One day after a miscalculation saw the team lose out an opportunity to finish first and second on stage seven of the An Post R�s, Gediminas Bagdonas and Sam Bennett achieved the rare feet today at the finish in Skerries.
Last year�s champion Bagdonas led out the gallop and while the younger Irishman tried to get past, he miss-timed his effort and was unable to do so. He finished half a bike length behind him in the sprint, while Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) and Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling) racked up third and fourth.
Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11) was best Irishman in seventh, with Peter Hawkins(Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) and Daniel Clifford(Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical) also finishing in the top ten.
Overnight leader Nicolas Baldo last won a UCI race three years ago, and said that taking the An Post R�s was a new feeling. �It�s another taste to win an eight stage race, in addition to taking a stage win in a middle,� he smiled. �It�s a beautiful week, we had a lot of luck, all the conditions came together to do a big race. I�m really pleased to write my name on the trophy and to win this race.�
He finished thirteen seconds ahead of his compatriot Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence), who impressed with his stage win over Mamore Gap into Buncrana on Thursday.
Bagdonas went into the event hoping to be the first rider to defend his title since Paul McCormack in 1987/1988. The 24 year gap shows how tough the goal is, and in the end he had to be satisfied with two stage wins, the Post Office sprints jersey and ninth overall.
�Taking a second stage win is amazing, and Sam was [also] second�it�s very nice,� he smiled after the podium presentation. �They did good work, all team, in the ending. And today we had one guy in breakaway, it�s also perfect. All day today we just sat on the wheels and waited for the bunch sprint.�
Bagdonas appeared perfectly poised to strike but was unable to overcome his 33 second deficit to the Frenchman Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo). He said that a combination of close marking tactics by several teams plus injury made his task a very tough one.
�After I think the third stage, I had a crash and I had a little problem with my back. Things were blocked, and it was difficult for me to win the general,� he said. �Every day I tried, but all teams worked together. I tried to attack but I was always caught. It is not so easy. All the teams know I am strong. I am happy to win two stages and the points, I think it�s very good for the team.�
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts said that he had asked Bagdonas to lead out the sprint, with Bennett on his wheel. He said the ideal situation would have been for Bennett to come round and take the victory, while Bagdonas would net second and seal his win in the points classification.
That seemed possible, but as the video imagery from the finish showed, Bennett didn�t kick until too close to the line. �I felt pretty good. Coming in we were trying to get first and second, but I was hoping it would be the other way around,� he said. �I was a bit too confident and left it a bit too late, waited till a hundred metres to go and just ran out of the road in the end. But we did what we needed to do, we got the green jersey, that�s what we wanted to get. That�s was our aim for today, then trying to get the stage win also. So job well done. I�m happy with today.�
The stage was marked by a long-distance breakaway which battled for the stage win. Bennett�s team-mate Sean Downey and Christopher Stephenson (Britain UK Youth Cycling) went clear approximately ten kilometres into the stage, and were joined by Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga) and Christopher Jennings (Rapha Condor Sharp) then, soon afterwards, by Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco Mesterhus, Taylor Gunman (New Zealand) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes).
It built a lead of almost two minutes and while Kelly, Gunman and then Hurum slipped back before the final lap of the 13.8 kilometre finishing circuit in Skerries, Vierbergen, Downey, Jennings and Stephenson fought on until approximately ten kilometres to go.
Attacks followed on the final ascent of the Black Hills but the Switzerland Atlas Jakroo team had things fully under control and the ensuing bunch sprint meant that Nicolas Baldo�s yellow jersey was safe.
The 27 year old rode very strongly in the race and underlined his class when he scooped a solo stage win in the yellow jersey. He finished thirteen seconds ahead of his compatriot Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence), netting the first ever victory by a French rider in the sixty years of the R�s. Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) and former race leader Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) took third and fourth, while Connor McConvey (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) was best Irish rider in seventh, 24 seconds back.
David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing, 11th), Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport, 13th) and Fitzcycles best county rider Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles, 14th) were just outside the top ten.
In the other classifications, David Clarke (Node4 Giordana Racing) took the One4All Bikes4Work mountains prize, Richard Handley (Rapha Condor Sharp) was best under 23 rider and Art McManusa (Dublin South UCD) and Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) were the strongest in the category two and Fitz Cycles county rider classifications.
As for the team awards, the one-two by Bagdonas and Bennett secured the squad the international team award for stage eight, while Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical were best of the county teams. In the overall standings, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo and Dublin West Eurocycles were strongest in both classifications.
