Stage 7
11.00 : Good morning from stage seven of the An Post Rás, Donegal town to Cootehill. Todays stage is 161 kilometres and we are pleased to be able to report that its another sunny day in store for the riders. Theres been great weather this year, which has been appreciated by those competing. Its a lot better and safer than rain.
Apparently it was 26 degrees on Glengesh yesterday nice!
11.11: All 150 riders started. Straight away, Sam Bennett (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) attacked; its a signal to the yellow jersey that he will be under fire from that team today.
11.13: He has fifteen seconds now
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11.18: He was deemed too dangerous and the bunch has brought him back.
11.20: Eugene Moriarty (Meath East Spin 11) attacked but with a crosswind and wide open roads, the move wasnt going to get far; it didnt, and hes back in the bunch.
11.26: Three riders attacked: Ronan McLaughlin (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Martyn Irvine (RTS Racing) and Philip Lavery (Node4 Giordana). They have been joined by Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes)
11.28: Two riders are coming across Mark Pedersen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) and Simon Richardson (IG Sigma Sport)
11.31: They are eleven seconds back, while the main field is 28 seconds behind.
11.34: Those two groups join up to make a leading break of six. Lasse Norman Hansen (Denmark Blue Water) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes) are further back and chasing hard.
11.36: The two chasers are 32 seconds back, with the peloton just four seconds further behind. That means its not looking good for them to stay clear.
11.37: Sure enough, they sit up. The leaders persist.
11.44: Weve gone through Bundoran and also Kinlough; the riders have now covered 28 kilometres. The gap is 40 seconds, so its hovering around the same point.
Interesting move Irvine took stage seven one year ago, hell be hoping that history repeats itself. Lavery and Buggle have been riding well this week, and McLaughlin had a superb ride into Bundoran when he nearly won from a 70 kilometre break. He was caught with 100 metres to go.
Richardson is the 2009 race winner.
11.50: The riders are no threat to the race leader; Buggle is best-placed, ten minute 35 seconds back. But will they be given leeway to go for the stage win?
11.53: The gap has gone up to 56 seconds. We are driving alongside a stunning lake; some really great scenery in Donegal this year. Its worked very well to have these stages here, methinks, although the rest of the country will hope to have the race back in 2013.
11.55: At 161.4 kilometres, this is the longest stage of this years An Post Rás. There are just two categorised climbs, the second category Bellavalley category two climb 92.3 kilometres after the start, then the category three Kavanaghs Hill (km 144.4). However the roads are quite lumpy, and race director Dermot Dignam expects this to be a tough stage.
11.57: With 36 kilometres covered, the breaks lead has gone up to one minute four seconds. Thats looking promising for them, although theres still a long way to go.
12.10: The riders in the break are all working equally, knowing that its crucial to share the effort on this long stage. The most recent time gap was one minute 52 seconds.
They covered 44 kilometres in the first hour today
12.17: The team cars have started to come up, but they are not allowed to feel the riders until 50 kilometres have passed. Weve covered 48km, so the bottles will be readied and any energy gels or food soon to be handed out.
Rhys Lloyd (Britain East Midlands Metaltek) has abandoned the race.
Have to be careful today; being the longest stage, battery life of the laptop will be a priority. Think its okay, though
12.21: The leaders have just passed through Kiltyclogher, which is exactly 50km into the stage. Feed up, guys!
The days Post Office sprint takes place in 9.3 kilometres time, in Glenfarne.
12.24: Again, really stunning scenery here
very unspoilt landscape in this part of the country.
David McCann and riders from Baldos Switzerland Atlas Jakroo team are on the front of the peloton. Given that McCanns team-mate Irvine is up here, we presume hes blocking
12.26: The latest time gap is one minute 48 seconds.
12.28: We are skirting the border, so the mobile broadband sometimes goes to a different network, preventing updates. Hopefully wont happen much. Its locked us out of updates at present, bear with us.
12.37: The riders have just passed the Post Office hotspot sprint in Glenfarne. Lavery was first there, taking the prime.
Theyve turned into a headwind. The network coverage has returned, so we can update this again.
The Czech team are doing a lot of the chasing behind. David McCann told us yesterday that he felt that other teams were playing into the hands of the Switzerland Atlas Jakroo team, riding a lot and taking the pressure off the race leaders squad.
That of course hurts those teams chances of being able to fight for yellow.
12.46: Darn coverage again patchy.. bear with us
12.55: The break has covered 72 kilometres; things are pretty stable here and back in the bunch. Both groups are rolling through, keeping the gap constant at 1 minute 40.
