The champ: Lukas Postlberger of Tirol Cycling Team celebrates his Rás win. He said he felt hugely strong all week but was under pressure on yesterday's final stage after his crash on Saturday (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Overall winner of the An Post Rás, Lukas Postlberger, admitted he came under severe pressure from the man closest to him in the general standings.
He added medication taken to alleviate pain from his crash on Saturday didn’t make his life any easier on the final stage.
The Tirol Cycling Team man said he was confident of holding the jersey after yesterday’s penultimate stage but Josh Edmondson of An Post Chainreaction, who started over a minute behind him, didn’t give up without a fight.
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“The shoulder wasn’t the problem today,” said the 23 year-old in Skerries yesterday.
“The tablets for the pain made me dizzy and I was really slow and I had to focus really hard.
“It also hit my engine today; on the first climb I was suffering a lot just to keep Josh’s back wheel.
"But it was getting better and better with each round and I had no problem to recover after the hills.”
Postlberger takes the congratulations from his compatriots on the Hrinkow Advarics Cycling Team at the conclusion of yesterday's stage (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Postlberger hailed his team for their efforts in safeguarding the jersey since he took it last Monday while he also suggested he could have won every stage only he chose to save energy instead.
“The first two days I wasn’t so confident but in the crosswind sections I felt really strong and I thought I could win every stage if I wanted, but I just (chose to) save the energy.
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“It was good and after two days of crosswinds I felt really confident.
“I know my team were good and could cover me much better than in the crosswind sections, but I was confident.
“At this second this win is ranked the highest of all my wins.
Sporting torn kit and flesh after his crash on Saturday. Aside from that spill, the yellow jersey and his team always looked too good for the rest of the squads in the field (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
“The emotions are really strong. I’m happy. I’m proud of myself and my team and to beat the other guys. It’s overwhelming.
“This is my first UCI stage race overall win so it means much to me.
“I’ve won one-day races and time-trial races and now I also win a stage race so I can do everything I think, it’s a good feeling.
“I’ll now focus on the national championships in Austria and try to get a professional contract but everyone wants that.
“It’s going to be hard but I hope this victory pushes me a step closer to that.”
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