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American Rider Wins Stage One Of FBD Insurance Rás, Leads Race
May 18, 2008, 20:34
Californian criterium specialist Ken Hanson used his sprinting speed to triumph on today’s opening leg of the FBD Insurance Rás, winning a big bunch gallop into Ballinamore and taking the first yellow jersey of the race.
Hanson, whose grandmother is from Leitrim, had long had an interest in taking part in the event. While he normally competes with the US pro BMC Racing outfit, he was able to get a guest slot with the Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan team for the eight day Tour. He rewarded that team’s faith today by beating Dutchman Patrick Kos, Belgian Benny de Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team) and the rest of the bunch in the slightly uphill sprint to the line.
Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing), Scott McDonald (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth) and Paídi O’Brien (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) were best of the home riders, finishing sixth, seventh and eleventh respectively.
Neill Delahaye (Dublin Usher IRC) also rode strongly, taking the first hot spot/King of the Mountains prime in Kells and ending the day with both the mountains jersey and a share of fourth place in the general classification.
Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) is next best of the Irish riders in equal eighth.
The mainly flat 142 kilometre stage was run off in mild, bright conditions and was marked by a number of breakaways. The most significant of these was sparked off just before Ballyjamesduff, 51 kilometres into the stage, when Irishman Eugene Moriarty (Meath/MyHome.ie BDBC) and Tim van der Zanden (Netherlands) attacked.
They were joined over ten kilometres later by seven others, namely Rob Partridge (Britain Team Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk), Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven), Daniel Lloyd (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grand Thornton Sean Kelly), Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest), plus Irishmen Derek Burke (Ireland Pezula Racing), Simon Kelly (Dublin IRC Ushers) and Sean Lacey (Dublin Eurocycles).
This group built a maximum lead of two minutes and 15 seconds, then strong chasing by the Irish national team, the Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grand Thornton Sean Kelly squad and the Ireland Pezula Racing line-up gradually whittled down the advantage. Although the latter two teams had representatives in the break, their leaders were back in the bunch and realised that they needed to bring back the move.
Shortly after Partridge won the final hot spot sprint of the day in Newtownforbes, van der Zanden, Higham and Lloyd attacked. However the bunch continued to eat away at the lead and the field was all together inside the final eight kilometres.
That paved the way for Hanson’s sprint victory and his ending of the day in the yellow jersey of race leadership.
The 2008 FBD Insurance Rás continues tomorrow with a mainly flat 167 kilometre stage from Ballinamore to Claremorris.
How it unfolded:
140 riders lined out for the start of the 2008 FBD Insurance Rás, a 142 kilometre stage from Navan to Ballinamore. Temperatures were mild and the day was bright, with scattered clouds overhead.
The route included two category three climbs, in Kells (14.2 kilometres) and at Slieve an gCallaigh (29.3 kilometres), as well as hot spot sprints there and at Newtownforbes (104.2 kilometres).
Early attacks included solo moves by Ismael Kip (Netherlands), Daniel Davies (Britain S of E Primera Sport) and Neill Delahaye (Dublin IRC Ushers), the latter getting fifteen seconds and staying out front until just after the hot spot sprint/King of the Mountains in Kells.
The next move of significance was sparked off when Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven) went clear and was joined by 2004 race victor David McCann (Ireland) and Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly). They were however hauled back by the peloton.
On the climb of Slieve an gCallaigh, six riders forged ahead. Levi Heimans (Netherlands), Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland), Amir Zargari (Iran Islamic Azad Univer), Christer Rake (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Jean Marc Maurin (France Province Alpe Cote d’Azur) and Johannes Sickmuller (Germany Stevens von Hacht) opened up a gap but were then brought back.
It did however enable Dabrowski and Rake to take first and third at the prime, with Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula) and Kristian House (Britain Team Stena Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) getting up for second and fourth.
Shortly afterwards, nine riders got away and opened up a maximum lead of 35 seconds. These were Miceal Concannon (Ireland), Wojciech Dybel (Poland), Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk), Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven), Paídi O’Brien, Stephen Gallagher (both Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula Racing), Stian Remme (Norway Sparebanken Vest) and Nicolas Ligier (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur).
They were recaptured, with Tim van der Zanden (Netherlands) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath/MyHome BDBC) then going away just before Ballyjamesduff (which came 51.3 kilometres into the stage). At the 64 kilometre point they were caught by seven others, namely Rob Partridge (Britain Team Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk), Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven), Daniel Lloyd (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grand Thornton Sean Kelly), Derek Burke (Ireland Pezula Racing), Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Simon Kelly (Dublin IRC Ushers) and Sean Lacey (Dublin Eurocycles).
The peloton was 29 seconds back at this point and the gap continued to grow. Once past the midway point of the stage, Jean Marc Maurin (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) set off alone from the peloton and started chasing. He was 50 seconds back, with Barry Sutton (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth) 1 minute and 13 seconds behind, and the main bunch at 1 minute 40 seconds.
These chasers were both reeled in, but the bunch’s deficit nevertheless went up to 2 minutes and 15 seconds.
Iran was riding at the front and then the Ireland national team, the Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly squad and the Ireland Pezula Racing outfit began to drive hard. The latter two had riders – Daniel Lloyd and Derek Burke – in the move but it was decided that the composition was not right and thus the decision was taken to chase.
