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STAGE RACING : Rás Tailteann Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM

Kruopis sprints to final stage victory as Postlberger is crowned An Post Rás 2015 Champion
By An Post Rás Press Office
24 May 2015,

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Aidis Kruopis, An Post Chain Reaction, celebrates as he crosses the line to win Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Aidis Kruopis (An Post Chain Reaction) stormed to a final stage victory on this year’s An Post Rás winning an electrifying sprint to the line ahead of Davide Vigano (Team IDEA) and county rider, Damian Shaw (Louth Team Asea), who finished in second and third place. The glory, however, belonged to Lukas Postlberger as the Tirol Cycling Team rider maintained his lead at the top of the general classification (GC) rankings to claim the coveted yellow jersey and deservedly be crowned Rás champion.

Lukas Postlberger, Tirol Cycling Team, celebrates on stage after he retained the yellow jersey following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

The final stage of this year’s edition was the shortest of the eight days but the addition of an extra lap of the Skerries circuit was sure to enhance the day’s spectacle.

The action exploded from the off with a lead break of twelve including Kruopis and last year’s winner Clemens Fankhauser (Hrinkow Advarics Cycleangteam) attacking inside the first ten minutes. Among the breakaway also sat Christophe Steurs (Team 3M), Luke Grivell-Mellor (JLT Condor), Benjamin L’Hermitte (Team Pays De Dinan) and Matteo Malucelli (Team IDEA) in addition to four county riders: Ronan McLaughlin (Cork Aquablue), Marc Potts (DOWN Nth Graham Powerhouse Sport), Bryan McCrystal and Fraser Duncan (Louth Team Asea).

The lead group proved to be the break of the day with the dozen riders working efficiently to manufacture a one minute and fifteen second lead coming into the Newtown category three climb, the first of five grueling ascents.

The bunch, controlled by Postlberger’s Tirol team, began to slowly reel them in, reducing the deficit to forty seconds going in to the first of three laps of the Black Hills category three climb.

Lithuanian, Kruopis, was in no mood to hang around however and attacked out front, being pursued only by Vigano and Grivell-Mellor. The latter however, was not able to maintain the furious pace and was dropped with two laps remaining.

The duo opened up a one-minute lead as they approached the final lap of the seaside town. It was then that Shaw decided to make his move with a late surge; a tactic the Westmeath man had used to secure podium finishes on the previous two stages. A lung-bursting effort by the Mullingar man saw him close the gap to just fifteen seconds setting up what was to be a spectacular finale. The crowd roared Shaw on as he caught the two leaders on the final straight but it was the former Orica GreenEdge man, Kruopis, who showed his class to stay the course and secure his second stage victory of this year’s race.

Today’s result capped a magnificent week for the An Post outfit, securing four stage wins with four riders also finishing in the top ten on the GC.

After a bad crash on yesterday’s stage, newly crowned Rás champion Postlberger showed true grit and guile to come through the final day still in yellow. The Austrian rider was ecstatic with the overall victory and spoke highly of the support he received from the Irish public throughout the eight days.

“It’s really amazing to take this trophy. People speak of this race and how tough it is but you have to experience it yourself to really understand. I love this country and the people. The support they showed me over the eight days was something I’ll never forget. This is an honour for me to wear this yellow jersey so thank you to everyone.”

The An Post Chain Reaction team dominated the final jersey classifications; Aaron Gate retained the green Points jersey while Kruopis’ incredible performance today saw him win every climb along today’s route and claim the King of the Mountains jersey. Ryan Mullen held on to the Under-23 classification while Ian Richardson’s superb week saw him crowned as best County Rider, a title he held for the full eight days.

Lukas Postlberger, Tirol Cycling Team, after receiving the An Post Rás Yellow Jersey Classification and the George Plant trophy following Stage 8 from Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin, Donal Connell, left, CEO, An Post, and Race Director Tony Campbell, following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Stage winner Aidis Kruopis, An Post Chain Reaction, alongside third placed Damien Shaw, left, Team Asea, and second placed Davide Vigano, Team IDEA 2010 ASD, following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin with, from left,: first county rider home Damien Shaw, Team Asea; Post Office Sprint Jersey Classification winner Aaron Gate, An Post Chain Reaction; One Direct County Jersey winner Ian Richardson, UCD; An Post Rás Yellow Jersey Classification winner Lukas Postlberger; Irish Sports Council U23 White Jersey Classification winner and third place overall Ryan Mullen, An Post Chain Reaction; second place overall, Joshua Edmondson, An Post Chain Reaction; and One4All Bikes4Work King of the Mountains Jersey Classification winner and LeasePlan Stage Jersey winner Aidis Kruopis, An Post Chain Reaction, following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

International team winners, An Post Chain Reaction with Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Pictured are from left, Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin, Aaron Gate, Ryan Mullen, Aidis Kruopis, Josh Edmondson, and Conor Dunne Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

County team winners Aquablue from Cork with Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin following Stage 8 of the 2015 An Post Rás. Drogheda - Skerries. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE


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