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2006 It’s not quite game over, but defending champion Chris Newton, all of the Irish contenders and a host of other good riders have a lot to do now if they are to get back into contention for winning this year’s FBD Insurance Rás. Today was just the second of eight stages but after 180 kilometres of racing in cold wind, there are now only five riders within 3 minutes and 10 seconds of the yellow jersey. The race from Enniscorthy to Cobh was a hard day, and more are surely to come. Victory went to the US TIAA-CREF rider Danny Pate, who was part of a five man breakaway group which went clear over 80 kilometres from the end of the stage. Pate won the world under 23 time trial championship back in 2001 and used that same strength to forge ahead inside the final 6 kilometres today and hold off those chasing behind. The 27 year old continued to ride well all the way to the finish, pedalling smoothly in the mainly-uphill final kilometre and hitting the line 27 seconds ahead of Martin Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest), 34 up on Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line) and 41 ahead of Robin Sharman. Pate’s team-mate Mike Friedman had a very impressive solo ride to finish 3 minutes and seven seconds back, having come out of a chase group which was over five minutes in arrears when he attacked. Sixth place went to the overnight race leader Chris Newton (Britain Recycling.co.uk), who led home a thirteen man chasing group over three and a half minutes behind Pate. The 2003 and 2005 Rás champion would have been hoping that Sharman could take the stage win and the yellow jersey, but despite sitting on the others in the move, the 26 year old could do no better than fourth. Recycling.co.uk must now decide if he is their best bet for the GC or if they will try to get another rider back up in the overall standings, such as Newton or perhaps the in-form Kristian House. For now, though, Pate is on top. He was happy but also very modest at the finish, playing down the strength of his ride. “It was a great day to have a bike race,” he said. “The conditions were challenging, the winds were high out there, there were a lot of crosswinds to contend with. But it was a great race.” “There were a lot of groups forming all day and you just had to make sure you were in the front. The crosswinds made the group form and split, form and split…it was just chaotic racing all day. The other riders in the lead group were real strong and I was just fortunate enough to have good timing, get an attack in and beat them.” Pate commented on the size of the gap they built. “It was pretty large all right. We hit the headwind and I am sure no teams wanted to chase in that. It felt like we were going ten miles an hour. Nobody wanted to chase with the headwind and the gap got real big.” He said the team will play it by ear over the next couple of stages. “It is a chaotic race and with only five guys, it is going to be hard to control it [holding the jersey]. We have some other guys who are real strong, one of the others just finished fifth, coming in ahead of the pack. We will attempt it anyway.” Team manager (and coach to Floyd Landis) Alan Lim was happy. “It is a great day for us. The guys rode very well. Danny was our GC guy coming here but we brought a strong team, so any of them can play that role. Yesterday people seemed to be marking him but he had a bit more freedom today.” “He went a couple of times near the end. The second one was a real track attack…he just stayed in the saddle and accelerated clear. That is the one that worked out. Mike [Friedman] also did a great ride, he was very strong. He was over five minutes back but got a lot closer by the end. “We will try to hold onto the jersey. These guys are great at improvising anyway, so we can see how it is working out and act accordingly.” Irish rider Ciarán Power was 35th on the stage but played a very active part early on. He went clear with five others just before New Ross and was then joined by nine more, including Pate and Irish road race champion David O’Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton). Power took maximum points at the first climb, extending his lead in the King of the Mountains competition, and was to the fore when the break raced through his home town of Waterford. This front group eventually swelled to 23 riders, with 16 others on their way to join up. However before the junction was made, Pate, Randle, Prazdnovsky, Tamas Lengyel (both TIAA-CREF) and Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk) slipped away and rode strongly to the finish. Power also took points on the day’s second climb, so he ended the day wearing the KOH jersey. “I don’t have the racing in my legs to go for the overall win,” he said “so it is good to be in the mountains jersey instead. I’ll try to hold onto it and also aim for a stage win later in the week.” Tommy Evans was best placed of the Irish riders today, but his ninth place on the stage saw him drop to seventh overall, one place behind the new GC position of Newton. How it happened: A total of 142 riders lined out for today’s 180 kilometre second stage, the longest of the race, which took the FBD Insurance Rás field from Enniscorthy to Cobh. The undulating route would see them cover two category three climbs and a category two ascent, as well