Daire Feeley said he was perplexed the Rás stage 1 breakaway was staying away as the bunch was lined out at 55kmph, though he added the riders in the move were very strong (Photo: Shane Stokes)
By Shane Stokes
The 2022 Rás winner Daire Feeley was left feeling a bit mystified at the end of Wednesday’s opening stage of the race. He was part of a 54-man main group which finished 46 seconds behind the leading breakaway, but had expected that they would be reeled in before the line.
“It was on the gas all day,” he told stickybottle at the finish in Kilmallock. “There were a couple of times where groups went up the road and especially before that first categorised climb a good solid group got up the road at that point.
"A few of us tried to go across. We were in a group behind them and it looks like we were going to get across and then form forces, but then the whole thing came back together. Then those four riders got away over the top of that.”
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That lead group contained the stage winner Rowen Baker (IoM: Cycling Club Isle of Man), plus Ewan Mackie (Connacht: Cycling Connacht), Danylo Riwnyj (UK: Foran CT) and Adam Lewis (USA: APS Pro Cycling).
The four British riders pulled very well together to fend off the pursuit, although Feeley suggested there was a lack of awareness at first.
“Nobody really knew that they were away at that point. It was only till about 60k to go where the pace went on, but we were doing 55k an hour coming in the road at places, and they were holding the gap,” he said.
“And it was only when we stopped riding the gap went down. So it was a frustrating one. I feel like the motorbikes might have had an influence on it, because the way the likes of Wheelbase there, and some of the Irish team and the Dutch team were riding, I was sure that it was going to come back.
“A lot of people were like, ‘how is this staying away?’ because the bunch was full gas lined out. But it is what it is. At the same time, they were four very strong riders as well, so you have to give them credit for it.”
Feeley on the front of a chasing group, containing Team Ireland junior rider Fionn Killeen, Conn McDunphy and others (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
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Feeley won the race in 2022 but withdrew the following year after suffering concussion in a fall. In that light, staying out of trouble was very important for his chances.
“It was good to keep it upright. There was a bad crash halfway through, as far as I’m aware. A lot of riders went down, but we’re still in the battle.”
Now 29, Feeley would dearly love to win the race again. He knows it is a lottery of sorts, and indeed that is part of his lack of panic at the time gained by the four riders on the opening stage.
“It could be four different riders tomorrow, and they get five minutes. Anything can happen,” he said. "S,o look, we’ll play it day by day.
"We just need to be attentive and not be letting those things get away. It shouldn’t happen as well, at the same time.”
Stage two takes the riders from Rathmore to Kerry. It is the longest stage at 192.7km, and includes six categorized climbs, including the category two ascents of the Caha Pass Tunnel Road and Cougane Gap.
“Tomorrow’s a different day, tomorrow’s a different race,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “The duration and the difficulty of the course is going to possibly throw it on its head. So we’ll see what happens.
“But it’ll be a bit more settled once, because the race has established itself to a certain extent as well.”
Those climbs mean it will certainly be a big test of form for the riders. How does he feel he is going?
“Last week was a good indicator. I was racing last weekend, it went very well,” he said.
“But as you know yourself, you could be absolutely flying going into this race, and you just need the luck of the draw for it to work out. And you need to avoid issues as well. We’ll play it day by day.”
