Team Ireland may have missed the breakaway but three of its riders - including Jack Conroy, above - are still in contention (Photo: Toby Watson)
Rás Tailteann tends to throw up plenty or action, and drama, and both were in evidence today, Wednesday, as the field raced into Co Limerick. A crash with about 50km to go - on a narrow muddy road with road works - blocked many riders. They never saw the bunch again and trailed in minutes down, some of the favourites among them. You can read about that at this link.
But there were plenty of other talking points, including many Irish county riders being very aggressive from the start. So let's name some names. And though the breakaway's advantage was cut from over 1:30 to 46 seconds on the line by the 55-strong bunch, the men in that group are really strong. There's lets to talk about, let's tease it all out in this piece...
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Team Ireland miss out
The Irish national team had riders up the road early in the stage. Liam Crowley, in particular, was very active; getting in a nine-man move and winning the opening KOH prime just after the halfway point from that breakaway.
Unfortunately, when the winning move went, the Irish team were not in it. And then, to add to their issues, Liam Crowley and Conor Murphy were among a group of riders that got delayed by the crash and lost almost 10 minutes; not their fault, but a blow.
It's day one and so there's no need to throw out any babies with the bath water. But Team Ireland not being in the breakaway was bad miss.
It's one they will not want to repeat, even if this is a young team (with two juniors, we have to remember) looking to gain experience. While this race is primarily a learning exercise, the team has the riders to win overall and take stage wins.
We won't panic just yet, but Team Ireland will hope to have better luck and make a bigger impression as the race progresses. Three of its riders - Jack Conroy and juniors Fionn Killeen and Hugh Óg Mulhearne - were in the group just 46 seconds down. So their GC hopes are still alive, for sure.
The breakaway's advantage
As with the first point above, this was the opening stage and there is lots more racing to come. One move on one stage could turn this race on it's head, everyone knows that. But 46 seconds was gained by the breakaway today and that's really significant in the context of how this race has panned out in recent years.
The top 10 in the final GC was covered by just 49 seconds last year - with only 22 seconds between the top three. And two years ago, the top 17 in the final standings were just 32 seconds apart, though 2023's race was a different ball game - Dillon Corkery winning for Team Ireland by 2:12.
Those who gained time
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We'll get to know the men in the breakaway as the week goes on. But even a cursory glance at their past results suggest these were men who you don't want to give away the best part of a minute to. When you break down the composition of the winning move, it's little wonder they gained over 1:30 at one point during their 70km+ breakaway and stayed clear.
Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT) was like a motorbike at times on his way to winning Dornan Rás Mumhan at Easter and his team knows how to win races in Ireland now, including the Rás two years ago with Dom Jackson. Today's stage winner, Rowan Baker, was last year 2nd on GC at Tour of Kosovo (2.2) and won a stage and the overall at The Peaks Two-Day in Britain.
Ewan Mackie, who is riding for UCI Conti team Madar Pro this season, won a stage at Tour of Kosovo (2.2) last year. American rider Adam Lewis (APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery) has already won a stage at Tour of the Gila (2.2) this year and was 6th overall at the Rás last year.
There are still four stages to go. There is no need for panic. But these are four good riders - in strong teams. And they took a decent chunk of time today, which was an unexpected outcome given how tight this race has been in recent years.
The Irish placings
There were no Irish riders in the breakaway today, which was disappointing. But at least they were up there in the sprint in the bunch for 5th place, and that bodes well. Odhran Doogan (Caldwell Powerhouse), who wore yellow last year, was 7th on the stage and that kind of form may land him in the win in the days ahead.
Patrick O'Loughlin (Galway Bay CC) also knows where a finish line is and he was 9th today. He was 2nd in a stage three years ago on this race and if he can muster the same kick as today over the next four stages, anything could happen.
Irish aggression
It's not just the stage result that counts, especially on the opening day of the Rás. It's always insightful to see who has the legs and willingness to get up the road and there were plenty of Irish riders will to take on the task.
Mark Shannon (Burren CC) and Hugh Butler (UCD Cycling Club) were among the early attackers. Charlie Kelly (Connacht Cycling) won the second hot spot sprint - at Borrisoleigh after 58.7km - from honorary Irishman Matteo Cigala (Dan Morrissey-Pissei) and Odhran Doogan (Caldwell Powerhouse).
And when a nine-man breakaway got clear in the first half of the stage, there were four Irish in it; Liam Crowley (Team Ireland), Paul Kennedy (Burren CC), Bryan McCrystal (Unit 7 Castlebar CC) and Lindsay Watson (Caldwell Powerhouse).
Willem O'Connor (O'Leary Stone Kanturk) was also active, getting 3rd in the KOH prime at Bollingbrook after 87km, behind US rider Lewis and Irishman Crowley.
