IT’S AS YOU were at the midway point of the An Post Rás as overnight leader Clemens Fankheuser retained the yellow jersey on the hardest day of the race so far.
The Austria-Tirol Cycling team man finished safely in the main bunch on today’s 162-kilometre fourth stage of the race from Dingle to Sneem as Danish rider Nicolai Brochner took the honours on another blisteringly hot afternoon.
The Riwal Platform team man edged the An Post Chain Reaction pair of Emiel Wastyn and Aaron Gate while Mark Dowling was best of the Irish for the second day in a row, taking sixth in the gallop that decided matters.
Dowling, riding for the Louth/ASEA-Wheelworx team was awarded the jersey for the best county rider on the day though Ian Richardson still leads that classification overall after also finishing in the main bunch.
The day was characterised by a seven-man breakaway that featured Monday’s runner-up Bryan McCrystal (Louth/ASEA-Wheelworx) as well as Ed Laverack (JLT-Condor Cycles), Casper von Folsach (Denmark- Riwal), Nicolas Vereecken (An Post Chainreaction), Rasmus Mygind (Denmark Riwal Platform), Ike Groen (Join –S De Rijke) and county rider Anthony Walsh (Aquablue).
Advertisement
They escaped after some 45 kilometres of racing and worked hard over the next 50 kilometres to chisel out a three-minute advantage on the bunch where Fankheuser and his team set a steady tempo.
However, when Walsh lost contact with the break on the day’s only category one climb after 87 kilometres, the leaders’ advantage was slowly whittled down.
It was under two minutes by the time they crested the top of the climb but the leaders still pressed on gamely.
Nicolai Brochner of Denmark takes the stage win. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The rider with most to gain from the escape was Rasmus Mygind (Denmark Riwal Platform) who started the day just 15 seconds down overall so for a spell, he was leader on the road.
On the next climb at Coomakista, the break lost Ike Groen (Join –S De Rijke) while on the final climb at Letterfinish, Von Folsach lost contact, leaving it just four up front with the bunch closing in.
McCrystal rode heroically to take points on the climbs and by the time they crested the fourth and final ramp of the day he was the new leader of the King of the Mountains classification.
Despite the four riders’ brave escape, the Tirol team proved too strong and they made the catch on that final climb and a bunch sprint – albeit a reduced one, followed.
The usual jockeying for position ensured a fast and frantic final dip into Sneem and though the An Post Chain Reaction men were well positioned towards the front, it was Brochner who got his nose in front at just the right time.
Fankheuser takes a three-second lead over Jai Hindley (Australia national team) into tomorrow’s fifth stage to Clonakilty while Aaron Gate (An Post Chain Reaction) is a further two seconds back.
Just 19 seconds separates the top 10 so another thrilling race is in store.
Ian Richardson will wear the blue county rider’s jersey once again while Hindley wears the Best U23 jersey. Aaron Gate is still in charge of the points competition though he only has five points to spare on today’s winner Brochner.
Kingdom come for Danish rider Nicolai Brochner with Rás stage win
IT’S AS YOU were at the midway point of the An Post Rás as overnight leader Clemens Fankheuser retained the yellow jersey on the hardest day of the race so far.
The Austria-Tirol Cycling team man finished safely in the main bunch on today’s 162-kilometre fourth stage of the race from Dingle to Sneem as Danish rider Nicolai Brochner took the honours on another blisteringly hot afternoon.
The Riwal Platform team man edged the An Post Chain Reaction pair of Emiel Wastyn and Aaron Gate while Mark Dowling was best of the Irish for the second day in a row, taking sixth in the gallop that decided matters.
Dowling, riding for the Louth/ASEA-Wheelworx team was awarded the jersey for the best county rider on the day though Ian Richardson still leads that classification overall after also finishing in the main bunch.
The day was characterised by a seven-man breakaway that featured Monday’s runner-up Bryan McCrystal (Louth/ASEA-Wheelworx) as well as Ed Laverack (JLT-Condor Cycles), Casper von Folsach (Denmark- Riwal), Nicolas Vereecken (An Post Chainreaction), Rasmus Mygind (Denmark Riwal Platform), Ike Groen (Join –S De Rijke) and county rider Anthony Walsh (Aquablue).
They escaped after some 45 kilometres of racing and worked hard over the next 50 kilometres to chisel out a three-minute advantage on the bunch where Fankheuser and his team set a steady tempo.
However, when Walsh lost contact with the break on the day’s only category one climb after 87 kilometres, the leaders’ advantage was slowly whittled down.
It was under two minutes by the time they crested the top of the climb but the leaders still pressed on gamely.
The rider with most to gain from the escape was Rasmus Mygind (Denmark Riwal Platform) who started the day just 15 seconds down overall so for a spell, he was leader on the road.
On the next climb at Coomakista, the break lost Ike Groen (Join –S De Rijke) while on the final climb at Letterfinish, Von Folsach lost contact, leaving it just four up front with the bunch closing in.
McCrystal rode heroically to take points on the climbs and by the time they crested the fourth and final ramp of the day he was the new leader of the King of the Mountains classification.
Despite the four riders’ brave escape, the Tirol team proved too strong and they made the catch on that final climb and a bunch sprint – albeit a reduced one, followed.
The usual jockeying for position ensured a fast and frantic final dip into Sneem and though the An Post Chain Reaction men were well positioned towards the front, it was Brochner who got his nose in front at just the right time.
Fankheuser takes a three-second lead over Jai Hindley (Australia national team) into tomorrow’s fifth stage to Clonakilty while Aaron Gate (An Post Chain Reaction) is a further two seconds back.
Just 19 seconds separates the top 10 so another thrilling race is in store.
Ian Richardson will wear the blue county rider’s jersey once again while Hindley wears the Best U23 jersey. Aaron Gate is still in charge of the points competition though he only has five points to spare on today’s winner Brochner.
‘Without realising it, I’m wasting so much energy’ – Ellen Keane writes her first Road to Rio diary
Controversial tennis star Tomic regrets ‘$10 million’ outburst
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
An Post Rás Cycling The Ras