The final stage of the An Post Rás is usually one that brings no change in any of the general classifications, but not so last Sunday's stage 8 into Skerries. Aidis Kruopis won the day for An Post-Chainreaction but also came from 15 riders back to take the climbers' jersey (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
By Shane Stokes
Winner of two stages in the An Post Rás, including Sunday’s concluder on the streets of Skerries, Lithuanian rider Aidis Kruopis also pulled off quite a scoop when he leapfrogged no less than fifteen riders and won the king of the mountains competition.
The An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team competitor started the final day with six points, far off the total of 25 held by Madison Genesis rider Liam Holohan, but put his plan in motion when he infiltrated the early break.
Advertisement
Five category three climbs were peppered along the course and taking top points in each of those would give him an overall total of 31. He had to stay out front until after the final prime and also clock up wins on each of those summits; Kruopis duly did so in a manoeuvre which can be described as audacious.
“I had a few points and I calculated today that I could actually try to get the mountains jersey,” he told stickybottle after the finish on Sunday.
“So I took my chance and I am really happy about it.”
Having done that, he continued onwards to the finish with Davide Vigano (Team IDEA 2010 ASD) plus Damien Shaw (Louth Team Asea), who managed to bridge across to the duo on the final lap.
Each hoped that they would beat him, but Kruopis is a past winner of stages in the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, the Tours of Norway, Poland and Turkey, as well as a former lead out man for Orica GreenEdge.
Leading the breakaway on the final stage that brought him victory on the day as well as maximum climbers' points and the win in that classification (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
He was much faster and blasted home to add to his stage four victory.
The success gave him a further morale boost and ensures that he leaves the race with plenty of motivation.
“Two stage wins [personally] and four stage wins for the team means it was a really successful Tour that we did,: he said.
“We are pretty happy about it.”
Related News
The team also won the sprints classification with Aaron Gate and the best young rider award with Ryan Mullen, as well as netting second and third overall with Josh Edmondson and Mullen.
Next up for Kruopis is the Boucles de la Mayenne in France, running June 4th to 7th.
After that he and the other An Post team riders will try to win their respective national championships.
He’s gone close in the past and has mixed feelings about the race.
Receiving the climbers' jersey on the podium in Skerries with Miss An Post Rás Aisling Halpin, Jack Jordan of One2All and Pat O'Shaughnessy, who is well known across Ireland for his promotion of cycling, especially in Co Louth (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
“I am looking forward to that but it is really hard for me. I don’t really like to go to the championships,” he admitted.
“I was a couple of times second and third and I get a little bit frustrated and too nervous there. But it would be nice to wear the national jersey…I will see how it goes.”
Kruopis was with Orica-GreenEdge between 2012 and 2014, but his contract was not extended at the end of last year.
As a result he was picked up by the An Post Chainreaction team; it’s a lifeline he appreciates.
Still, he wants to get back to WorldTour level as soon as possible. The Tour of Britain will be one opportunity for him to show what he can do.
“It is obviously one of the best races we do with the team,” he said.
“I am looking forward to that and I hope I will be in good shape for the race. I hope to make something happen there.”
Topics