How it happened:
The final day of the An Post R�s began in Cootehill and would end with the now-customary finishing circuits in Skerries. After a Post Office sprint in Nobber (km 38.6), the riders would fight it out on category three climbs at Slane (km 65.6), Pluckhimin (km 84), Cross of the Cage (km 103.3), plus two ascents of the Black Hills 1 (km 116.5 and km 130.3).
As has been the case for most of this sixtieth edition of the race, the stage was once again run off under bright sunshine and warm conditions.
The first attack of the day saw Sean Downey (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) going clear with Christian Jensen (Denmark Blue Water) and Michael Vingerling (Netherlands Koga Cycling) and while this was soon brought back, Downey and Christopher Stephenson (Britain UK Youth Cycling) went clear soon afterwards, approximately ten kilometres into the stage.
Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga) and Christopher Jennings (Rapha Condor Sharp) jumped across and after they built a thirty second lead, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco Mesterhus) tried to bridge. He received reinforcements in the shape of Taylor Gunman (New Zealand) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) and after approximately 30 kilometres, they succeeded in getting across. The bunch was one and a half minutes behind at this point, and was an additional ten seconds in arrears when Kelly took the Post Office sprint in the town of Nobber (km 38.6).
Vierbergen had started the day 17th overall, one minute 19 seconds behind the race leader Nicolas Baldo, and because of this control was kept on the gap the break built. The bunch tended to keep the gap between one minute thirty seconds and two minutes, and the break�s advantage was halfway between these two points on the first climb, the third category ascent at Slane (km 65.6).
Hurum took top points there ahead of Vierbergen, and the duo again went over the top of Pluckhimin (km 84) in the same order.
Shortly before the start of the third climb, Cross of the Cage (km 103.3), the gap went down to one minute five seconds. This spurred the break to accelerate and in doing so, Kelly lost contact. Gunman also slipped back, although he�d get back on after Vierbergen and Downey brought the others over the summit. His return was temporary as he got dropped once again.
The gap was back up to one minute sixteen seconds at that point, but had dwindled to a minute by the time the riders passed the huge crowds at the finish line for the first time. Two circuits of 13.8 kilometres remained at that point, each including the third category Black Hills climb, and it was looking increasingly doubtful for the break.
Sure enough, the lead fell soon afterwards to 32 seconds. This prompted Stephenson to try to get clear and while his move was covered, Hurum got into difficultly and went south.
The four remaining riders � namely Vierbergen, Downey, Jennings and Stephenson � had just 21 seconds left at the top of the first ascent of the Black Hills, where Vierbergen once again took top points. This had all but evaporated by the time they reached the finish line again, the move holding just five seconds with the final 13.8 kilometres to be covered. It was brought back very soon afterwards.
The attacks were fired off on the final ascent of Black Hills, but the first rider to the top, under 23 classification leader Richard Handley (Rapha Condor Sharp) had only a very small advantage over Jonathan Fumeaux and race leader Nicolas Baldo (both Switzerland Atlas Jakroo). Their team had things under control and a bunch gallop was inevitable.
In that final dash to the line, An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly riders Gediminas Bagdonas and Sam Bennett got things right after sprinting yesterday and not being aware that two riders were up ahead. Today�s sprint saw Bennett try to get past his team-mate for the win, but he ran out of road. The Lituanian won, nabbing his second stage victory in the race and also sealing his victory in the Post Office sprints classification.
Thanks to a combination of interesting racing, some great stage route selections and the phenomenal weather seen over the past few days, the race was a big success. The sixtieth edition is done and dusted, but many who worked on the race woke up this morning wishing it had continued for longer.
In contrast, the riders will welcome the rest after a very tough eight days of racing, but will also look back in the event with satisfaction and good memories. Everyone who finished was given a medal to mark the achievement and, through effort and sweat and battling onwards over eight days, multiple categorised climbs and almost 1200 kilometres of tough racing, fully earned it.
