By Shane Stokes
Weeks after taking third overall in the Flèche du Sud, Liam O’Brien provided further signs of his blossoming ability when he went close to a stage win at the Rás Tailteann.
The 19 year old Team Ireland rider forged clear just after the penultimate climb on the queen stage of the race, attacking shortly after the summit of Coomakista with just over 40km left to race. He was joined by Conn McDunphy (USA: Skyline-Cadence), who ultimately outsprinted him at the finish.
O’Brien got a drink from the Team Ireland soigneur shortly after the end of the stage and, facing downhill towards the finish line he had crossed minutes earlier, spent time lost in thought, weighing up how things had played out.
“It was a strong ride,” he told Stickybottle. “I felt good, but just didn’t have it in the end….[he paused, considered what to say next]. Ah, I got played a bit. But three days to go, so plenty more opportunities…”
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Asked if he ended up doing most of the riding coming in the road, he elaborated.
“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “And then four K to go he pulled the plug working. I was probably the strongest, but when it's one on one, it's hard to get away, because you only have to follow one person.
“So it was difficult, but a good day.”
To his credit, McDunphy fully acknowledged that O’Brien did more of the work.
“Me and Liam kind of rolled off the front with maybe 40 K to go,” he told Stickybottle. “Look, he's an animal. I was giving everything I could, and I told him that. It was kind of even enough, and he was pulling hard on the uphills, to be fair to him.
“Then once we came onto the circuit, I kind of had a good feeling that I might be able to get him. And then I told them, we’d give it everything. And then look with 3k to go, I sat on. I kind of played the game, then came around him with 50 meters to go.
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“I was second here in Rás Mumhan, so I knew the finish and I knew I had to wait, wait, wait because I went early in Rás Mumhan and came second. I’m delighted.”
The tactical play at the finish doubtlessly affected the time gain of the duo and, as it turned out, this proved to be crucial in deciding who would wear the yellow jersey.
Overnight race leader Alex Pritchard (UK: Richardsons Trek DAS) lost contact with the group of GC contenders towards the end of the stage, making it all but certain that the jersey would change hands.
McDunphy and O’Brien finished 30 seconds in front of British-based Irishman George Peden (UK: Team PB Performance), and a further two seconds ahead of the chasing group led in by defending Rás champ Dillon Corkery (Ireland: Team Ireland).
Dom Jackson (UK: Foran CT) was part of the group and ended up level on general classification time with O’Brien and McDunphy. He rather than they took the yellow jersey due to his better stage placings.
If the race goes down to such a fine balance on Sunday afternoon the additional time that could have been gained on Thursday may become more crucial.
Was O’Brien surprised by the large gaps?
“I thought over the cat one climb, when there was a group of us, maybe it was only like 10 [riders], if we started rolling well… Some people weren't interested, they had leaders behind and stuff so I thought it would actually spit up more on that climb. But yeah, it just wasn't the right group.”
With three days remaining he feels the Ireland squad is in a good position.
“I know we have a really strong team. And Dillon, last year’s winner, having him by our side to make the decision and stuff is a big help. All of the riders on our team could still win the race. So everyone is still in the game, three more good days to come.”
In his first year in the senior ranks, O’Brien is impressing greatly. And while taking yellow would have been a big boost, he will draw additional motivation from his near miss on Thursday.
“Tomorrow, it's kind of on home roads,” he said, speaking about stage three. “So [to do something] that would be nice.”
