A total of 23 riders who made it over the eight categorised climbs and 153kms between Listowel and Glengarrif on stage 4 of the An Post Rás today only to find themselves outside the time limit have been told tonight that they are off the race.
The move is believed to be unprecedented and will lead to suggestions that the decision made in Cork this evening could fundamentally change the character of the race.
Tighter new rules introduced by the UCI have been rigidly enforced by Chief Commissaire Al Sutton and assistant Paul Watson, with the riders appeals to remain in the race falling on deaf ears.
The teams impacted had prepared written appeals this evening that were handed into a meeting of the college of commissaires on the race. However, after they met at race headquarters at the Eccles Hotel in Glengarrif in a meeting lasting around 45 minutes, the team managers who had waited outside were called back into the room and told their riders were out.
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Some of those present said there was a “robust but mannerly” exchange between some of the managers and commmissaires Al Sutton and Paul Watson. However, they were told that under new rules introduced 12 months ago, eliminated riders can only be allowed back into a UCI-ranked race after missing the time cut if they have been hit by extraordinary or exceptional circumstances.
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These include being held up by a train, a tornado, falling tree or not being permitted to pass an accident on a race route.
Some of the clubs said their riders had come home just five minutes outside the time limit and yet had not been warned anywhere along the route they were in danger of being eliminated.
A number of the riders suffered both crashes and punctures, while some of those they were with waited for them. Others complained of being held up by a fare in Kenmare. We’ll have reaction later, but in the meantime, the following are the riders affected:
Finished after Deadline of 4h09’56" (winners time + 20 per cent)
| 144 | 176 | IRL | Cullen,Brian | WEXFORD Team Voicegrid | 4h11’17" | @43’00" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 145 | 178 | IRL | Dempsey,Greg | WEXFORD Team Voicegrid | 4h11’17" | @ s/t | |
| 146 | 131 | IRL | Behan,Darach | GALWAY BAY | 4h11’17" | @ s/t | |
| 147 | 33 | GBR | McAloran,Chris | AUSTRALIA Subaru-Albion | 4h11’17" | @ s/t | |
| 148 | 132 | IRL | Clifford,Eoghan | GALWAY BAY | 4h11’17" | @ s/t | |
| 149 | 126 | IRL | Collins,Aidan | DUBLIN DundrumTown Centre | 4h13’58" | @45’41" | |
| 150 | 166 | IRL | Butler,Michael | TIPPERARY Visit Nenagh.ie | 4h13’58" | @ s/t | |
| 151 | 174 | IRL | Sherman,Mark | WATERFORD Comeragh | 4h13’58" | @ s/t | |
| 152 | 96 | IRL | McKinney,Bryan | DERRY Duffin Transport | 4h13’58" | @ s/t | |
| 153 | 177 | IRL | Byrne,Hugh | WEXFORD Team Voicegrid | 4h14’49" | @46’32" | |
| 154 | 148 | IRL | Gilvarry,Michael | MAYO Centra | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 155 | 121 | IRL | Enright,Stephen | DUBLIN North Garda Richies | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 156 | 160 | IRL | Burke,Alan | MEATH Stamullen M.Donnelly | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 157 | 119 | IRL | Moloney,Brendan | DUBLIN SOUTH | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 158 | 146 | IRL | Marrey,Padraig | MAYO Centra | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 159 | 179 | IRL | Whitty,Dave | WEXFORD Team Voicegrid | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 160 | 123 | IRL | Doyle,Michael | DUBLIN North Garda Richies | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 161 | 134 | IRL | Joyce,Derek | GALWAY BAY | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 162 | 147 | IRL | Flaherty,John James | MAYO Centra | 4h14’49" | @ s/t | |
| 163 | 135 | IRL | Ryder,Mike | GALWAY BAY | 4h49’02" | @1h20’45" | |
| 164 | 98 | IRL | O’Hagan,Niall | DERRY Duffin Transport | 4h49’02" | @ s/t | |
| 165 | 172 | IRL | Conlan,Ger | WATERFORD Comeragh | 4h49’02" | @ s/t | |
| 166 | 173 | IRL | Power,Finbarr | WATERFORD Comeragh | 4h49’02" | @ s/t |
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