Sean Downey (centre, in green and black kit) believes his efforts yesterday were not wasted despite being overhauled in the main escape in the closing kilometres of Rás 2014 stage 1 into Roscommon (Photo: Ramsey Cardy - Sportsfile)
Having been a member of the main escape that went clear on stage 1 of the An Post Rás and spent 100km out front in very wet conditions only to be caught, Sean Downey has said he has no regrets about getting up the road.
One of only two An Post-Chainreaction Irish riders in the race, Downey placed second on two hotspots sprints and gained a time bonus of four seconds for his efforts.
And though the breakaway was eventually caught in the closing stages, he is fourth overall with his team mates Robert Jon McCarthy in first and second overall after scoring a 1-2 on the stage after it came down to a bunch sprint.
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Downey said the breakaway started with riders “going off in ones and twos”. When he saw New Zealand’s Marc Ryan attacking the bunch to try to bridge across he went after him.
“He was shifting, he really was. I was lucky to be on the right wheel and when we got across to it the whole group just started riding really well together.
“The first time check we got was 30 seconds and then a minute and then two. I think at one stage it was up to three, that was the highest one I saw.
“But you never know in the Rás. Really the bunch has the control over how far you will get. So we weren’t busting ourselves, we were just riding steady.”
Despite getting a gap of three minutes, Downey said he knew they would need a margin like that with 20km or 30km to go to have a good chance of making it to the finish.
“I knew it was still pretty early in the stage when we heard that gap. So it’s just a question of keeping cool and not to stress about it, keep doing what you are doing.”
And despite being caught he believed his efforts were far from wasted.
“At least I got something out of the breakaway with the four seconds bonuses. You could be up there all day and wasting energy and get nothing. So I’m happy to get something out of it; obviously it’s much better than nothing.”
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With the team getting first and second on the stage and Downey up the road giving the rest of the An Posts a free ride and ending the day 4th overall, he said the mood in the camp was very good.
“Everyone’s really happy. It’s a team effort and the team worked perfectly today. You couldn’t ask for much more.
While a big result has him so far this year, those watching the results of the riders on his team will have noticed a consistency in major races in his results so far into 2014. And he agrees that he is at a better level now compared to other years.
“I’ve had a good winter and I’m going about things a lot differently; with a different approach mentally really. And I feel I’m a lot more consistent.
“So I want to take this day by day and try to get a few results under my belt. I think everyone knows I’ve been able to do it. So it’s just about doing it out on the road.”
While the team has stage 1 winner McCarthy in the yellow jersey, Downey said the next day or two could see the general classification completely change.
“We haven’t had our team talk yet but I couldn’t imagine we will be trying to defend the yellow jersey. Tomorrow the GC could turn upside down. It’s one of those races where you don’t know what to expect or what could happen.”
Sean Downey (right) with team mate Jack Wilson; the squad's victory on stage 1 takes a bit of pressure off team, riding a race backed by their title sponsor.
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