Node4 Giordana Rider Claims First Yellow Jersey Of The Week

The opening stage of the 2012 An Post Rás saw Polish rider Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana) sprint to victory following a four man breakaway which just held off the chasing bunch. The stage win was Bialoblocki’s second at the Rás, as he also triumphed into Tramore last year.

Danish rider Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) was second, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas) finished third, while last year’s Rás winner Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Sean Kelly) finished in sixth, although he moved up to fourth in the overall classification after taking two hot spot sprints on the stage.

Day one saw the peloton travel 147 kilometres from Dunboyne to Kilkenny and it was barely an hour into the race when several riders including Kristian Forbord (OneCo-Mesterhus) crashed just outside Prosperous in County Kildare, thankfully none of the riders involved were badly injured. Shortly after a bunch of ten riders including Sam Bennett (An Post Sean Kelly) and Wouter Sybrandy (Britian Team IG – Sigma Sport) broke clear, however they were quickly reeled in before the first hot spot sprint which was won by young Dubliner Philip Lavery (Node4 Giordana).

The following forty kilometres saw a number of riders try to break clear, but nothing stuck until a group of five led by Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jackroo) opened up a 30 second gap. They forged on but after 120 kilometres of racing the group was caught and the peloton came together once more.

Swiss rider Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jackroo) was the next to attack, but he too was caught with a little over ten kilometres remaining. It was at this stage that the decisive break of the day got away as four riders, including Fumeaux’s team mate Baldo, and eventual race winner Bialoblocki got free. They quickly built up a thirty second lead and despite the peloton’s best efforts they weren’t to be caught. As the finish drew closer it was Bialoblocki who had most left in the tank and he crossed the line with his arms aloft to take the first yellow jersey of the race.

Bialoblocki was delighted with the win, although he was under no illusions that it will be tough to hold onto the jersey for the rest of the week.

“I wasn’t expecting the break to get away, but when we did I tried to save my legs and thankfully I took the win. I’ll try to keep the yellow jersey now but it will be very hard with another seven days of racing ahead.”

Photos By Robert Haslam and Stephen McCarthy

Postman David Hobbs Starts The Race In Dunboyne.

Race Director Dermot Dignam At The Start In Dunboyne.

And They're Off The Start Of the 2012 An Post Rás.

Doctor Conor McGrane Checks Out Christian Hannestad After The Crash

Kristian Forbard Norway OneCo Mesterhus and Bryan McKinney Chain Reaction Cycles After a Crash.

Christian Hannestad OneCo Mesterhus Race Came To An Early End.

Donal Harrington From Mayo Centra Continues On The Race Dispite His Injuries And Recdeiving Ten Stitches To His Forehead After The Crash.

Ronan McLaughlin, Sean Downey And Conor McConvey An Post Sean Kelly on The Road To Kilkenny.

Sean Downey An Post Sean Kelly Team.

Lars Vierbergen Netherlands Koga Cycling.

Marcin Bialoblocki, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The Yellow Race Leaders Jersey.

Nicolas Baldo, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo In The Blue Jersey.

David Clarke, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The Mountains Jersey.

Jacob Nielsen, Denmark Blue Water Cycling In The Green Points Jersey.

Philip Lavery, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The White Under 23 Jersey Sponsored By The Irish Sports Council

Aaron Buggle, Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes Team Takes The County Rider Award.

David Clarke, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The Mountains Jersey, Aaron Buggle, Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes Team County Rider, Nicolas Baldo, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo In The Blue Jersey, Marcin Bialoblocki, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The Yellow Jersey, Jacob Nielsen, Denmark Blue Water Cycling In The Green Jersey, Philip Lavery, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing In The White Jersey.

Marcin Bialoblocki, Britain Node4 Giordana Racing