Patrick Bevin says with one man down his New Zealand team was pushed to the pins of their collars yesterday, but the form of his life overcame a shattered body in the closing kilometres of stage 4 into Cahirciveeen on this Rás (Photo: Ramsey Cardy - Sportsfile)
By Shane Stokes
Yesterday’s fourth stage of the An Post Rás was a master class in defiance and determination from the race leader Patrick Bevin. He appeared on the back foot for most of the stage, crested the final climb over a minute back but was able to close down on all of the riders ahead of him and then win the sprint to the line in Cahirciveen.
The display was one which underlined how strong the New Zealand rider currently is, and just how difficult it could be for his rivals to dislodge him in the four remaining stages.
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Although the team started yesterday one man due to the illness of Marc Ryan, the four Kiwis were still able to get through a gruelling ten climb stage and notch up what was their second stage win in three days.
“The guys were really well controlled. They did a really good job of holding it,” said Bevin, speaking about his reaction when a dangerous break containing third-placed Alessandro Pettiti (Italy Team IDEA 2010 ASD) plus eleven others built a sufficient lead to put Pettiti in the virtual race lead.
“We knew it was going to come back once the climb started. I had my work cut out, I was going to be by myself. You just have to do what you can.”
Bevin’s team-mates chased for much of the stage and were spent when the race hit the first category Coomanaspic climb.
The yellow jersey said that he suffered at that point, going over the top one minute fifteen seconds behind an attacking Pettiti and Owain Doull (An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly), but drilled it down the descent and from there on to the line.
“It was a really tough day. That climb was really hard… I didn’t have good legs,” he said.
“I did a lot of work early on, we were always short handed. I paid for it on the climb, but I was always racing to the finish line.
“I knew it was still twenty kilometres to go from the top. I limited my losses [before then].
“I chased all the way back through. I didn’t get any help. I had a guy from Baku sitting on me and I towed him all the way through.
“The group got bigger and bigger but I didn’t even look back. It was one of those things…one step at a time.
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“There was a group [he caught] and then they said the next group was 40 seconds up the road. I thought I’d leave the pressure on and then it was at 20 [seconds]. We got there with five kilometres to go. With five kilometres to I was, ‘I’m going to get into the mix here.’”
Although he admitted that his legs were screaming at that point, Bevin had momentum on his side plus the huge relief of knowing that he would keep yellow.
He got himself into position and gave it everything inside the final 200 metres, having enough left in the tank to take the victory.
It was a hugely impressive win, and one which will underline to those hoping to take his yellow jersey that they have a real battle on their hands.
In the video interview Bevin tells stickybottle’s Brian Canty and Shane Stokes how the stage went for him.
He also speaks about his big goal this year plus his focus on track racing after his previous Bissel pro team switched to being a development squad for young riders.
He acknowledges that he is at a new level.
“I haven’t adjusted my training at all to be here and to have the form I have. It is simply a progression through the track,” he said.
“They do live really well side by side and for me this year I’m probably riding better than I have ever. For me that is testament to my coach and the track training.”
Patrick Bevin speaks to stickybottle
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