough big hitters to be considered a real threat and others such as third-placed Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh) tried to get across. However this chasing group was caught. Soon afterwards the leading group suffered the same fate, being reeled in by the bunch approximately 50 kilometres after the start.
The pace had been very hot, with the tailwind-assisted riders covering 48 kilometres in the first hour of racing. The attacks continued and after approximately 63 kilometres, Simon Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Nico Graf (Germany Thuringer Energie), Conor Murphy (Dublin Usher Insulations) and Ray Clarke (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) slipped clear.
They were then joined by Alain Van der Velde (Netherlands), Stephen Gallagher (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Peter Herzig (Australia FRF Couriers), Simon Jensen (Denmark Vision Bikes), Ben Raby (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada), Dominique Perras (USA Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Derek Burke (Dublin Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group). However, despite the firepower, the main bunch closed them down.
There was a brief respite but very soon afterwards the next big group surged away. The dozen-strong break included David McCann (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh), former race leader Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands), Mark Cassidy, Stephen Gallagher and Simon Kelly (all Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Peter Herzig and Jason Hegert (both Australia FRF Couriers NSWIS), Ondrej Pavek (Czech Republic Sparta Praha), Andrei Mustonen (Estonia Kalev Chocolate), Ben Raby (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada), Justin Spinelli (USA Kelly Benefit Strategies) and René Sickmuller (Germany Stephens Von Hacht). Newton also joined up, making it 13 riders clear, but this group then dropped to a dozen when Raby elected to go back to the peloton and try to get team-mate (and race leader) Jesse Anthony back into contention. The gap was 17 seconds after some 67 kilometres of racing, making Mark Cassidy the race leader on the road.
Raby and the rest of the team had no intention of letting the 22 year old Irishman take the yellow jersey and worked hard to haul back the move. The succeeded in doing so just before the top of the third category Mountcharles climb, which came at the 69 kilometre point.
René Birkenfeld (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) was first to the top, beating Dutchman Ricardo Van der Velde (who started the day second overall in the competition), Peter Herzig (Australia FRF Couriers NSWIS) and Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies).
The next move of significance was an attack by Mark Lovatt (Team Sportscover) at the 88 kilometre point. He was joined by Graham Briggs (Britan Stena Line/Recycling.co.uk), then Silvar Kibur (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) and Dominique Perras (USA Kelly Benefit Strategies) also made the junction. Glenn Bak (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) was the last rider to get across, making it five up front.
The peloton was 1 minute 30 seconds back at this point but hard chasing by the USA Kelly Benefit Strategies and Germany Stevens Von Hacht teams plus Australia FRF Couriers rider Brendan Brooks, helped to cut it to 50 seconds with 25 kilometres to go. Sensing the danger that they would be caught, Bak then attacked from the lead group.
The Danish rider opened up a maximum advantage of 17 seconds over the other leaders before they reeled him back in. They regrouped with approximately ten kilometres remaining, yet it was only a matter of time before the speeding bunch got back on terms. With four kilometres to go it was all together and while riders such as Rene Birkenfeld tried to clip away, things stayed as one until the uphill sprint to the finish line, where Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) got the better of yesterday's stage victor Dominique Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) and Tomas Hruby (Czech Republic Sparta Praha). Stephen Gallagher was best Irishman in sixth, with Euguene Moriarty best county rider in ninth.
The net result was no major change in the overall standings. There is likely to be a different story tomorrow, though, given that the race hits the notorious Gap of Mamore climb approximately 13 kilometres from the finish line in Buncrana. There is certain to be a major shakeup in the classification during the 131 kilometre stage, giving a clearer picture of who the main contenders are and how strong Jesse Anthony’s chances are of taking the final yellow jersey in Skerries on Sunday.