Partridge took the final hot spot sprint in Newtownforbes ahead of Hegreberg and Lloyd. Shortly afterwards, when heading through Rooskey with 28 kilometres left to go, the gap was down to 28 seconds.
Van der Zanden, Higham and Lloyd then attacked and opened up a decisive lead over their former breakaway companions. However the peloton continued to draw closer and a resigned Lloyd then sat up with about twelve kilometres left to race.
Van der Zanden and Higham pressed on but they were finally reeled in by the bunch inside the final eight kilometres. A number of attacks were then fired off, including a move containing former race winner Andrew Roche (Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan). However it seemed that a bunch sprint was destined to happen and so it proved, 110 riders hitting the line together in Ballinamore.
Hanson was quickest, holding off a strong Kos in their dual to the line. De Schrooder also showed his pace when he nabbed third, while Nestor, McDonald and O’Brien were sixth, seventh and eleventh respectively.
Hanson, Delahaye (twice), Kos, Shane Hurley (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre) ended the day best in the points, mountains, county rider, under 23 and category two rider classifications. France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur and Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC are tops in the international team and county team classifications.
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FBD Insurance Ras stage one, Navan to Ballinamore:
1, Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming – Dolan) 142 kilometres in 3 hours 6 mins 32 secs
2, Patrick Kos (Netherlands)
3, Benny de Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)
4, Mateusz Komar (Poland)
5, Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk)
6, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing)
7, Scott McDonald (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth)
8, Renaud Pioline (France Province Alpes Cote d’Azur)
9, Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest)
10, Jean Marc Maurin (France Province Alpes Cote d’Azur)
11, Paídi O’Brien (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)
12, Blazej Janiackzyk (Poland)
13, Josh James (Britain Kinesis)
14, Havard Nybo (Norway Sparebanken Vest)
15, Eugene Moriarty (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) all same time
Primes:
King of the Hills category 3/Hot spot sprint in Kells (14.2 km):
1, Neil Delahaye (Dublin Usher IRC) 5 points/3 seconds
2, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 4 points/2 seconds
3, Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 3 points/1 second
4, Kit Gilham (Britain Kinesis) 2 points
King of the Hills category 3/Hot spot sprint, Slieve an gCallaigh (29.3 kilometres):
1, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland) 5 points/3 seconds
2, Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula) 4 points/2 seconds
3, Christer Rake (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 3 points/1 second
4, Kristian House (Britain Team Stena Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) 2 points
Hotspot prime, Newtownforbes (104.2 km)
1, Rob Partridge (Britain Team Stena Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) 3 seconds
2, Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 2 seconds
3, Daniel Lloyd (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 1 second
County rider:
1, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing)
2, Scott McDonald (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth)
3, Eugene Moriarty (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) all same time
International team:
1, France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur, 9 hours 19 mins 36 secs
2, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly
3, Poland National Team, both same time
County team:
1, Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC, 9 hours 19 mins 36 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey
3, Dublin Eurocycles, both same time
General classification:
1, Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming – Dolan) 142 kilometres in 3 hours 6 mins 22 secs
2, Patrick Kos (Netherlands) at 4 secs
3, Benny de Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 6 secs
4, Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 7 secs
5, Neill Delahaye (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations)
6, Rob Partridge (Britain Stena Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk)
7, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland National Team) all same time
8, Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula Racing) at 8 secs
9, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time
10, Daniel Lloyd (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 9 secs
11, Christer Rake (Norway Sparebanken Vest) same time
12, Mateusz Komar (Poland National Team) at 10 secs
13, Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk)
14, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing)
15, Scott McDonald (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth) all same time
Points:
1, Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming – Dolan) 15 points
2, Patrick Kos (Netherlands) 14
3, Benny de Schrooder (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 13
4, Mateusz Komar (Poland) 12
5, Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) 11
6, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing) 10
Mountains:
1, Neill Delahaye (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) 5
2, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland) 5
3, Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula) 4
4, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 4
5, Morten Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest) 3
Under 23:
1, Patrick Kos (Netherlands) 3 hours 6 mins 26 secs
2, Christer Rake (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 5 secs
3, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing) at 6 secs
4, Josh James (Britain Kinesis)
5, Ole Quast (Germany Stevens von Hacht) both same time
County rider:
1, Neill Delahaye (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) 3 hours 6 mins 29 secs
2, Mark Nestor (Pezula Racing) at 3 secs
3, Scott McDonald (Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth)
4, Eugene Moriarty (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC)
5, Craig Sweetman (Meath Martin Donnelly) all same time
Cycling Ireland category 2:
1, Shane Hurley (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre) 3 hours 6 mins 32 secs
2, Mark Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey)
3, Graham Hurley (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre)
4, Kevin Donagher (Dublin McNally Swords)
5, Brendan Lacey (Kerry Total Cleaning Supplies) all same time
International team:
1, France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur, 9 hours 19 mins 36 secs
2, Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly
3, Poland National Team
4, Britain Stena Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
5, Britain Kinesis, all same time
County team:
1, Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC, 9 hours 19 mins 36 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey
3, Dublin Eurocycles
4, Dublin Dundrum Town Centre
5, Meath Cycleways@53degreesnorth, all same time
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