The An Post Rás has been put to bed for another year and though the race never fails to excite us, this year’s edition was among the best in recent times.
Unlike last year where the time gaps on day one effectively set the tone for the remainder of the week, this year was markedly different with the battle for yellow being waged by a greater number – and more Irish too.
We learnt a lot over the eight days, including:
There must always be an Irish team in it
Surely this will become a regular thing from now on? (Photo: George Doyle)
An Irish national selection in the race is surely a no-brainer at this stage and it’s just a pity that wasn’t the case in recent years.
This year, Eddie Dunbar was best of the men in green but each of the squad rode out of their skin.
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They were well-managed, well looked after, led on the road by an accomplished man in Ronan McLaughlin and they’ve become better riders because of the experience.
Now, let’s see them in more UCI races like this.
There’s no place like Ireland for racing when the sun shines
If only we could put a roof over it...mind you, on days like, this few places come close to matching the scenic beauty of Ireland (Picture: George Doyle)
One thing we had absolutely no shortage of last week was pictures of jaw-dropping quality and we salute the snappers who made their work available to us here at stickybottle throughout the week.
From the scenic backdrops of the Connor Pass and Mount Leinster to the narrow country roads of the Midlands, Ireland rivalled anything we saw at the Giro d’Italia for scenery.
Of course, Mother Nature obliged us by shining on the race from Monday through to the final Sunday in Skerries.
The crowds were quite special
Even on wet days in small towns like Baltinglass the crowds came out to support the An Post Rás. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Cycling is currently on the crest of a wave and that was apparent by the crowds that supported the race throughout the week.
Riding in the cavalcade we were privileged to get a Bird’s Eye view of the sheer number of people who greeted the riders every morning for the stage start and later in the afternoon at the finish.
The climbs were jammed with spectators and we’re sure the riders who rode through those walls of noise on Connor Pass, Mount Leinster and around the Black Hills have nothing but fond memories.
It is possible for county men to win a stage
One of the all time great wins for an Irish rider at the An Post Rás. Eoin Morton has given hope to many after his memorable victory in Charleville. (Photo: Ryan Byrne-INPHO)
Irish riders have been saying for a while now that ‘it can be done’ but few have actually gone and done it.
Eoin Morton obliged the Irish fans on day two with a win borne out of sheer hard work and dedication.
He told stickybottle this week about the training and sacrifices he’s had to make to get into shape for the Rás and he proved that working men can win.
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Eddie Dunbar enhanced his reputation greatly
Eddie Dunbar had a week to remember at the An Post Rás and we reckon it can set him up for a great second half to the season (Photo: George Doyle)
Dunbar came into the race on the back of a broken collar bone five weeks earlier so we were unsure about how he’d go.
But by Tuesday we had an emphatic answer from the Corkman as he almost took the yellow jersey in Dingle.
He won the penultimate stage in stunning fashion, an achievement made all the more impressive given the fact he spent most of the previous day up the road in the break with Daire Feeley (iTap) and Dylan Kennett (New Zealand).
He showed he had the legs to go long at this level (on Friday) and the craft to ambush top quality riders in the final (on Saturday).
He showed he can recover from such hard days and he’s not afraid to get up there to contest the gallop…as finishing 10th on stage eight would suggest.
Challenging for GC is not beyond the working man
Though county riders challenged for the KOH jersey last week, the blue jersey (for best county rider) is probably the most they can realistically hope to win. (Photo: George Doyle)
This is a bridge too far for Irish riders who work full-time jobs.
Granted, Ian Richardson finished top 10 last year but he was never going to win the race. No Irish county rider came close to yellow this year…but there’s no shame in that.
We reckon if Irish riders are to win stages, it must happen early in the week.
We had a text from one county rider on stage six who said, ‘ring me, too fucked to text’.
The same man was in the break half a dozen times.
The time gap to the third tier is becoming a big worry
Though this is the front of the race, the rear is a long, long way back. So far back, in fact, that riders missed the time limit and this is becoming a real worry for the organisers. (Photo: George Doyle)
This is becoming a concern on many levels. First off, it devalues the race when riders are out the back after five kilometres.
It also presents a hazard for them and motorists.
Riders were over three hours down by the time they reached Skerries this year and that’s something that needs to be addressed.
The presence of so many Continental teams appears to be making the race harder.
And that, along with a more rigid enforcement of the time cut rule, is squeezing many county riders.
Some will say the race should continue with the increased focus on foreign Continental teams, while others will call for a refocus on the domestic scene.
But all will agree the gap between the front of the race and those at the back is as big as we've seen it. The solution is not clear.
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