As mentioned earlier, the second category Bellavalley category two climb rears up at the 92.3 kilometre point. Well, thats the summit; the riders will begin climbing before then.
13.03: And now they are on the climb
The break remain together now, and will likely do so going over the top. Theres a long way to go yet, and they need every man to keep pulling.
13.05: Apologies, folks - network coverage has been naff for quite a while now. Still typing this, will get online when possible.
13.10: The gap is now one minute 40.
This upcoming climb is where there was a bad crash two years ago. The race was stopped for some time, and eventually neutralised to the finish. Dan Craven was in the yellow jersey that day, just missing the crash.
13.16: We passed the halfway point of this race several kilometres ago.
The gap is one minute 53 seconds. Weve gone ahead of the race and are moving towards the top of the climb, maintaining radio contact.
13.21: Wow theres a very strong headwind at the top of the climb. Its really exposed here, so thatll make it tough for the break. Good crowd of people at the top, wearing green t-shirts supplied by the race sponsor.
13.30: We are waiting at the top for the riders
13.34: They go by, with Lavery leading them over the top. He was slightly ahead of Richardson and Buggle.
Irvine was dropped on the climb hes bulked up a lot with his track training and faces a long chase into that wind. Hell hope that things are more sheltered on the descent and afterwards.
13.38: Irvine is 45 seconds back on this descent
its tough, hed like to have taken this stage after winning it last year.
KOM category 2 at Bellavalley:
1, Philip Lavery (Node4 Giordana)
2, Simon Ricardson (IG Sigma Sport)
3, Aaron Buggle (Carlow Dan Morrisey Speedy Spokes)
4, Ronan McLaughlin (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)
5, Mark Pedersen (Denmark Blue Water)
6, Martyn Irvine (RTS Racing)
13.45: Irvine has eased back; he knows its impossible to close the gap. Hell wait for the bunch and see what he has left for later or tomorrow.
13.46: Hes not here with the race as a primary goal, but rather as preparation for the Olympic Games, where he will compete in the track omnium.
13.47: The gap is two minutes twelve seconds with 101 kilometres covered; sixty kilometres are left in this stage.
The bunch has now picked up Irvine, wholl be glad of the shelter
13.49: Its still very sunny, by the way. The wind isnt so bad down at ground level, it was worse on the climb itself as it was so exposed.
13.55: In related Rás news, a reunion of "The Men of the Rás" from the 50’s and 60’s is being organised in late September or early October of this year, and will take place in Louis Moriarty’s Sneem Hotel in Kerry.
Pat Fitzgerald has been in contact with us about that. We have about sixty confirmed so far, including winners Colm Christle ’53 , Gene Mangan ’55 , Paudie Fitzgerald ’56 , Frank Ward ’57 , Mick Murphy ’58.
Sounds interesting more details can be got by contacting Louis Moriary in the Sneem Hotel.
13.57: The roads are more exposed again, meaning that the break is being held back. We are sitting behind the leaders, who are battling their way into the breeze.
14.02: The gap is two minutes 15 seconds at this point; they’ve done 111 kilometres, and are heading into Baelturbet.
14.15: Weve linked some videos from yesterdays stage; youll find several video on the Irishcycling home page, including race leader Nicolas Baldo and prominent Irish rider Adam Armstrong, who was third yesterday . 13.57: The roads are more exposed again, meaning that the break is being held back. We are sitting behind the leaders, who are battling their way into the breeze.
14.02: The gap is two minutes 15 seconds at this point; they’ve done 111 kilometres, and are heading into Ballyconnell.
14.18; The gap is down to one minute 47 seconds now. The riders are moving through Belturbet (km 122.8), so they still have an hour left.
14.21: With the break one minute 41 seconds ahead, Lavery has attacked alone.
14.30: Hes now got 18 seconds over the other riders. The roads are narrow and sheltered here, which will help him.
14.40: Lavery is 15 seconds ahead of Richardson, Buggle and McLaughlin; Pedersen is 52 seconds back.
David McCann has jumped away from the main bunch and is at 1 minute 55 seconds, with the bunch at 2 minutes 28 seconds.
That puts McCann close to becoming race leader on the road
Lavery is easing off, knowing that the others are coming back to him.
14.42: Stephen OSullivan, who is now responsible for coming up with the Rás route each year, has found some great roads for today. Its the first time these have been used in the race. Reminds me of racing in Bohermeen narrow roads, sunny weather
Great for racing.
14.46: The leaders have approximately 25 kilometres to go.
14.47: McCann has caught Pedersen and is one minute ten seconds back, with the main field is at two minutes.
So McCann continues to progress; when will the bunch react?
