FBD Milk Rás 2002 Review |
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Go to Stage 7, Stage 6, Stage 5, Stages 1 to 4 Click Here IRISH RIDER POWERS TO RAS WIN: (By Shane Stokes May 25) Ciarán Power today completed the final stage of the FBD Milk Rás without incident to land the first international win of his professional career. The Team Ireland Stena Line rider held onto all of his four minutes-plus advantage in the Phoenix Park criterium, sprinting home a close second despite being hampered by gear trouble. The final stage was won by GB rider Chris Newton, who ended the race second overall and took three stage wins plus the points classification.
As expected, Power was delighted with his performance. ‘It is great to come home and win this race, particularly after having such a disappointing season last year (he broke a collarbone and suffered a lot of bad luck). ‘Coming back to Ireland and doing this in front of everyone shows that I am still around and am getting stronger….I am very motivated now for the rest of the season.’ Holding a large lead going into the stage, Power needed just to avoid crashes and other misfortune in order to win the race. His Team Ireland Stena Line squad helped limit attacks in the criterium in Dublin’s vast Phoenix Park, setting a high pace at the front of the bunch and reeling in anyone strong enough to have a go. Newton’s Great Britain squad took over the pace-setting in the closing stages, lining out the bunch and paving the way for another powerful sprint by the points classification leader. Power was in the perfect position as the gallop began, but gear problems initially hampered his charge. He accelerated noticeably in the closing metres but just failed to pass Newton before the line. ‘‘It was very close’, Power said afterwards. ‘I had trouble getting the bike into the eleven sprocket for the sprint and had to sprint in the saddle until the chain dropped down, with about 30 metres to go. I nearly passed Newton but the line came just a bit too soon. But winning the race overall is the most important thing.’ ‘Ciarán rode well’, said Newton. ‘I thought that when I got a little bit of time back on Wednesday that I might be able to get the jersey back, but he was stronger after that. To tell you the truth, I was suffering a leg problem for the past few days and was on anti-inflammatories. I had a muscle strain and couldn’t really pedal properly, so I was more concerned yesterday with the guys behind me. I think the problem is just that I have done three stage races in a row – I will take a break now and things should be fine.’ ‘It was a very enjoyable race here’, he continued. ‘The crowds are amazing, they really cheer the riders on, and I had a good time. It is a bit of a busman’s holiday for me but I had fun.’
So too, clearly, did Power. ‘I am very motivated now and looking forward to going back to the team (Navigators). Things are really good over there, I am settling in very well and going better than ever as a result. The US Pro champs series is the next big target…. I will build towards them and then come back here to ride the national championships.’ Of the other Irish, Eugene Moriarty (Meath Lee Strand Cycleways), Kieran McMahon (Ciarrai Earl of Desmond) and Moriarty’s team-mate Aidan Crowley all sprinted into the top ten on the stage, a cracking performance considering the strength of the field.
Meath Lee Strand Cycleways dominated the county team category (ahead of Dublin Skip Hire and Ciarrai Earl of Desmond) with their captain, Phil Cassidy, taking the only Irish stage win. Frank O’Leary (Dublin Usher Insulation) was best of the second-category riders in the race, while his team-mate David Peelo got a special meritorious award for his efforts during the week. So too Dublin Iarnrod Eireann’s John Peppard, who broke a collarbone and two wrists in a crash on day one, but who still bravely rode on to finish the first stage. <See Pictures Here> Stage 8, Phoenix Park circuit: 1, Chris Newton (Great Britain) 1 hour 12 mins 45 secs; 2, C. Power (Team Ireland Stena Line); 3, D. Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia); 4, E. Moriarty (Meath Lee Strand Cycleways); 5, K. McMahon (Ciarrai Earl of Desmond); 6, H. Pritchard (Wales); 7, B. Miller (Canada Team Sympatico); 8, A. Crowley (Meath Lee Strand Cycleways); 9, T. Suzuki (Japan Cycleways); 10, C. Bracken (Dublin Usher Insulation) all same time Primes: F. Pedersoli (France VC La Pomme), D. Healy (Dublin Skip Hire), E. Moriarty, J. Hall (Canada Team Sympatico), Cassidy, D. Lynch (France VC La Pomme) International team: 1, Poland Team Legia; 2, Great Britain; 3, France VC La Pomme County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Usher Insulation; 3, Ciarrai Earl of Desmond
