Giddy Up: O'Brien coasts home, all smiles, for his third win in four stages; his riding was absolutely superb all weekend (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Paidi O’Brien sealed his place in Irish cycling history this weekend after he won an incredible three of the four stages at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan.
The Osbourne Meats-McCarthy Cycles man was a comfortable winner of yesterday’s final stage, which followed up his victories on days one and two.
He had a couple of days in the race leader’s yellow jersey but lost it to Sean McKenna on Sunday.
And he said he had no regrets looking back, despite coming close to what would have been a first overall title.
Mark Dowling attacks on the final stage with yellow jersey just behind keeping a close eye on him. O'Brien said it became clear from the drop of the flag it was going to be impossible to get clear of the leader and the others on the Irish team (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Advertisement
“The best guy won the race from my perspective,” said O’Brien.
“Maybe Bryan McCrystal you could argue as well; that split on Saturday at the finish may have cost him. I crossed the line in fifth, I was happy with that.
“(McCrystal and McKenna) went up the road and they were better than me. I’ve no regrets.”
On winning three stages he said: “That’s nearly three more stage wins than I imagined; definitely two more anyway. I’m very happy; couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.”
O'Brien on his way to victory yesterday, with Martyn Irvine of the Irish team just behind (Photo: Pat Doherty)
Yesterday O’Brien said he felt the Irish national team were too strong for him to try anything and he knew from an early stage that to take back the yellow jersey would be almost impossible.
“I thought Ireland would be very strong and after two kilometres I could see they were and it was going to take something special to beat McKenna.
Related News
“I was still 40 or so seconds down and I thought if the chance was there I’d sneak into a break and move up.
“But I knew after four kilometres it was stage win or nothing so it was just a matter of staying fresh and hydrated and eating because it’s a long stage. I just tried to look after myself as much as possible.
He couldn't keep his yellow jersey on the queen stage, but O'Brien was gracious about that and delighted for his team and sponsors with how the racing went (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
“Aquablue and Ireland were strong so it worked out perfectly for me as regards the sprint.”
There was a crash with three laps to go on the small laps but O’Brien wasn’t caught up in it.
He did, in fact, end up moving up overall because Ryan Sherlock got held up. But going for the overall was never on his mind.
“I was looking at the fellas trying; McCrystal and Dowling. The Irish team were onto it straight away.”
In the yellow jersey taking his weakest placing of the weekend; 6th on the queen stage. It was a result most riders would be delighted with (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
He said Martyn Irvine and Sean Hahessy, both of whom were on the Irish team with McKenna, seemed to be very strong on the final stage, as was Colm Cassidy, who moved from UCD to Aquablue with McKenna during the off season.
“I had two stage wins so I said I’d take it handy and see what happened,” he said of his own approach, with the pressure clearly off him.
“Thank God it worked out again. For us and for (sponsor) John McCarthy it’s huge and great for me to be able to give them a bit of exposure.
"I’m sure some of the other teams were asking who we were. But it’s massive and beyond our dreams.”
Topics
