Ronan McLaughlin solos towards Bundoran during his epic ride today (Photo: Mark Stephens)
Ronan McLaughlin of the An Post-Sean Kelly team went to within 150 metres of what would have been the most memorable Ras stage win in a decade on stage four into Bundoran today, Wednesday. He was just overhauled in the finishing straight after a powerful lone breakaway of 72kms.
Danish rider Mark Pedersen (Blue Water) then took the stage win in a sprint from the main group, just about holding off stage 1 winner Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana).
For most of the stage Donegal man McLaughlin simply had too much power for a number of chase groups behind, who looked like closing up on him but never got across.
With a lead of over four minutes on the yellow jersey main group at one stage, McLaughlin was briefly the GC leader on the road by a handful of seconds and barring a major explosion in the legs looked good for a stage win.
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However, as the yellow jersey group ramped up the speed in the closing hour or so of the race, that gap began to tumble and coming towards the finish it closed down rapidly.
The yellow jersey group first absorbed Robin Kelly (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) and then Martyn Irvine (RTS Racing), both of whom had got away together to try and get up to McLaughlin.
A little further up the road were another duo – Christopher Jennings (Rapha Condor-Sharp) and Sondre Hurum (Oneco Mesterhus). That pair had closed to within 20 seconds of McLaughlin but the An Post Sean Kelly man was pumped today going into his native county and refused to ease off and wait for them.
As the yellow jersey group mopped up both pairs of chasers, McLaughlin continued to power on like a man possessed. And while it looked like it was going to come down to the wire, a narrow stage win into Bundoran looked on the cards for him.
At 27kms to go he still had three minutes on what was left of the peloton. With 15kms to go he still had 2:30 and was continuing to power on, with massive encouragement coming from his team car.
The pressure on in the main group behind caused that to split, with 18 riders moving clear before the other 40 to 50 riders – including the yellow jersey of Pirmin Lang (Atlas Jakroo) - got back to them.
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The gap meanwhile up to the lone leader continued to close and by 5kms remaining on the stage it was down to 45 seconds. A little further on and Philip Lavery of (NODE4 Giordana) had a ging off the front with James Gullen (Britain East Midland). However, they were caught after a short-lived escape and in the gallop the line a shattered McLaughlin was swamped by the group with just 150 metres to go.
Pedersen romped in for the win ahead of Bialoblocki in second and Remi Sarreboubee (AVC Aix En Provence) in third.
David McCann (RTS Racing) was best of the Irish in fourth with Lavery 9th and McLaughlin coming over the line in tenth place.
Conor McConvey (An Post-Sean Kelly) remains best of the Irish on GC, sitting in fifth place.
The bunch split in two today very early in the stage as the field was lined out, with the latter half of the race finishing well down.
Lang keeps yellow, second overall Richard Handley (Rapha Condor-Sharp) keeps the U23 leader's jersey, the KOH jersey goes to Sondre Hurum (Oneco Mesterhus).
More later.
Stage 4 Result: Westport - Bundoran
1) Mark Pedersen(Blue Water) 2:55:36
2) Marcin Bialoblocki (NODE4 Giordana)
3) Remi Sarreboubee (AVC Aix En Provence) @ 2 secs
4) David McCann(RTS Racing )
5) Gediminas Bagdonas(An Post Sean Kelly)
6) Dale Appleby(East Midlands Metaltek)
8 Lasse Norman Hansen (Blue Water)
9) Philip Lavery (NODE4 Giordana) @ 6 secs
10) Ronan McLaughlin (An Post Sean Kelly)
Overall standings
1) Pirmin Lang (Atlas Jakroo)
2) Richard Handley (Rapha Condor Sharp)
3) Marcin Bialoblocki (NODE4 Giordana) @ 3secs
4) James Moss (NODE4 Giordana)
5) Connor McConvey (An Post Sean Kelly)
6) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Sean Kelly) @ 15secs
7) Remi Sarreboubee (AVC Aix En Provence) @ 19 secs
8 Mark Sehested Pedersen (Blue Water)
9) Nicolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 20 secs
10) Wouter Sybrandy (IG - Sigma Sport) @ 21 secs
Philip Lavery (orange kit, left) and Stephen Halpin (blue & yellow kit, right) on the road to Bundoran today (Photo: Mark Quigley)
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