What a difference a year makes. At this point of last year's comeback Rás Tailteann, Adam Ward (Team Ireland) and Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) had teamed up out front to share the spoils into Lisdoonvarna. Ward won the stage and Feeley placed 2nd and went into the yellow jersey.
Over the remained two days of the race the Roscommon man and his team defend the race lead, wit Feeley crowned overall winner on Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of the event in Blackrock, Co Louth. But today on the 2023 edition, Feeley's dreams of defending his title were unceremoniously ended with a crash, one of a number of incidents today, including one involving a motorbike.
The 26-year-old had to be treated by paramedics for his injuries at the conclusion of the stage today. And though he bravely battled onto his bike to complete the day's racing, meaning he can continue tomorrow if able to do so, he lost time.
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Conn McDunphy (Cycling Leinster) also came down today and suffered a big blow to his chances in the general classification. He was one of the pre-race favourites and had started today's stage 3 in 5th place overall, at just 17 seconds.
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McDunphy didn't lose as much time today as Feeley but was still back in 80th at 1:34. That has resulted in him slipping down the overall standings, to 14th at 1:51. That time gap does not completely end his hopes, but he now has a mountain to climb.
Feeley, who crashed with 4km to go, trailed home in 94th position, some 8:29 down of the main field that fought it out for stage victory in a mass sprint, won by Australian rider Matthew Fox (UK Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli).
And having started the stage 9th overall, within 20 seconds of yellow jersey Conor McGoldrick (UK Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli), Feeley is now way down in the general standings; in 55th at 8:49.
Others to fall victims to crashes today with Team Ireland team mates Ewan Warren and Patrick O'Loughlin, among others. There were two main crash incidents; one coming into Tuam mid stage and another about 4km from the finish.
More to come.
