Sean O’Malley, a 27-year-old amateur, got up the road with the Continental riders on the Rás today. And on a fast day in sunshine into Listowel, he gave it his all (Photo: Bryan Keane – Inpho)
By Graham Gillespie
Western Lakes clubman Sean O’Malley has enjoyed a day in the spotlight at the Rás; getting into the breakaway on stage three.
Competing for Team Gerry McVeigh Cars Doormotion, O’Malley was the only county rider in the escape.
The Ballinrobe rider made his move after the 50k mark; staying out from for over 70km.
After a great ride he lost his place in the six-man leading group with 18km remaining of the 140.4km stage.
O’Malley told stickybottle that it was his plan to seize with both hands any chance he had to attack.
Advertisement
“I’ve nothing to lose, and I’ve nothing to win,” he said of riding the UCI-ranked race against Continental teams.
“So, I said ‘any chance I get to go up the road; I’m going up the road’.
“I’m not afraid to go up the road and get blown out the back. I’ll keep trying, like.
“I tried last year on stage eight and I did about 3k with them and then I went straight out the back.
“This year I was up the road all day with them; so I’m delighted with that.”
O'Malley last man in the breakaway; the only county rider in the escape on stage 3.
Looking serious with his race face on and ready for action; he says he will try again to get clear.
O’Malley also discussed the electric pace of today’s race, which was notable even before he got in the breakaway.
Related News
“I couldn’t believe how quick we were going at the 50k mark. I’m not used to that speed,” he said.
Despite the high speeds, the 27-year-old amateur found the legs to launch an attack.
“One of the Jellybean riders (Curtis White) just winked at me," he explained of getting the 'come up the road' eyes.
"And we went after the two guys in front of us,” he said of Dutch rider Jason Van Dalen and Irishman Rory Townsend already up the road.
“We got a gap to the bunch and we met a Welsh fella (Samuel Tillet). And he just rode straight past us really hard.
“I thought at that stage I’m gone out the back. But I just dug deep and hung on”
O’Malley was wary not to overextend himself too much and ruin the rest of his week.
But when he got in the breakaway, he knew it wasn’t an opportunity he could pass up on.
“I didn’t want to go in the red too much because I was thinking of later in the week,” he said.
“I’m just an amateur and Jesus, if I go into the red too much with these lads I’ll be fucked.
“But I just kind of said ‘fuck it’; it’s not often you get up the road in the Rás so I’ll give it a go.”
He started the season in a nightmarish fashion with a crash. As a result, he then got an infection in his knee which forced him to take a break from the bike.
He thinks the enforced rest actually worked in his favour; giving him some much-needed recovery.
“I was always about training, training, training,” he said. “But when I took the rest I actually came around and I was fresh.”
O’Malley now simply hopes to “stay out of trouble” for the rest of the Rás. But he will still be on the look-out for opportunities to break away.
“I wouldn’t be in my best condition yet because I’ve missed a lot of racing,” he said with three stages of eight done.
“Hopefully now in the next couple of days, I can come around a bit. Any chance I can get to go up the road, I’ll be up the road.”
Dutchman Luuc Bugter would eventually win the stage after the escape was caught and it came down to a bunch sprint.
After his Trojan efforts, O'Malley would finish in that bunch; on the same time as the winner in 89th place.
Topics