General Classification: 1, Power 28 hours 15 mins 42 secs; 2, Newton at 4 mins 3 secs; 3, H. Nowak (Poland Team Leggia) at 4 mins 33 secs; 4, H. Menad (France VC La Pomme) at 4 mins 43 secs; 5, J. Tanner (Compensation Group) at 4 mins 55 secs; 6, M. Lovatt (Compensation Group) at 5 mins 12 secs; 7, A. Hojgaard (Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn) at 7 mins 42 secs; 8, I. McLeod (South Africa HSBC) at 8 mins 17 secs; 9, G. Butler (Surrey League) at 12 mins 19 secs; 10, J. Winn (Wales) at 14 mins 40 secs Points classification: 1, Newton 107 points; 2, Power 88; 3, Nowak 61; 4, Tanner 47; 5, D. Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia) 42 Mountains classification: 1, Winn 115; 2, Manning 87; 3, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC) 62; 4, T. Buckle (Great Britain) 45; 5, Power 49 points International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Lancaster Compensation Group; 3, Poland Team Legia County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Skip Hire; 3, Ciarrai Earl of Desmond Ben McKenna Memorial trophy for best under 23: 1, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 2, I McLeod (South Africa HSBC); 3, Rudnicki Category 2: 1, Frank O’Leary (Dublin Usher Insulations); 2, M. Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey); 3, J. Horgan (Cork Stafford Fuels) <Read Full Results Here> Stage 7POWER SET TO WIN 2002 FBD MILK RAS: (By Shane Stokes May 25) Barring accident, Ciarán Power looks set to win this year’s FBD Milk Rás after a storming ride on the penultimate and toughest stage of the event. He may have lost a little time on Wednesday when the race hit the first category Healy Pass, but today there were no such cracks in his defence and he easily answered the challenges of his rivals.
Prior to the stage, Power was in confident mood about his chances of matching Newton and the other leading riders over the stage’s seven tough climbs, which began after 15 miles with the first category Devil’s Glen. Keeping the bunch together until then was the priority and so his team-mates Tommy Evans, Tim Barry and Paul Griffin set a high tempo at the front. The riders duly hit the base of the tough climb en bloc and charged up towards its one-in-four summit where mountains leader Julian Winn and yesterday’s stage victor Paul Manning grinded their way clear. Behind, Power was under no obvious pressure and crested the crowd-lined top in fifth place.
By the top of the second category Sally Gap the Great Britain rider was over a minute ahead of Winn and nearly two clear of Power’s group, which was now greatly reduced. The yellow jersey appeared to be climbing well while Newton looked under pressure to follow wheels; clearly things were going to plan for the race leader. There remained however 30 miles of undulating roads before the next major climb of Drumgoff. It was important for Power that his main rivals did not get clear before then, and this was ensured when a small regrouping saw his team-mates Tommy Evans, Tim Barry and Paul Griffin regain contact. Setting a high pace at the front, they reeled in Winn and kept the chasing group together, while an impressive Manning increased his advantage to three and a half minutes.
After the tricky, high speed descent the five chasers were joined by a group of 16 but the pressure applied by Power and, particularly, Menad on the first category Wicklow Gap caused a permanent rupture. Newton, Nowak and John Tanner (Lancaster Compensation Group) held on over the top, two minutes and 45 seconds behind Manning, while Butler and Tanner’s team-mate Mark Lovatt got back on shortly afterwards to make a seven man chasing group. Swinging around into the wind, Manning was starting to tire and his commendable solo effort came to an end ten miles from the finish. Power was sitting on and was favourite to take the sprint for his first stage win of the 2002 FBD Milk Rás, but the Englishman had enough strength in the final mile to lead out Newton into the long finishing straight. Here the green-jersey holder kicked for home and sprinted impressively to deny the race leader. ‘I thought I would get it when he led it out from so far back’, said Power. ‘But he was very strong and got to the line before me. I wanted to get a stage but the overall is the most important thing...and that went very well.’
