2010's

2010 Alexander Wetterhall Sprocket Promotions Sweden Wins FBD Insurance Rás
Jan 2, 2010, 19:59

STAGE 1, SUNDAY 23^RD MAY, DUNBOYNE – DUNDALK 149 KMS.

Dunboyne, Ratoath, Curragha, Slane Category 3 KOM & Hot Spot Sprint, Collen Hot Spot Sprint, Ardee, Tallanstown, Louth, Dundalk, Carlingford Hot Spot Sprint, Omeath, Long Womans Grave Category 2 KOM, The Bush, Dundalk.

STAGE 2, MONDAY 24^TH MAY, DUNDALK – CARRICK-ON-SHANNON 155KMS.

Dundalk Castleblaney, Ballybay, Swans Cross Roads, Newbliss, Clones, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, Bawnboy, Bellavalley Gap Category 2 KOM, Glangevlin, Dowra, Drumshambo, Leitrim, Carrick-On-Shannon.

STAGE 3, TUESDAY 25^TH MAY CARRICK-ON-SHANNON – OUGHTERARD 171KMS

Carrick-On-Shannon Frenchpark, Castlerea, Ballinlough, Ballyhaunis, Claremorris, Hollymount, Ballinrobe, Neale, Cong, Clonbur, Finny, Gowlaun Category 3 KOM, Tir na Cille Category 2 KOM, Maum, Maam Cross, Oughterard.

STAGE 4, WEDNESDAY 26^TH MAY, OUGHTERARD – TIPPERARY 169KMS.

Oughterard, Moycullen, Galway, Oranmore, Clarenbridge, Kilcolgan, Ardrahan, Gort, Dromindoora, Killanena Category 3 KOM, Knockanena Category 3 KOM, Scariff, Tuamgraney, Killaloe, Ballina, Birdhill, Newport, Murroe, Boher, Pallasgreen, Oola,  Tipperary.

STAGE 5, THURSDAY 27^TH MAY, TIPPERARY – SESKIN HILL (CARRICK-ON-SUIR) 157KMS.

Tipperary, Lattin, Emly, Knocklong, Elton, Kilmallock, Ardpatrick, Kildorrey, Glanworth, Fermoy, Ballyduff, Lismore, Cappoquinn, The Pike Category 3 KOM, Lemybrien, Seskin Hill Category 1 KOM.

STAGE 6, FRIDAY 28^TH MAY, CARRICK-ON-SUIR – GOREY, 127KMS.

Carrick-On-Suir, Kilmaganny, Newmarket, Knocktopher, Thomastown, Gowran, Goresbridge, Borris, Garryhill Cross, Knockdramagh Category 3 KOM, The Heights Category 2 KOM, Corrabutt Gap Category 1 KOM, Bunclody, Corragh Category 3 KOM, Carnew 3 KOM, Monaseed Category 3 KOM, Hollyfort, Laraheenhill Category 3 KOM, (Inch), Gorey.

STAGE 7, SATURDAY 29^TH MAY, GOREY – KILCULLEN, 151KMS,

Gorey, Carnew, Shillelagh, Tullow, Hacketstown, Tinahely, Aughrim, Ballinaclash, Greenan,  Glenmalure, Drumgoff Category 1 KOM, Laragh, Wicklow Gap Category 1 KOM, Slieve Corragh Category 2 KOM, Hollywood, Tober Category 3 KOM, (Dunlavin), Kilcullen

STAGE 8, SUNDAY 30^TH MAY, KILCULLEN – SKERRIES, 140KMS

Kilcullen, Athgarvan, Newbridge, Milltown, Allen, Kilmeague, Prosperous, Kilcock, Dunshaughlin, Rathoath, Curragha, Pluckhimin Category 3 KOM, Garristown, Naul, Balrothery, Cross of the Cage Category 3 KOM,  Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries, Black Hills Category 3 KOM, Skerries

Race Director:   Dermot Dignam

Stage 1. Dunboyne To Dundalk 149 Kms.   Dan Craven ( Rapha Condor Sharp) 3.28.28

Dan Craven Rapha Condor Sharp Out Sprints Mark McNally To Win Stage One Of The FBD Insurance Rás In Dundalk

Stage 2. Dundalk To Carrick-On-Shannon 155 Kms.   

Michael Singer Arbo KTM Austria, Westley Gough New Zealand, Race Leader Dan Craven Rapha Condor Sharp.Matt Cronshaw Rapha Condor Sharp & Philip Lavery Murphy & Gunn At The Scene Of The Crash that Stopped The Second Stage Of The FBD Insurance Rás

Stage Two Neutralised After Accident On Course; Craven Still Leads

For the second time in the long history of the FBD Insurance Rás, the race was stopped today and neutralised to the finish. A jeep pulled out on the race course and several riders heading the main bunch hit it head on, incurring injuries that put them out of the race.

Three competitors from the Spanish Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon team plus an Italian rider with the Japan – Nippo squad were badly hurt and were taken to hospital after the dramatic incident, which happened on the descent after Bellavalley Gap and approximately 30 kilometres from the finish in Carrick on Shannon.

According to reports after the race, the Italian suffered a broken leg, while one of the Spaniards had a similar injury and also lost part of his finger. It is expected that it can be reattached.