as the steep uphill finish past the cathedral. The weather was much dryer than yesterday, although there was a cold wind blowing which notched the temperature down to twelve degrees. Despite the chill, there was an aggressive start to the day with constant attacking from the drop of the flag. After about ten minutes of racing, four riders succeeded in going clear. Robert Partridge (Britain Recycling.co.uk), Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line), Peter McDonald (Australia FRF Couriers) and Kurt Anders Fostervold (Norway Sparebanken Vest) opened up a maximum lead of 44 seconds, but a hard chase by the Poland Legia Bazylisek team saw them recaptured before New Ross, after about 25 kilometres had elapsed. Shortly afterwards a six man break slipped away and driven by the strong riders present, opened up a good lead. With Kristian House (Britain Recycling.co.uk), Ryan Connor (Ireland Grant Thornton), Peter Herzig (Australia FRF Couriers), Brandon Crichton (Canada Symmetrics), Bartlomiej Matysiak (Poland Legia Bazylisek) and King of the Mountains leader Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey) all present, the danger was obvious. So it was no surprise that others were keen to get across. Rob Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk), David O’Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton), Peter McDonald (Australia FRF Couriers), Jehudi Schoonacker (Belgium M.Donnelly Sean Kelly), Andrew Randell (Canada Symmetrics), Tamas Lengyel (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Przemyslaw Pietrzak (Poland Legia Bazylisek), Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) and Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways) set off in pursuit and these nine bridged up in New Ross, making it 15 riders up front. The group quickly built a lead of 39 seconds, at which point Mick Steed (Kildare Murphy Surveyors) made an unsuccessful attempt to bridge. The break increased its lead to over a minute but although they had Tamas Lengyel up front, the Norwegian Sparebanken Vest team began to chase hard. Mountains leader Power then added to his total when he was first to the top of the Glenmore category 3 climb, ahead of Pate, Pietrzak and McDonald. He was motivated as his father was originally from this area, and also because the race was passing through his home town of Waterford. The gap at this point was down under 30 seconds, but the Norwegians took the foot off the gas when their big dangerman Martin Prazdnovsky jumped across to the break. Shortly afterwards, race leader Chris Newton (Britain Recycling.co.uk) and Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line) did the same, and with the former having two team-mates in the break, they had a clear interest in working. The co-operation improved up front and the group began pulling away once again. Although the lead went up over a minute once again, the large number up front made the group less efficient than it might have been. As a result, Joe McDonnell (Australia FRF Couriers), Simon Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Mike Friedman (USA TIAA-CREF) and Tommy Evans (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) were also able to bridge across. When everybody merged, the main bunch comprised 23 riders, several of whom came from the same team. They were Chris Newton, Kristian House, Rob Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk), Ryan Connor and David O’Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton), Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line), Peter McDonald, Peter Herzig and Joe McDonnell (Australia FRF Couriers), Jehudi Schoonacker (Belgium M.Donnelly Sean Kelly), Simon Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), Andrew Randell (Canada Symmetrics), Tamas Lengyel, Morten Hegreberg, Are Andresen and Martin Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Przemyslaw Pietrzak and Bartlomiej Matysiak, Danny Pate and Mike Friedman (USA TIAA-CREF), Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey), Tommy Evans (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) and Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways). Three others then clipped away from the main bunch, namely Robert Partridge (Britain Recycling.co.uk), Roger Aiken (Ireland Grant Thornton) and Tim Cassidy (Belgium M.Donnelly Sean Kelly). They also crossed the gap, making it a considerable 26 riders up front. The break was swelling to what was becoming an unmanageable number, while the peloton was also clearly not working properly, as another slew of riders were able to get away. Conor Murphy (Ireland Grant Thornton), Miceal Concannon (Belgium M.Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Jaroslaw Welniak (Poland Legia Bazylisek) went clear, and then they were chased and joined by thirteen others, namely Paídi O’Brien and Conor Murphy (Ireland Grant Thornton), Mark Lovatt (Britain Doncaster Stena Line), Joshua Marden (Australia FRF Couriers), Miceal Concannon (Belgium M.Donnelly Sean Kelly), Jeff Sherstobitoff (Canada Symmetrics), Greg Reian (Germany Stevens), Paul Healion (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), Kurt Anders Fostervold (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Jaroslaw Welniak (Poland Legia Bazylisek), Lucas Euser and Bryan Smith (USA TIAA-CREF), Simon Saunders, Alex Hagman (Surrey Racing League) and Mehall Fitzgerald (Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways). It was obvious that the situation was less than desirable. Most of the race favourites had made it up, neutralising any benefit in riding. It was essential for someone to go again, reducing the number and thus promoting the chances of getting a tight-knit, co-operative group together. A succession of attacks followed as riders tried to achieve precisely this, and finally five flew the coup. Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line), Tamas Lengyel, Martin Prazdnovsky (both Norway Sparebanken Vest) and Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) were all committed, while Rob Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk) was there to protect the interest of Chris Newton and so would not be working. Even so, the strength of the others was enough for them to start to draw clear. Behind, much tactical manoeuvring was being played out. The Irish riders were marking Newton, but when he refused to move it became clear that the team were willing to play the Sharman card. David O’Loughlin saw the danger and jumped hard, but he and subsequent attackers were closed down. The break continued to press onwards and the five riders had a considerable lead of over two minutes on the chasers by the time they passed through Dungarvan and hit the category two Sweep climb. The Grant Thornton Ireland team were aware the race was slipping away from them and its riders rode hard to try to get back on terms. Yet at the top, where Prazdnovsky took top points ahead of Pate, Randle, Sharman and a dropped Lengyel, the leaders were a full 2 minutes and 49 seconds up on the Power-led chasing group. The first four went over the top of the category three Youghal climb in the same order, with all bar Sharman happy to work. They were clearly four very strong riders and their commitment to the cause increased the lead to 5 minutes and 15 seconds. Behind, yesterday’s lone attacker Mike Friedman (USA TIAA-CREF) realised things were heading downhill fast and he struck out alone, riding strongly alone to reduce the gap to 3 minutes and 10 seconds by the time he passed the 20 kilometres to go marker. The main bunch were a full 5 minutes and 21 seconds down here. Several riders then attacked the yellow jersey group. Kristian House (Britain), David O’Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton ), Joe McDonnell (Australia), Simon Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), Morten Hegreberg (Norway) and Jaroslaw Welniak (Poland) drew away, but others including Newton were soon able to bridge across. Friedman continued his progress, narrowing the gap to 2 minutes and 43 seconds. However his chances of getting closer took a knock when those up front started attacking each other, ramping up the speed. Pate and Randle put in a couple of good surges before the former finally broke the elastic with about six kilometres remaining and opened up a good lead. From there to the finish it was all about putting the head down and carving out as much of an advantage as was possible; as a former world under 23 champion in the time trial, he was perfectly suited to the task. He duly soloed in towards Cobh, climbing well on the tough rise to the line to take the victory. Prazdnovsky drew away from the others for second, 27 seconds down, while Randle and Sharman were 34 and 41 seconds back respectively. Friedman hung on for fifth, grinding up the hill 3 minutes and 10 seconds after Pate. Newton showed his good ability on these types of finish by taking sixth, a further 31 seconds later. Hegreberg and Matysiak also finished in the same time, some four seconds quicker than Evans, Schoonacker, McDonnell, O’Loughlin, Kenneally, Kelly, Andresen and House. The gaps aren’t terminal, but it will require a big effort from these riders to get back into contention. --------- Tomorrow: The 2006 FBD Insurance Rás continues with a 173 kilometre stage to An Daingean (Dingle). There are four category three climbs – County Bounds (82.2 km), Crohane ((114.2), An Draighneain (152.3 km) and An Bharog Bheag (159 km). The stage honours Paudi Fitzgerald, and passes by the house of the 1956 Rás winner. Stage 2, Enniscorthy to Cobh: 1, Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) 180 kilometres in 4 hours 31 mins 15 secs Cuchulainn Crystal County Rider: 1, Tommy Evans, 4 hours 35 mins International team: 1, Norway Sparebanken Vest, 13 hours 41 mins 38 secs County team: 1, Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways, 14 hours 6 mins 44 secs Glenmore, category 3 KOH 1, Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey) 5 points The Sweep, category 2 KOH: 1, Martin Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 10 pts Category 3 KOH at Youghal: 1, Martin Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 5 1, Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) 7 hours 19 mins 54 secs 1, Bartlomiej Matysiak (Poland Legia Bazylisek) 7 hours 23 mins 35 secs 1, Chris Newton, 25 pts Mountains: 1, Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey) 20 1, John McCarthy (Kerry Earl of Desmond) 7 hours 26 mins 51 secs Cycleways County Rider: 1, Tommy Evans, 7 hours 23 mins 31 secs International Team: 1, Norway Sparebanken Vest 22 hours 7 mins 35 secs County Team: 1, Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, 22 hours 32 mins 39 secs |