Power has just tomorrow left and is feeling confident. ‘Anything can happen in cycling but with such a big lead things should be fine. I said at the start of the week that I wanted to enjoy the race and although I have the pressure of the jersey, that is really starting to happen.’ <See Pictures Here> Tomorrow’s eighth and final stage: 1 hour criterium, Phoenix Park. Starts 3 pm. Underage/junior race programme: Under 12 starts 11.30, under 14 11.45, under 16 12.30. Junior race starts 1.30 pm: FBD Milk Rás stage 7 (in memory of Paddy Flanagan), Arlow – Baltinglass: 1, Chris Newton (Great Britain) 95 miles in 3 hours 54 minutes 36 seconds; 2, C. Power (Team Ireland Stena Line); 3, M. Lovatt (Lancaster Compensation Group); 4, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 5, J. Tanner (Lancaster Compensation Group); 6, H. Menad (France VC La Pomme) all same time; 7, G. Butler (Surrey League RT) at 3 secs; 8, P. Manning (Great Britain) at 6 secs; 9, J. Winn (Wales) at 3 mins 5 secs; 10, G. Zoledziowski (Poland Team Legia) same time KOM Primes: Cat 1, Devil’s Glen: 1, Winn; 2, Manning; 3, N. White (South Africa HSBC). Cat 1, Luggala: 1, Manning; 2, Winn; 3, Menad. Cat 2, Sally Gap: 1, Manning; 2, Winn; 3, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC). Cat 2, Ballygannon Hill: 1, Manning; 2, Winn; 3, Spence. Cat 1, Drumgoff: 1, Manning; 2, Menad; 3, Newton. Cat 1, Wicklow Gap: 1, Manning; 2, H. Menad; 3, Newton. Cat 2, Lugnagroagh: 1, Manning; 2, Menad; 3, Lovatt International team: 1, Lancaster Compensation Group; 2, Great Britain; 3, Poland Team Legia County team: Dublin Skip Hire; 2, Dublin Usher Insulations; 3, Ciarrai Earl of Desmond Category 2 stage (sponsored by Cottar Hoose): 1, B. Lynch (Cork Stafford Fuels); 2, F. Ennis (Kildare Newbridge Cutlery); 3, S. Kelly (Cork Stafford Fuels)
General Classification: 1, Power 27 hours 2 mins 57 secs; 2, Newton at 4 mins 3 secs; 3, Nowak at 4 mins 33 secs; 4, Menad at 4 mins 43 secs; 5, Tanner at 4 mins 55 secs; 6, Lovatt at 5 mins 12 secs; 7, A. Hojgaard at 7 mins 37 secs; 8, McLeod at 8 mins 17 secs; 9, G. Butler (Surrey League) at 12 mins 19 secs; 10, Winn at 14 mins 40 secs Points classification: 1, Newton 92 points; 2, Power 74; 3, Nowak 61; 4, Tanner 47; 5, D. Rudnicki (D. Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia) 42 Mountains classification: 1, Winn 115; 2, Manning 87; 3, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC) 62; 4, T. Buckle (Great Britain) 45; 5, Power 49 points International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Lancaster Compensation Group; 3, Poland Team Legia County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Skip Hire; 3, Ciarrai Earl of Desmond Ben McKenna Memorial trophy for best under 23: 1, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 2, I McLeod (South Africa HSBC); 3, Rudnicki Category 2: 1, Frank O’Leary (Dublin Usher Insulations); 2, M. Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey); 3, Kelly <Read Full Results Here> Stage 6POWER IMPRESSES, GEARS UP FOR HARDEST STAGE: (By Shane Stokes May 24) For the second day running, Team Ireland Stena Line cyclist Ciarán Power foiled a concerted effort by the Great Britain team to eat into his four minute race lead before tomorrow’s crucial stage of the FBD Milk Rás. Power finished a fine fifth on today’s 97 mile race from Dungarvan to Arklow, run off at record speed in just over three hours and 2 minutes, and conceded a mere one second to chief rival Chris Newton in the finishing sprint.
