Jake Gray (19) cites Damien Shaw as key influencer in Rás escape
Jake Gray and Darragh O'Mahony of the Irish national team in the breakaway on Rás stage 3 into Bundoran (Photo: Morgan Treacy - Inpho)
Jake Gray may be in his debut An Post Rás but he isn’t intimidated by the big bunch and the hectic speeds.
The 19-year old from Dungannon is riding for the national team.
And yesterday he made his way into the breakaway that animated a cracking stage from Newport to Bundoran.
It was a long 149-kilometre afternoon on heavy roads along some exposed stretches.
But Gray showed lots of class by staying the course until a late split saw him concede a minute to the lead group.
He was 24th on the stage at 1’02” and is now 17th overall, 1’24” down on race leader Dennis Bakker.
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Gray said Damien Shaw, leading, was the key man in the breakaway; forcing the pace and making life hard (Photo: Morgan Treacy - Inpho)
“The break was gone in the first five kilometres and Damien Shaw was in it,” he said of the stage.
“I knew it could be gone for the day so I decided to go with it. And a few more came across and then another group came across.”
Gray was up there for the entire day until he missed the split when the break of 26 broke into two.
“It was hard the first hour with Damien there, it was really hard,” he said.
“And then as more came across it was more comfortable because guys were riding.
“I didn’t expect it at all to be up there. I didn’t think I was in this kind of form.
“It’s a great experience so far. I’m loving it. Me and Darragh were up there in the break (from the national team) so that was great.”
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