Race leader Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sigma) was towards the front of a main bunch which was hurtling down the descent, the riders trying to overcome a two minute deficit to a large breakaway group. He said that he too nearly hit the deck.

“Six guys went down, and I was actually in seventh position. I was the first guy who didn’t fall,” he said, pointing to light abrasions on his leg caused by a glancing blow. “Some riders went over the top of the jeep. That’s why the race had to be stopped, as you have to make sure the riders are okay - and alive - in a situation like that.”

Several minutes before the crash, the break had crested the top of the climb with Irish rider Stephen O’Sullivan leading them across the summit. Yesterday’s runner-up Mark McNally was second over the prime line, and he and his An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly team were driving the pace onwards in order to preserve their advantage and overcome his seven second deficit to Craven.

In all there were well over a dozen riders in the escape, including several Irish competitors. These included the 2008 FBD Rás champion Stephen Gallagher (Britain Sigmasport Specialised), who was one of those who initially kicked clear 75 kilometres after the start in Dundalk.

The others were Rhys Pollock (Australia Drapac Porsche), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Porsche), John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), and these were soon joined by the Irish quartet Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), John Dempsey (Tipperary Dan Morrissey), Rory Wyley (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) and Sean Lacey (Limerick BDO Get Back).

Others, including the promising young Irish riders Philip Lavery (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn) and Connor McConvey (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) later bridged across, increasing the group’s size and advantage.

Providing none of McNally’s close rivals clipped away at the end, he looked poised to take over the race lead. He seemed unhappy when he came over the line, but then saw the bigger picture a little later. “It is disappointing, you could see the jersey being there at the end of the day,” he said. “But the most important thing is that the riders are okay.

“I think we actually saw the jeep, it was coming down a side road when we went past,” he said.

The race was stopped for nearly an hour while the riders were being treated, and then it was decided to neutralise the remaining 30 kilometres. The riders cruised in to the finish, but things will restart tomorrow with a 171 kilometre leg to Oughterard.

Stage 3. Carrick-On-Shannon To Oughterard 171 Kms.  David O'Loughlin (An Post Sean Kelly)  3.49.50

David O'Loughlin An Post Sean Kelly Belgium Wins Stage Three Of The FBD Insurance Rás

Stage 4. Oughterard To Tipperary 169 Kms. Maximillan May (Thuringer Energy Germany)  3.49.16

Maximillan May Thuringer Energie Germany Pips Josehp Lewis Drapac Porsche AustraliaTo The Line In Tipperary On Stage 4 Of The FBD Insurance Rás

Stage 5. Tipperary To Seskin Hill Carrig -On-Suir159 Kms. Johathan Tiernan Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp)  3.35.47

Jonathan Tiernan Locke Rapha Condor Sharp Wins Stage 5 Of The FBD Insurance Rás On Seskin Hill Carrick-On-Suir

Stage 6. Carrick-On-Suir To Gorey 127 Kms. John Degenkolb (Thuringer Energie Germany Condor Sharp)  2.59.58

John Degenkolb Thuringer Energie Germany Outsprints Dan Craven Rapha Condor Sharp To The Line In Gorey

Stage 7. Kilcullen To Skerries 151 Kms. Mark Cassidy (An Post Sean Kelly Belgium)  3.43.48

Mark Cassidy An Post Belgium Wins Stage Seven Of The FBD Insurance Rás From Jakob Steigmiller Thuringer Energie Germany

Stage 8. Carrick-On-Suir To Gorey 140 Kms. John Degenkolb (Thuringer Energie Germany Condor Sharp)  3.13.04

John Degenkolb Thuringer Energie Germany Outsprints Matt Cronshaw,Britain Rapha Condor Sharp To Take His Second Stage Of The 2010 FBD Insurance Ras In Skerries

Adrian Taheny Director Of Markrting & Sales FBD Insurance Plc, Alexander Wetterhall Sprocket Promotions Sweden Winner Of The FBD Insurance Ras 2010 & Andrew Langford CEO FBD Insurance Plc.

Peter Williams Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta 2nd. Overall

Dan Craven Britain Rapha Condor Sharp 3rd. Overall

Mark Cassidy An Post Sean Kelly Belgium Overall Mountains Winner

John Degenkolb Thuringer Energie Germany Points Winner

Connor McConvey An Post Sean Kelly Belgium Winner Of The Under 23 Irish Sports Council White Jersey & 4th Overall

Ryan Sherlock Dublin Eurocycles Best Overall Irish County Rider

International Team Winners An Post Sean Kelly Belgium, David O'Loughlin, Mark McNally, Mark Cassidy, Connor McConvey& Pieter Ghyllebert

Best County Team Dublin Eurocycles ,Ryan Sherlock, Thomas Martin, Duncon Frazer, Connor Murphy,& Adrian Hedderman

Chris Newton, Rapha Condor Sharp, presents Dermot Dignam, Race Director, with a jersey on behalf of all the riders on his retirement from the Rás.

Alexander Wetterhall Sprocket Promotions Sweden Raises His Arm In Victory

Philip Lavery Team Murphy & Gunn Best County Rider For 2 Days

David O'Loughlin An Post Sean Kelly Belgium Registered Team Winner Of Stage Four

Eoin McDonnell Team Inside Out Sport U.S.A.

Matt Howe, Curtis Staples,Eoin McDonnell, Owen Walker & John Crow Of The U.S.A. Team Inside Out Sport

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