After playing down his chances of holding onto his overall lead, suddenly Clemens Fankhauser and his team have emerged from two dangerous stages still on top and firmly on control (Photo: Ramsey Cardy - Sportsfile)
By Shane Stokes
An Post Rás race leader Clemens Fankhauser moved a giant step closer to winning this year’s race when he successfully defended his lead on the mountainous seventh stage of the race.
The Austria Tirol Cycling rider came under attack from his main rivals but was able to answer each of them, either by reacting personally or with the help of his team.
The other GC contenders launched several moves over the day’s toughest climbs of The Heights, Corabutt and Mount Leinster.
A six man group moved clear on the latter, with Fankhauser matching the efforts of Patrick Bevin (New Zealand National Team), Gregor Muhlberger (Austria Tirol Cycling Team), Riccardo Pichetta (Italy Team Idea 2010 ASD), Mirko Tedeschi (Italy Team Idea 2010 ASD) and Alex Peters (Britain Madison Genesis).
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Others eventually got across and together this group rode to the finish in Baltinglass, with subsequent attacks all being reeled in.
Fankhauser has come across as humble and modest this week and was keen to give credit to others. “I had a strong team today and they could help me defend the jersey,” he said.
“I am very proud that we could make it. “There were a couple of moments where it was really dangerous because all the other guys from the top ten did not stop attacking me. I was very lucky to have such a strong team and they did an amazing job today.”
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Asked who in particular had put him under pressure, he named the rider in the white jersey as best young competitor, Alex Peters.
“He did a great job today. He did not stop attacking. He really wanted to take the yellow jersey today.”
Fankhauser holds a 25 second lead over Peters and is a further twenty seconds ahead of Nic Hamilton (Canada National Team).
Ian Bibby (Britain Madison Genesis), Christoph Schweizer (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku Cycling) and Sean Downey (Ireland An Post Chain Reaction) are each also within a minute, while two other riders – 2013 race champion Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Velosure Giordana) and Peter Williams (France Bretagne Velotec) are less than two minutes back.
In the video interview below Fankhauser speaks about today’s stage and also discusses his chances of taking the final overall victory on Sunday in Skerries.
There have been no major gaps on the final stage in recent years but he remains cautious, taking nothing for granted.
Fankhauser sits in behind his Tirol team mates and says he is delighted with their strength and loyalty in riding so well for him since he took the lead after stage 5 (Photo: Ramsey Cardy - Sportsfile)
Clemens Fankhauser speaks to Shane Stokes
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