The win was just reward for the rider who has dedicated his strength this week to helping Newton in his bid to reclaim the yellow jersey. Indeed the other three members of the GB team gave their all today to further that aim, joining with Newton and Manning in launching a ferocious attack shortly after the start in Dungarvan. Pushed along by a gale force tailwind, the break swiftly opened up a big lead over the main bunch. Power succeeded in joining the move but with just one team-mate present – Tim Barry – to Newton’s four, there was a real danger that the race leader would be first isolated and then worked over down the road. Adding to the danger was the presence of many of the other challengers in the race. The threat increased yet further when the furious pace caused Barry to slip back, leaving Power and the ever-consistent, ever-impressive Paddy Moriarty (Dublin Skip Hire) as the sole Irishmen up front. There was a real possibility that Newton and team-mate Steve Cummings (also high up on the general classification) would work over the race leader but this golden opportunity faded when Cummings, Tim Buckle and Bryan Steel overdid things and got into difficulties themselves before Waterford. Cummings briefly rejoined but once out of Power’s home city he was dropped once more, leading to a ferocious attack by the race leader which temporarily splintered the dozen remaining up front and, more importantly, sealed the Briton’s fate. That left just Newton and Manning left of the GB quintet and a relieved Power began to contribute to the pacemaking.
Relaxed and looking more and more comfortable in yellow, Power had a go with three miles remaining but was marked by Manning, who refused to work. The Team Ireland Stena Line rider sat up but Manning jumped again, soloing clear and crossing the line 11 seconds ahead of Newton, who was in turn one second ahead of Lovatt, Nowak and Power. In all they took just over three hours and two minutes to cover the 97 miles: an average speed of 31.7 mph, which the race organisers say was the fastest ever.
‘I had a go at the end but Manning went at the same time and got onto my wheel. He wasn’t coming through and I saw the Danish rider coming up to us – he was very strong – so I eased back. Manning got away then and took the stage.’ ‘I am looking forward to tomorrow’s stage. I think I should do a good ride. I didn’t feel like myself the other day when I lost a little bit of time to Newton (Wednesday) but now I feel a lot better and am pretty confident of my chances tomorrow. We will just take it as it comes and hopefully it will work out well.’ Tomorrow’s stage: Arklow – Baltinglas, 95 miles. Includes the first category climbs of the Devil’s Glen, Luggala, Drumgoff and Wicklow Gap.
Primes: Category 3, the Pike: 1, Pritchard; 2, Winn; 3, T. Barry (Team Ireland Stena Line) International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Wales; 3, Lancaster Compensation Group County team: 1, Dublin Skip Hire; 2, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 3, Dublin Usher Insulation Category 2 stage (sponsored by Cottar Hoose): 1, Frank O’Leary (Dublin Usher Insulation; 2, J. Horgan (Cork Stafford Fuels); 3, F. Ennis (Kildare Newbridge Cutlery)
Points classification: 1, Newton 77 points; 2, Power 60; 3, Nowak 49; 4, D. Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia) 42; 5, Pritchard 40 Mountains classification: 1, Winn 67; 2, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC) 50; 3, T. Buckle (Great Britain) 45; 4, P. Griffin (Team Ireland Stena Line) 27; 5, Pritchard 21 International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Lancaster Compensation Group; 3, Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Skip Hire; 3, Ciarrai Earl of Desmond <Read Full Results Here> Stage 5STALEMATE ON STAGE FIVE: (By Shane Stokes May 23) Subdued yesterday afternoon after conceding 39 seconds to his chief rivals, Irishman Ciarán Power was back to his normal high spirits at the end of today’s fifth stage of the FBD Milk Rás. The Team Ireland Stena Line rider finished third into Midleton, but the real source of his satisfaction lay in his strong performance during the 105 mile leg where he easily answered the attempts of second-placed Chris Newton to chip away at his lead.
‘‘Yesterday (Wednesday) was a bit disappointing but today I felt 110 percent again’, said Power this afternoon. ‘I had very good legs and am starting to enjoy having the jersey.’ Newton’s team came out firing this morning, sending Tim Buckle up the road after 12 miles in an attempt to put early pressure on the Team Ireland Stena Line squad. Aided by a strong tailwind, Buckle raced towards Cork at an average speed of thirty miles per hour and opened up a lead of two minutes, before weakening and being recaptured after 60 miles alone out front. Newton chose the moment to launch his own attack, racing clear of the bunch but was almost immediately joined by Power, who then scored psychological points by jumping the English rider. He was clearly stronger than on yesterday’s mountain stage, when the effects of Tuesday’s marathon breakaway had blunted his strength. And, although the duo were reeled in by the main bunch, the yellow jersey went on the offensive again with about fifteen miles to go and caused chaos in a rapidly-splintering main field. Newton and the other main contenders succeeded in bridging across to him but a point had been made. Power’s team-mate Tommy Evans then showed his strength by going to the front and maintaining a high speed into the finish in Midleton, preventing attacks and ensuring the first bunch sprint of the race. The leading duo continued their psychological battle by going for the stage honours, but both had to give way to the speeding Pole Dariusz Rudnicki, who thundered across the line for a fine win. Eugene Moriarty was best of the Irish county riders in sixth place.
