By Gavin McLoughlin
The 2013 Tour of Britain was a remarkably eventful race for the Irish contingent, with highs and lows sprinkled liberally throughout. Here’s our top five of each:
The highs for the Irish at the Tour of Britain
While Sam Bennett stole all the headlines, team mate Sean Downey also rode well and is seen above (second in line, red gloves) in the escape on stage 2. Peter Hawkins also rode well early on, getting in the main escape on the opening stage.
1. Sam Bennett’s exceptional triumph on stage 5. The Carrick-on-Suir rider managed to maintain contact with the best over two ascents of the severe, 2.3-kilometre Caerphilly Mountain, and after a five-kilometre descent he would go on to outsprint his companions for the best victory of his career.
2. Dan Martin marking his return from concussion with a memorable long-range attack on stage 2. With 70 kilometres remaining, the Garmin-Sharp leader soared clear of the peloton on the steep, first-category Honister Pass. Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana (Movistar) followed along for the ride, but eventually he and Martin were caught by the Sky-led peloton with 36 kilometres to go.
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3. Sean Downey’s aggressive performance on stage 2. The An Post-Chainreaction man got himself in the break of the day and briefly pushed ahead after being the first man over the summit of the second-category ascent of Fangs Brow. He would go on to claim enough mountains points to put him second in that competition by the end of the day.
4. Bennett positioning himself for a one-on-one duel with the world’s best sprinter on stage 8. The 22-year-old Irishman skilfully steered his way up to Mark Cavendish’s wheel, making the heavily-favoured Manxman work hard for a stage win.
5. Peter Hawkins getting up the road on stage 1 in Scotland. The IG-Sigma Sport rider escaped with three others at the beginning of the day and was the first rider over the first categorised climb of the race. He finished the stage in second place in the mountains classification and fifth in the intermediate sprints competition.
The lows for the Irish....
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Philip Deignan breaking his collarbone and being forced out was the undoubted low point of the Tour of Britain for the Irish.
1. Philip Deignan breaking his collarbone after crashing out of the slippery stage 3 time-trial. The Unitedhealthcare man required surgery and was catapulted out of the World Championships.
2. Dan Martin fading badly after attacking twice on the climb to the summit finish of stage 6. The Garmin-Sharp leader was here to prepare for the Worlds, and seemed to be out of sorts after putting in his pair of digs. Will he be able to contend for the rainbow jersey in Tuscany?
3. An unfortunate Peter Hawkins puncturing at the wrong moment on the rain-battered stage 2 remaining. The Belfast rider had to ride the final 60 kilometres of the stage on his own, eventually coming in 27:45 behind stage winner Gerald Ciolek.
4. Dominic Jelfs becoming the first Irishman to abandon this Tour of Britain. The 23-year-old was one of ten men to climb off their bikes amidst foul weather on stage 2.
5. Agony for Sam Bennett in the final 25 metres of stage 2. The An Post man bounded clear of the bunch on a 400 metre finishing ramp in Kendal, surging past lone breakaway Thomas Lofkvist like a freight train. But ultimately the Irishman would have to settle for the runner-up spot after being overhauled at the last by Milan-San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek.
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