14.50: McCann and Pedersen have now caught them theres a six man lead group now. McCann is doing all the work after the junction. Great effort by the former winner of the race we interviewed him after yesterdays stage finish; youll be able to access that from the Irishcycling.com home page.
14.54: Twenty kilometres to go for the leaders
.theres a third category climb now, Kavanaghs Hill, which could see attacks from the main field. If the An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team want to win this race, they have to give it everything with McConvey or Bagdonas now.
14.57: The main field is now one minute back
McCann had a mechanical on the climb, but is going again
McLaughlin and Lavery have attacked the group now
15.00: There must have been a major attack on the climb, as race radio now says the gap is just 22 second
stay tuned, well keep you posted
15.02: There are four chasers at 15 seconds; waiting for clarification as to who they are.
Correction: the bunch isnt that close.
Lavery and McLaughlin lead, fifteen seconds ahead of McCann, Pedersen, Richardson and Buggle. They are chasing hard.
Further back, the main field is at 45 seconds.
15.03: The McCann group is now 11 seconds back
getting closer
The main field is at 36 seconds.
15.05: The six leaders are back together again; the bunch is 28 seconds back. A bunch sprint isnt out of the question
.
The bunch is now just 15 seconds back, so this break is toast. Good try, but not today.
15.07: Its now back together with just over ten kilometres to go
will Bagdonas or McConvey have a go? They need to, as its seldom that the final stage sees many changes
(would be a good showdown, though)
15.09: Kai Exner (Germany Bike Aid) has attacked. Hes been joined by Rolf Nyborg Broge (Denmark Blue Water) and Christopher Reilly (Meath Stamullen M. Donnelly), and together they pass ten kilometres to go.
They are eight seconds clear
15.12: They are now sixteen seconds ahead
now Reilly has been dropped, the other two continue.
15.16: Still two leaders...
15.19: We are back - battery almost went, but have plugged in at the podium! We think things are back together, information is scarce. Two kilometres to go...
15.22: Riders in the final kilometre...huge crowds at the finish here...
15.23: Danish rider Hansen has attacked....
15.24: He takes it...! Great solo stage win for the rider who will compete with Martyn Irvine in the Omnium event at the Olympic Games...
He finished approximately five seconds ahead of Kai Exner (Germany Bike Aid), with Sam Bennett (An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) leading in the main bunch.
15.28: Final results are subject to confirmation, but Bennett finishing one place in front of Gediminas Bagdonas doesn’t make much sense - Bagdonas needs all the points he can get to fight for the green jersey.
Ideal situation is that Bagdonas would finish ahead of him, with Bennett acting as a buffer between Bagdonas and the points leader, Marcin Bialoblocki. The latter was two points ahead of Bagdonas starting today’s stage...
The general classification doesn’t change; Nicolas Baldo keeps yellow today, and has just one more stage to go.
We’ll get provisional results - back shortly
15.33: We wonder if Bennett didn’t realise that there were two riders ahead - he put at least one hand up when he went over the line. Perhaps he thought he was sprinting for first place.
15.45: Here’s the provisional results for stage 7:
1, Lasse Norman Hansen(Denmark Blue Water Cycling) 4 hours 13 mins 21 secs
2, Kai Exner(Germany Bike Aid Cycling Team) at 7 secs
3, Sam Bennett(Belgium An Post Sean Kelly) at 12 secs
4, Gediminas Bagdonas(Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
5, Roy Eefting(Netherlands Koga Cycling)
6, Marcin Bialoblocki(Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
7, Rostislav Krotky(Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
8, Richard Lang(Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
9, Peter Hawkins(Britain Team IG - Sigma Sport)
10, Pirmin Lang(Switzerland Atlas Jakroo) all same time
General classification:
1, Nicolas Baldo(Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
2, Thomas Rostollan(France AVC Aix En Provence)
3, Martin Hunal(Czech Republic AC Sparta Praha)
4, Pirmin Lang(Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
5, Richard Handley(Britain Rapha Condor Sharp)
6, Marcin Bialoblocki(Britain Node4 Giordana Racing)
7, Connor McConvey(Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
8, Jonathan Fumeaux(Switzerland Atlas Jakroo)
9, Gediminas Bagdonas(Belgium An Post Sean Kelly)
10, Remi Sarreboubee(France AVC Aix En Provence)
Bialoblocki does indeed hold onto the points jersey on countback. So tomorrows final sprint is going to be crucial in relation to that competition.
Well leave it there for now time gaps have not been calculated for provisional results, but they are expected to be the same as yesterdays GC for the top ten riders, anyway.
Need to get videos and quotes, so thanks for reading come back later for a lot more.