‘The team rode really well to keep things together. Tommy Evans was very strong in the last few miles, he just sat at the front doing 30-35 miles per hour and stopped anyone from getting away. We will keep taking it day by day, but everyone on the team is coming into really good form. We are starting to enjoy having the lead now.’ Chris Newton vowed to keep on attacking, but said he was disappointed not to take time out of Power. ‘We sent one of our riders up the road early on to try to make things hard on the Irish team, but they were very strong. They got a bit of help too from some other Irish riders. I was hoping to get some time back today but it didn’t work out that way.’
FBD Milk Rás stage 5 (in memory of Joe O’Brien) Castletownbere – Midleton: 1, Dariusz Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia) 104 miles in 3 hours 37 mins 53 secs; 2, C. Newton (Great Britain); 3, C. Power (Team Ireland Stena Line); 4, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 5, R. Muir (Scotland-Visit Scotland); 6, E. Moriarty (Meath Lee Strand Cycleways); 7, G. Zoledziowski (Poland Team Legia); 8, I. McLeod (South Africa HSBC); 9, A. Randell (Canada Team Sympatico); 10, S. Cummings (Great Britain) all same time KOM Primes: Category 3, Traflask: 1, J. Winn (Wales); 2, D. Spence (South Africa); 3, J. Tanner (Lancashire Compensation Group). Cat 3, Loughavaul: 1, T. Buckle (GB); 2, A. Ross (Scotland); 3, Winn. Cat 3, Derrycreha: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Ardyhoulihane: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Caherogullane: 1, Buckle; 2, P. Healion (Dublin Usher Insulation); 3, Spence. Cat 3, Coolfada: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Coolcullitha: 1, Power; 2, Newton; 3, Winn. International team: 1, Poland Team Legia; 2, Great Britain; 3, Lancaster Compensation Group County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Skip Hire; 3, Dublin Usher Insulation
Overall classification (George Plant Trophy): 1, Power 20 hours 5 mins 38 secs; 2, Newton at 4 mins 4 secs; 3, A. Hojgaard (Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn) at 4 mins 32 secs; 4, Nowak at 4 mins 33 secs; 5, Randell; 6, Cummings; 7, H. Menad (France VC La Pomme) all same time; 8, Tanner at 4 mins 55 secs; 9, K. Dawson (Lancaster Compensation Group) at 5 mins 4 secs; 10, B. Brooks (NW England Cycle Centre RT) at 5 mins 10 secs Points: 1, Newton 63; 2, Power 49; 3, Rudnicki 39; 4, Nowak 37; 5, Pritchard 32 Mountains: 1, Winn 63; 2, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC) 50; 3, T. Buckle (Great Britain) 45; 4, P. Griffin (Team Ireland Stena Line) 27; 5, Hojgaard 18 International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Lancaster Compensation Group; 3, Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Tipperary Dan Morrisey; 3, Dublin Skip Hire Best under 23 (Ben McKenna Trophy); 1, Nowak; 2, Cummings; 3, McLeod Best 2nd category rider: 1, Frank O’Leary (Dublin Usher Insulations); 2, M. Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey); 3, Simon Kelly (Cork Stafford Fuels) <Read Full Results Here> |
Besides
Power, best of the Irish overall was Paddy Moriarty. The Dubliner once again
showed his stage race pedigree in finishing 13th overall, a brilliant result for
a full-time worker and one which saw him win the award for best club rider in
the race.
The
Team Ireland Stena Line rider finished just behind his closest-placed contender
Chris Newton in an 8 man sprint to place second on the mountainous 95 mile stage
to Baltinglass. That means Power goes into tomorrow’s hour-long criterium in
Dublin’s Phoenix Park with a lead of 4 minutes and 3 seconds which, barring
accident or serious misfortune, will see him take his first international
victory since turning professional in 2000.
