Sea of green on Patrick’s Hill welcomes An Post team home after gruelling three-days

The An Post Sean Kelly team were greeted by a sea of green as they approached Cork City and the daunting Patrick’s Hill climb on today’s final stage of the 2009 Tour of Ireland.

The ‘Boys in Green’ were not in the mix at the end of the day and could not build on yesterday’s impressive performance, but a gruelling three days took its toll on the team this afternoon.

“Today was a rough day it was really hard circuit and really bad weather,” An Post Team manger Kurt Bogaerts explained. “We gave it our maximum and went in the early breaks but the peloton didn’t allow us to go up ahead. We knew from the start that there was a strong field and teams wanted to go for the overall as it was an important race to win."

“The first day there was a big attack on the last climb from the big riders on the top teams, including Armstrong and then yesterday they made it for a sprint with Cavendish winning. Today was a tough day, hard from the start with different breaks and always coming back and it turned out the leading man today was the strongest man in the race."

The young Belgian manager was pleased with the team’s effort, but a little disappointed as the ambitious Bogaerts believed his team could have done better; especially in front of the home crowd and Irish sponsors.

“With our team I think we did the maximum, but I know what the team are capable of and you always aim high. It was not a great success with a big win but yesterday we had a good fifth place and good break with Cassidy. The combination of this was the highlight as a fifth in the bunch sprint is good. But today we were just dead after all the work we did.

“The event was excellent. The organisation was perfect and I’m already looking forward to next year. There is no point dwelling on things in cycling. You take the good and move on.”

An exhausted Steven Van Vooren admitted that he enjoys coming to Ireland but will have to return and travel in a car to appreciate the scenery.

“This country is something else,” the young Belgian rider quipped. “It’s a beautiful country and the scenery is nice but it’s one hell of a challenge going around the island on a bike for three days! I’ll come back and do it in a car some day.”

Russell Downing was the overall winner and the Australian also claimed the An Post Green Sprint jersey.

So, another Tour of Ireland comes to an end and the three-day event was hugely successful, with the green of An Post dominating the streets and towns of Ireland. The end of the season draws to a close for the An Post team now, who will close out the season with the final couple of races in Europe.

An Post Sean Kelly Stage 3 results

Steven Van Vooren (30th)