By Shane Stokes
Ireland’s Aaron Wade was in relaxed form at the end of stage four of the Rás Tailteann, remaining at the finish line for some time afterwards talking to people by the roadside barriers. He’d had another solid day, remaining sixth overall and keeping his two seconds advantage in the Spin 11-backed Under 23 classification.
Importantly his Team Ireland squad had notched up its best result yet in the race, with Dillon Corkery first in the uphill sprint to the line at Monaghan cathedral.
“The stage was fairly handy for the first two and a half hours,” Wade said. “The yellow jersey team was doing most of the work there to bring back the break. We had Odhran Doogan up there so we didn’t really have to do anything. It was nice.”
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Wade will begin Sunday’s final stage the second-best placed Irishman overall. US-based Cormac McGeough (USA: Good Guys Racing NYC) is fourth, 14 seconds off yellow, while Wade is 18 seconds back and Corkery is a further second down on seventh place.
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Corkery noted having two in the top ten gave them tactical strength. Wade said that the race leader is strong and that more pressure will need to be applied.
“We’ll have to tire him out a bit a bit more than today or the other days,” he said. “He’s been saving his power for tomorrow, I think. Saving his legs. So it’d be tough done. But Dillon’s up there too. So I think there’s a possibility he can take it as well.”
Having two options is a strength. “I think we’ve the advantage there,” Wade noted. “So anything can happen tomorrow.”
The 21 year old has been based in north west Spain with the Club Ciclista Padronés – Cortizo squad. He has been racing regularly, but said that the Rás has been a step forward for his confidence.
“It’s helped a lot. I haven’t really gotten any results up until now,” he said, referring to his season. “So it’s definitely helping the head being here. And yeah, the race is quite nice.”