Motivated
by thoughts of taking more KOM points (Winn) and nabbing a second stage victory
(Manning), the leading duo hit the slopes of the first-category Luggala climb
one minute ahead. Manning was clearly pedalling with more ease and before the
summit of the climb he moved clear to begin a brave solo bid for success.
Feeling
good, Power seized the initiative on Drumgoff and jumped clear with Newton and
Poland Team Legia’s Hubert Nowak on the steep, tree-lined lower slopes. Surrey
League rider Gethin Butler and France VC La Pomme’s Hichem Menad grinded
across the gap soon afterwards, with the latter going to the front and setting a
ferocious pace to the top.
‘I
felt very good today. The (Irish) lads worked really hard for me early on to
keep things together and did a great job to get me to the bottom of Drumgoff. I
felt good there so decided to attack – when you have the legs, that is
sometimes the best form of defence and so I went for it. A few guys got up to me
but that split things up behind.’
The result is a big disappointment to the Great
Britain rider, who was hoping to peg back Power’s advantage before tomorrow’s
mountainous stage around the toughest peaks in Wicklow. The GB team’s sole
consolation is that last year’s winner, Paul Manning, raced clear in the
closing miles and scooped a fine solo victory on this sixth leg of the 2.5
event.
The twelve riders read like a list of the strongmen
of the race with three recent FBD Milk Rás winners present (Power, Manning and
Welshman Julian Winn) plus Newton, professionals Hubert Nowak (Poland Legia) and
Ian McLeod (South Africa HSBC), Huw Pritchard (Wales), John Tanner and Mark
Lovatt (Lancashire Compensation Group), Moriarty, Ari Hojgaard (Denmark Distrikt
Jylland Fyn) and France VC La Pomme’s Hichem Menad. Their collective effort,
plus the effects of the strong wind, saw them cover a scorching 34.3 miles in
the first hour, 64 by hour two and open up a 9 minute lead over the disorganised
and weary main bunch.
‘I felt very good today and am happy with how
things went’, said Power after receiving a fresh yellow jersey. ‘I was a
little worried early on when all five of the GB team were in the break but when
they started slipping back I was more relaxed. Declan Byrne (Irish team manager)
said that Cummings had cracked so I put in a 2 kilometre effort to make sure he
didn’t get back on, and then after that there was less danger.’
FBD Milk Rás stage 6 (in memory of Ben
McKenna), Dungarvan – Arklow: 1, Paul Manning (Great Britain) 97 miles
in 3 hours 2 mins 31 secs; 2, C. Newton (Great Britain) at 11 secs; 3, M. Lovatt
(Lancaster Compensation Group); 4, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 5, C. Power
(Team Ireland Stena Line); 6, I. McLeod (South Africa HSBC); 7, J. Tanner
(Lancaster Compensation Group); 8, H. Pritchard (Wales); 9, A. Hojgaard (Denmark
Distrikt Jylland Fyn); 10, J. Winn (Wales) all same time; 11, H. Menad (France
VC La Pomme) at 22 secs; 12, P. Moriarty (Dublin Skip Hire) same time
General Classification: 1, Power 23
hour 8 mins 21 secs; 2, Newton at 4 mins 3 secs; 3, Hojgaard at 4 mins 32 secs;
4, Nowak at 4 mins 33 secs; 5, Menad at 4 mins 43 secs; 6, Tanner at 4 mins 55
secs; 7, McLeod at 5 mins 12 secs; 8, Lovatt at 5 mins 12 secs; 9, Winn at 11
mins 35 secs; 10, K. Dawson (Compensation Group) at 12 mins 8 secs
Indeed Newton’s sole gain was a few inches
advantage over Power at the end of the stage, which was enough to net him second
place behind the Polish sprinter Dariusz Rudnicki but did nothing to further his
hopes of regaining yellow. The Englishman is still over four minutes adrift and
must pull out all the stops if he is to get back on terms with his increasingly
confident rival.
Power was clearly satisfied after the stage. ‘Chris
Newton had a go after his team-mate was brought back but I got across to him and
then attacked myself. I got clear later on in a group and that caused the big
split in the bunch. I felt much better today, back to normal.’
‘Realistically I thing this makes things hard for
the overall. I will try again tomorrow as I don’t think I am going to get 4
minutes back on Saturday’s stage. I might get 30 seconds to a minute out of
Ciarán but that is not enough…it is going to be hard to win the race now.’