Damien Shaw leads Madison Genesis rider Liam Holohan when they escaped in the closing stages, but he was annoyed when the Briton would not ride with him (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Damien Shaw received one of the loudest cheers in Drogheda this afternoon after his brave bid for a first An Post Rás stage win just fell short for the second day in succession.
The Team ASEA man was beaten in the uphill finish that decided today’s trip from Ballinamore by Andreas Mueller (Hrinkow Advarics), crossing the line two seconds behind the Austrian.
Shaw rued the efforts, or lack of, by Madison Genesis rider Liam Holohan after bridging to him on the run-in to the finish.
The Mullingar man believes had Holohan worked with him after escaping inside 10 kilometres to go, he might have actually won the stage.
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“I’m a little bit disappointed,” said Shaw as he was swarmed by a huge following today.
Shaw has looked as good, if not better, that many of the foreign riders in Continental teams these past few days (Photo: Paul Mohan -Sportsfile)
“Obviously (after getting) second yesterday I played it a little bit cagier this time and thought I made a great move getting across to the Madison Genesis guy but the second I got there he sat up.
“I was raging because that was a lot of energy used up,” he explained of that late attack.
“I made a good move at the right time coming in the road and I ran out of steam coming up the hill.
“There was a split behind but just after having done a big turn with 10k to go I was trying to save my energy because I was told by McCrystal it was a technical finish and I’d need it for the last kilometre.
“I was in a decent position coming up the hill but the legs caved.”
Shaw, far right, was forced to settle for 2nd on the stage again today; this time behind winner Andreas Mueller of Hrinkow Advarics Cycling (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Shaw was active right from the off today, going clear in an early break of 10 riders but the presence of general classification threat Aidis Kroupis (An Post Chainreaction) saw that reeled in.
Shaw went again and again, until eventually he broke clear with four others and was later joined by three more for what was a perfect coalition.
“There was no messing around, it was a smaller break than yesterday but a lot more controlled.
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“I was a little bit worried when they started attacking with 30k to go because it was a little early I think.
“Then we heard there were chasers, it was cat and mouse for 30k. I couldn’t believe we weren’t actually caught.”
Eventual stage winner Andreas Mueller leads Shaw and Conor Dunne of An Post-Chainreaction; both of whom seem to be sharing a joke (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Shaw made his race-winning move when he bridged across to Holohan after a brief stall in the break.
He knew with Madison Genesis having another rider in the break (Matt Holmes) and Martyn Irvine screaming across from behind it was the right decision.
“The fact you’re a county man plays to your advantage sometimes and I just put myself out there again.
“The so-called bigger teams look at each other but I’m just disappointed Holohan sat up.
“He was sitting behind me… those guys are the first to give us county men stick if we chase them down and then they won’t ride. It’s a joke. I called him a few names… whatever.”
Shaw receives his second county rider prize in two days; but he says if Holohan had ridden with him instead of sitting up, they would likely have survived to sprint it out for victory (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
Still, it’s arguably Shaw’s best ever display at the Rás, not bad considering the number of crashes he’s had this year.
“I was fourth on a stage last year but this trumps it, of course.
“I was in great form at the start of the year and I had a few unfortunate incidents in-a-row.
“I only thought if I was a bit sharper, fresher yesterday I could’ve… maybe not sprinted better but gotten away easier out the road and the same here today.
“It took a lot out of me to get across whereas a few weeks ago I’d have zipped across and rode through them maybe.”
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