It may have looked all civilised at the start of stage 3 of the Rás this morning, but the longest line-out we've seen wasn't long about forming. Take a look at this shot below (Photo: Inpho)
In the build up to the An Post Rás each year a lot of the analysis turns to whether the course is flatter or hilly and what riders can best cope on the terrain for that year.
But the flat stages can be considerably harder than the hilly ones, especially those with crosswinds or tailwinds.
In a tailwind there is no real benefit in drafting and when it's a crosswind the bunch usually lines out in single file - or in line-out formation.
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This involves try to get shelter from the person just in front of you and praying that nobody ahead of you lets a gap open between their front wheel at the rear wheel of the rider ahead of them.
Gaps open all the time and into a strong breeze it is impossible to close them, meaning the race splits to pieces.
The line-out photo taken by Rás commissaire Gary McIlroy on the road to Dingle today was really something to behold.
The bunch under pressure in one very, very long line-out on the road into Dingle on stage 3 of the An Post Rás (Photo with thanks to Gary McIlroy)
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