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Downing Wins Into Claremorris, Irish Rider Gallagher Takes Jersey
May 19, 2008, 18:41
Although British rider Dean Downing was the stage winner, day two was also a good one for Irish cycling supporters as Stephen Gallagher took over the yellow jersey of race leader in the FBD Insurance Rás.
The Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team rider made it into the crucial breakaway move and sprinted in just behind Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) and Evan Oliphant (Britain Plowman Craven) at the end of the 167 kilometre stage from Ballinamore to Claremorris.
However, having started the day two seconds ahead of them in ninth overall, he took over from American rider Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan team) as race leader.
Downing and Oliphant end the day one and two seconds behind respectively in the general classification, while Gallagher’s team-mate Mark Cassidy netted fourth on the stage and is now fourth overall.
Each of these riders were part of a 57 man front group which formed after a very aggressive first half to the stage. Then, after approximately 100 kilometres of racing, national cyclo cross champion Roger Aiken (Ireland) plus another rider clipped away.
They were soon joined by twelve others, resulting in a leading bunch comprising of Aiken, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland), Dean Downing and Rob Partridge (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk), Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven), Evan Oliphant (Britain Plowman Craven), Mark Cassidy and Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula Racing), Havard Nybo (Norway Sparebanken Vest), Martin Grashev (Bugaria Nessebar), Stevens Aubert and Renaud Pioline (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) plus Andrew Bye (Britain Surrey Racing League).
This group opened up a lead of almost three minutes over the disorganised group behind, with the Pezula team’s efforts to get back on terms being frustrated by the reluctance of other squads to commit to the chase.
Although the lead was gradually whittled down, it was clear that one of them would win the stage when the leaders passed the ten kilometre to go point with a lead of two minutes. Two clicks later Oliphant played his card, attacking hard and then being joined by Downing and Gallagher.
Downing himself kicked clear with three kilometres to go but the other two were able to get back on terms. However he had no problem in taking the sprint, beating Oliphant and Gallagher to the line. The latter had the considerable consolation of taking his – and the Irish-registered An Post team’s – first ever yellow jersey in the race
Cassidy was closing up towards the end and crossed the line four seconds behind Downing, while the rest of the break came in shortly after that. Most of the race favourites finished in as part of a large group 1 minute and 29 seconds down. Apart from featuring the race leader Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan), the group had Irish hopes David McCann (Ireland national team), Ciarán Power and David O’Loughlin (Team Pezula), as well as last year’s runner-up Paídi O’Brien (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly).
Foreign riders who missed out included past race winners Chris Newton, Kristian House (both Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) and Andrew Roche (Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan), as well as several other strong contenders. Their deficit is not insurmountable, bit missing such a big move has made winning the Rás a whole lot harder.
The race continues tomorrow with a 133 kilometre stage to Lisdoonvarna. This features the first category climb of Doonagore and, with the summit coming just five kilometres from the line, another shakeup is guaranteed.
[More to follow later]
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FBD Insurance Rás, stage two (Ballinamore – Claremorris)
1, Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) 167 kilometres in 3 hours 55 mins 48 secs
2, Evan Oliphant (Britain Plowman Craven) at 1 sec
3, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) same time
4, Mark Cassidy (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 4 secs
5, Martin Grashev (Bulgaria Nessebar) at 8 secs
6, Renaud Pioline (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) same time
7, Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven) at 9 secs
8, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland) same time
9, Stevens Aubert (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) at 11 secs
10, Havard Nybo (Norway Sparebanken Vest)
11, Rob Partridge (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) both same time
12, Andrew Bye (Britain Surrey Racing League) at 21 secs
13, Roger Aiken (Ireland) at 23 secs
14, Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula Racing) same time
15, Neil Coleman (Britain Plowman Craven)at 1 min 29 secs
General classification:
1, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 7 hours 2 mins 19 secs
2, Dean Downing (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) at 1 sec
3, Evan Oliphant (Britain Plowman Craven) at 2 secs
4, Mark Cassidy (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) at 5 secs
5, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland) at 7 secs
6, Renaud Pioline (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) at 9 secs
7, Martin Grashev (Bulgaria Nessebar)
8, Rob Partridge (Britain Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) both same time
9, Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven) at 10 secs
10, Havard Nybo (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 12 secs
Points classification:
1, Dean Downing (Stena Line Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) 26 points
2, Renaud Pioline (France Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur) 18
3, Ken Hanson (Isle of Man Microgaming Dolan) 15
4, Evan Oliphant (Britain Plowman Craven) 14
5, Patrick Kos (Netherlands) 14
Mountains classification:
1, Jaroslaw Dabrowski (Poland) 8 points
2, Alex Higham (Britain Plowman Craven) 5
3, Neill Delahaye (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) 5
4, Stephen Gallagher (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 4
5, Kieran Page (Ireland Pezula Racing) 4
Under 23 classification:
1, Martin Grashev (Bulgaria Nessebar) 7 hours 2 mins 28 secs
2, Patrick Kos (Netherlands) at 1 min 15 secs
3, Christer Rake (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 1 min 20 secs
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