Irish amateur McGlinchey talks attacking and blowing on Rás
Chris McGlinchey in the breakaway on the opening stage of the An Post Rás; he is now best placed Irish rider overall.
By Shane Stokes
Christopher McGlinchey (Cycling Ulster) has had one of the most impressive rises in Irish cycling, going from A4 rider to the Irish development team in ten weeks in 2015.
And then last year he won races such as the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan.
Yesterday he underlined his quality once again, being the only Irish rider to infiltrate a dangerous six-man break in the An Post Rás.
It went clear early on and would ultimately stay away to dispute the win.
The break was started by the An Post Chainreaction team’s Polish rider Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz, who clipped away in Trim, some 40 kilometres after the official start.
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He was soon joined by Dennis Bakker (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam) and Thómas Rostollon (France Armée de Terre).
McGlinchey, Nicolai Brochner Nielsen (Denmark Riwal Platform Cycling) and Alexandre Blain (Britain Madison Genesis) bridged at kilometre 50.
Together these eked out a lead of over four minutes. McGlinchey showed no signs of being intimidated by the more experienced internationals.
He took third in the hot spot sprint in Athboy after 53.9km and then netted second in the sprint in Oldcastle at 78.8km.
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These earned him three seconds in time bonuses which would later prove crucial.
“It was hard at the start, there was plenty of attacking as always,” he told stickybottle after the stage.
“Everyone was keen to get up the road at the start. The move went and myself and a Madison guy [Blain] bridged across. It was just up and over for the rest of the time.
“I managed to pick up a couple of bonus seconds, so that pushed me up on GC when I got caught by the bunch. So all in all it was a good day.”
McGlinchey was in the move until the final 25 kilometres, where his lack of international racing took a toll.
“I blew out of the break. I didn’t have the legs to stay with those guys,” he said.
“They were flying. It was a hard day. I got picked up by the bunch and then a front wheel puncture with a couple of kilometres to go.”
Fortunately that was inside the safe zone and, as per UCI rules, such mishaps inside the final three kilometres don’t lead to a loss of time.
While he rolled in after the bunch, the regulation means that he ended the day a fine sixth overall.
He is 28 seconds behind the stage winner Brochner Nielsen, who outsprinted Bakker, Kasperkiewicz and Rostollon for the win.
McGlinchey (Cycling Ulster) is the best Irish county rider, three seconds ahead of Matteo Cigala (Cork Aqua Blue Sport) and Philip Lavery (Tipperary Panduit).
Looking ahead to the climbs
“The goal is just to go with GC and see how we are positioned,” he said.
“We’ll try not to lose any time in the next couple of days. Anything can happen with crashes and wind and stuff.
“But I am feeling good. I will see what happens on stage four, it will be quite a decisive stage.”
That day sees the first big climbs in the race and McGlinchey is looking forward to them.
“I have been climbing quite well recently. Positioning is key coming into big climbs like that.
“You don’t want to leave yourself too much work. So I’ll try to stay near the front near the climbs and see where we end up.”
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