An Post R�s stage 8 results: Cootehill to Skerries:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 139.3 kilometres in 3 hours 15 mins 56 secs
2, Sam Bennett (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
3, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
4, Roy Eefting (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
5, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence)
6, Rolf Nyborg Broge (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
7, Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11)
8, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
9, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
10, Daniel Clifford (Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical)
11, Kristian Forbord (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus)
12, Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand National Team)
13, Daniel Bichlmann (Germany Bike Aid Cycling Team)
14, Bouke Kuiper (Netherlands Koga Cycling)
15, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) all same time
Primes:
An Post prime at Nobber:
1, Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes)
KOM cat 3 at Slane (km 65.6):
1, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco � Mesterhus) 5 pts
2, Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga) 4
3, Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 3
4, Sean Downey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 1
KOM cat 3 at Pluckhimin (km 84):
1, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco � Mesterhus) 5 pts
2, Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga) 4
3, Christopher Stephenson (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 3
4, Sean Downey (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) 1
KOM cat 3 at Cross of the Cage (km 103.3):
1, Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga Cycling) 5 pts
2, Sean Downey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 4
3, Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 3
4, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 1
KOM cat 3 Black Hills 1 (km 116.5):
1, Lars Vierbergen (Netherlands Koga Cycling) 5 pts
2, Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 4
3, Sean Downey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 3
4, Christopher Stevenson (Britain UK Youth Cycling) 1
KOM cat 3 at Black Hills 2 (km 130.3):
1, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 5 pts
2, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 4
3, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 3
4, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 1
International team:
1, Belgium An Post Sean Kelly, 9 hours 47 mins 48 secs
2, Netherlands Koga Cycling
3, Britain Node4 Giordana
4, Britain Team IG Sigma Sport
5, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, all same time
County team:
1, Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical, 9 hours 47 mins 48 secs
2, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 1 min 51
3, Tipperary Carrick Iverk Produce, at 1 min 52
4, Louth Cuchulainn Crystal, at 5 mins 16 secs
5, Meath East Spin 11, same time
Final general classification:
1, Nicolas Baldo (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 26 hours 55 mins 57 secs
2, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence) at 13 secs
3, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) at 17 secs
4, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 18 secs
5, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) same time
6, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) at 21 secs
7, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 24 secs
8, Jonathan Fumeaux (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) at 29 secs
9, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 33 secs
10, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence) at 37 secs
11, David McCann (Taiwan RTS Racing) at 39 secs
12, Wouter Sybrandy (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) same time
13, Peter Hawkins (Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport) at 44 secs
14, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) at 52 secs
15, Bouke Kuiper (Netherlands Koga Cycling) same time
Post Office sprints:
1, Gediminas Bagdonas (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 87
2, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 85
3, Remi Sarreboubee (France AVC Aix En Provence) 56
4, Pirmin Lang (Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) 53
5, Sean Lacey (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) 47
One4All Bikes4Work Mountains classification:
1, David Clarke (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 75 pts
2, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha) 61
3, Thomas Rostollan (France AVC Aix En Provence) 48
4, Sondre Hurum (Norway Oneco- Mesterhus) 43
5, Connor McConvey (Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) 31
Irish Sports Council Under 23:
1, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 26 hours 56 mins 15 secs
2, Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) at 4 mins 18 secs
3, Pieter Bulling (New Zealand National Team) at 5 mins 8 secs
4, Christopher Jennings (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) at 5 mins 8 secs
5, Julien Ammendola (France AVC Aix En Provence) at 5 mins 9 secs
CI Category 2:
1, Art MacManusa (Dublin South UCD) 27 hours 18 mins 58 secs
2, Christopher Reilly (Meath Stamullen MartinDonnelly) at 3 mins 34 secs
3, Keith Walls (Meath Stamullen MartinDonnelly) at 19 mins 4 secs
4, John O'Shea (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) at 32 mins 7 secs
5, Sean McFadden (Antrim Chain Reaction Cycles) at 32 mins 14 secs
Fitz Cycles county rider:
1, Adam Armstrong (Dublin West Eurocycles) 26 hours 56 mins 49 secs
2, Ryan Sherlock (Tipperary Carrick IverkProduce) at 7 secs
3, Patrick Clarke (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) at 8 mins 54 secs
4, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) at 9 mins 43 secs
5, Sean Lacey (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) at 14 mins 39 secs
International team:
1, Switzerland Atlas Jakroo, 80 hours 48 mins 35 secs
2, Netherlands Koga Cycling, at 4 mins 34 secs
3, Britain Rapha Condor Sharp, at 6 mins 57 secs
4, France AVC Aix, at 7 mins 10 secs
5, Belgium An Post Sean Kelly, at 8 mins 2 secs
County team:
1, Dublin West Eurocycles, 81 hours 19 mins 38 secs
2, Tipperary Carrick Iverk Produce, at 9 mins 4 secs
3, Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes Spokes, at 36 mins 29 secs
4, Meath Dunboyne DID Electrical, at 38 mins 55 secs
5, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 45 mins 41 secs