McLaughlin on decimation of Aqua Blue and last fight in Kerry
Ronan McLaughlin is 2nd overall going into the final stage of Kerry Group Rás Mumhan (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Ronan McLaughlin finished second on today’s penultimate stage of Kerry Group Ras Mumhan. And he is now up to second overall.
He is just 16 seconds down on race leader Dillon Byrne (VCUK Velochampion).
The Donegal man is one of just three Aqua Blue Academy riders left in the race. Illness and injury has decimated their squad.
So he isn’t holding out too much hope of taking the yellow jersey tomorrow, though won't settle for 2nd without a fight.
“I was hoping for a win somewhere this weekend,” he said after his second place today.
“I’ve got super legs at the minute. But for some reason, I dunno what happened; did I get a hunger flat or what. But I struggled on Coom an Easpaig.
Advertisement
“I got over it in the lead group but I just wasn’t as good as I thought I’d be. Then coming in the road I was hopping between groups.
"I hopped to one ahead of me, that split and I jumped across to the split. And then I got across to the lead group on the road with my teammate Sean Lacey in it.”
At that point is was looking good for McLaughlin. He had a free pass up until that point to sit on with Lacey up ahead.
“I went straight through that front group with Mark Dowling, Cathal Moynihan and the guy who won," he added of Lawrence Carpenter.
Related News
“I knew Matteo (Cigala, teammate) was doing the same as I was behind. And he eventually got across to the group behind me.
"I was playing the card that he will win the sprint so I didn’t do too much in my group.”
McLaughlin was jumping around in the last two kilometres and when he saw everyone was tiring he went for it.
“Coming into the finish in Waterville I knew the chicane was there and I closed the line, I didn’t look behind me.
“I committed but I sensed someone was closing on me. So I just went full gas.”
But then disaster struck.
“As I came around the right hander the bike wouldn’t go into the 12. And as I was launching the sprint I was spun out.
“Carpenter came into my slipstream at the exact same time and came past me with 100 metres to go. It was frustrating but what can you do?”
He can still take the yellow jersey but isn’t so confident.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’m happy with where I’m at. Had you given me second on GC coming in I’d have taken it.
“The whole team is fairly depleted here. We have three guys out injured and a couple of lads are sick. Four weeks ago we had 11 riders and now we’re down to three.
“But shit happens, I’ve been sick myself; in and out of hospital for 10 days in February.
“I’m happy with where I’m at. The goal is the Rás, this wasn’t the aim. The Rás is the one I really want to do well in.
“I’m not settling for second but I’m not disappointed either.”
Topics