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FBD Insurance Rás (2.2)
Stage 4 - May 23: Sligo – Dungloe:
1, Mart Ojavee (Estonia Estonia Kalev Chocolate) 138 kilometres in 3 hours 14 mins 4 secs (42.55 km/h)
2, Dominique Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada)
3, Tomas Hruby (Czech Republic Sparta Praha)
4, Marcel Barth (Germany Germany Thuringer Energy)
5, Yvo Kusters (Netherlands National Team)
6, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly)
7, Ben Raby (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada)
8, Andrei Mustonen (Estonia Kalev Chocolate)
9, Eugene Moriarty (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC)
10, Nico Graf (Germany Thuringer Energy)
11, Marcin Bialoblocki (Team Sportscover)
12, Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada)
13, Alain Van der Velde (Netherlands National Team U23)
14, Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh)
15, Benjamin Hill (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) all same time
Mountains:
Mountcharles - Cat. 3
1, René Birkenfeld (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) 5 pts
2, Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands National Team U23) 4
3, Peter Herzig (FRF Couriers NSWIS) 3
4, Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies) 2
County Rider:
1, Eugene Moriarty (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC) 3 hours 14 mins 4 secs
2, Brian Kenneally (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC)
3, Matthew Ward (Dublin Usher Insulations) both same time
International Team:
1, US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada, 9 hours 42 mins 12 secs
2, Netherlands national Team U23
3, Germany Thuringer Energy, both same time
County Team:
1, Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC, 9 hours 42 mins 12 secs
2, Dublin Usher Insulations, same time
3, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 1 min 31 secs
General Classification after stage 4:
1, Jesse Anthony (US US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) 14 hours 24 mins 17 secs
2, Brian Kenneally (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC) at 2 secs
3, Dominique Rollin (US US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) at 4 secs
4, Yvo Kusters (Netherlands National Team)
5, Peter McDonald (Australia FRF Couriers NSWIS)
6, Mark Cassidy (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly)
7, Tony Martin (Germany Germany Thuringer Energy)
8, Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh)
9, Ryan Roth (US Kelly Benefit Strategies) all same time
10, Justin Spinelli (US Kelly Benefit Strategies) at 57 secs
11, Paidi O'Brien (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) at 1 min 2 secs
12, Chris Newton (Britain Stena Line / Recycling) at 1 min 6 secs
13, Ondrej Pavek (Czech Republic Sparta Praha) same time
14, Michael Johansen (Denmark Vision Bikes) at 1 min 7 secs
15, Benjamin Hill (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) at 1 min 8 secs
U23 Rider classification:
1, Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada)
2, Yvo Kusters (Netherlands National Team) at 4 secs
3, Mark Cassidy (Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) same time
County Rider classification
1, Brian Kenneally (Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC)
2, Neil Delahaye (Dublin Usher Insulations) at 1 min 6 secs
3, Rory Wyley (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) same time
CI Category 2 classification:
1, Brian Ahern (Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers)
2, Tom Fanning (Waterford Comeragh CC) at 11 mins 27 secs
3, Conor McGrath (Waterford Comeragh CC) at 20 mins 37 secs
Points classification:
1, Dominique Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) 53 pts
2, Yvo Kusters (Netherlands National Team) 39
3, Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) 30
4, Paidi O'Brien (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) 28
5, Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh) 25
6, Mark Cassidy (Ireland Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly) 23
Mountains classification:
1, Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) 29 pts
2, Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands National Team U23 27
3, René Birkenfeld (Germany Stevens Von Hacht) 15
4, Michael Johansen (Denmark Vision Bikes) 6
5, Patrick Gretsch (Germany Thuringer Energy) 6
6, Petr Pucelik (Czech Republic Sparta Praha) 5
International Team classification:
1, Netherlands national Team U23, 43 hours 13 mins 13 secs
2, US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) at 54 secs
3, Kelly Benefit Strategies, at 1 min 47 secs
County Team classification:
1, Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC, 43 hours 36 mins 49 secs
2, Dublin Usher Insulations, at 9 mins 19 secs
3, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 10 mins 50 secs
