Ian Richardson seems to be growing into the job of leading the county rider Rás classification, but he knows there is a long way to go (Photo with thanks to George Doyle)
By Shane Stokes
Racing in as part of the 94 man main bunch on Tuesday’s third stage of the An Post Rás, Ian Richardson remained highly placed in the overall classification.
In fact, although the Dublin UCD rider stayed a minute and five seconds behind the ongoing race leader Lukas Postlberger, he moved up one place to fourth overall, overtaking Elliott Porter (Team 3M) due to better stage placings.
Richardson infiltrated the crucial opening day escape on Sunday and has ridden solidly since.
He admitted Tuesday that he didn’t anticipate things would go as well as they have but, now that he is in a high position overall, he will fight to remain there.
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“It is not expected at all,” he said, smiling, at the stage finish in Bearna.
“My plan coming into the Rás was hopefully to try to get a top ten [on a stage], but just with the position I am in the last couple of days, I have to give the respect the GC deserves.
“So that is what I was kind of doing today, just keeping my powder dry and watching the GC contenders. By doing that, I might be a good place by the end of the week.
“But still, there are another five more days to go, so I will see how each day comes.”
Stage three was marked by the inevitable flood of attacks early on.
Richardson said that things got a little more serious an hour and a half into the race, at least in terms of the overall classification.
Richardson, in the blue county rider jersey, takes a second county rider prize on stage 2 into Tipperary on Monday (Photo: George Doyle)
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“There was a big load of GC fireworks that went off about 60 k into the race,” he stated.
“The yellow jersey and a couple of other guys high up in GC were attacking the group. The group was splitting in the crosswind sections.
“There were a few moments where I had to bridge across myself or bridge across to some other GC contenders.
“That was a bit unexpected, but as soon as the six man break got away it kind of eased off a bit.
“While there were a few crashes during the race with the crosswinds pushing wheels together, I managed to avoid them for the most part.”
He had a brief scare with about six kilometres to go when he was caught behind a crash.
But he managed to get around it quickly and rejoin the group.
He then rolled in 24th, crossing the line in the same time as the sprint winner Matteo Malucelli (Team IDEA 2010 ASD).
Richardson is aware that the finish in Skerries is still a long way off, but things have gone perfectly thus far and he is already feeling a boost.
“It is fantastic for my confidence. An absolutely massive ego boost,” he said, speaking both of his fourth overall and also his best county rider award.
“Having the blue jersey on you gives you an extra push to find that extra gear, to find that extra ounce of energy in your legs to keep going.”
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