Mark Dowling says while he struggled in the escape on stage 1, he felt much better today on stage 3. Though equal on time with the yellow jersey, he believes a number of men can still win the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan overall tomorrow. Dowling seen here today - DID rider in foreground to the left - in the bunch just before attacking in the successful move of the day (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Mark Dowling says it’s all to play for at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan tomorrow as he aims to go about taking the yellow jersey from the shoulders of Paddy Clarke, a man he is tied on time with at the top of the general classification.
The DID Dunboyne man is second overall on count back and though he said he feels strong, he believes there’s a host of guys who can still win.
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“I would say it will be all together coming onto the circuit tomorrow and a group could slip away then, but I can’t honestly say how it will go,” he said.
“I’d like to arrange a group on the circuit, but it’s often a bunch finish and with rain predicted it could change things. I’ve no plans and we’ve had no team meetings so we’ll see how it goes.
“I’m just really surprised at how well I’m going,” he added.
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“I was saying before I came down I was feeling bad but I had a feeling yesterday (Saturday) that I could surprise myself. And I was lucky enough to get in a move but I couldn’t contribute.
“I rode hard to get across and once I got there I started cramping and literally sat on because I wasn’t able to do anything. But I was lucky enough that I didn’t really have to because everyone there was riding for the GC. They were happy enough to keep the pressure on.
“Today I was fighting my way up the first climb and managed to clip away in a move, I saw Paidi O’Brien going and some of the Dutch guys and committed to it 100 per cent.
“I was a little but unsure though because there was no UCD, Irish U23 or Aquablue and I was sure the bunch would be drilling it. But I figured with small narrow roads and the fast bunch I said I’d be safer just to be out front.
“Today I actually had the legs and I did my turns because I had the GC in mind – the opposite to yesterday.”
He said he still regrets not contesting the sprint on Friday, as if he finished ahead of Clarke he’d be in yellow.
“When I knew it was coming to a sprint on Friday it was getting a bit hectic and I kind of sat up and thought we’d all get the same time.
“Maybe it’s my lack of experience because I thought I was being smart by sitting up, but I saw the lads sprinting up the hill when I was coming over the bridge and that’s coming back to bit me in the ass now. That’s what’s going to cost me.
“I still think I can win though, I was regretting it today but I’m feeling really strong. Paddy and his team will all be riding flat out for him but once you get onto the circuit all hell will break loose and it won’t just be me.
“The Dutch will be popping off the front and you can be sure Aquablue won’t be sitting back happy with themselves."
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