Lindsay Watson (All human-VeloRevolution) has drawn first blood at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan after getting clear with Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) from the stage-long breakaway. The leading duo held on out front as the remains of the breakaway split up behind them and at the finish in Tralee it was Watson who took the victory from McCarter.
They both finished on the same time after two hours of racing with Monte Guerini (Foran CC) claimed 3rd place at four seconds. Just 12 seconds after Watson took victory, the remainder of the breakaway crossed the line, with Andy Maguire (Pinergy Orwell Wheelers) winning the sprint for 4th from Luke Smith (Moynalty CC).
There were 10 riders from the original breakaway who all finished at 12 seconds, with the remainder of the large escape group well over one minute back and the peloton at four minutes.
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While Watson holds the yellow jersey, McCarter will wear the green jersey into tomorrow's stage 2. Luke Smith (Moynalty CC) holds the climbers' jersey and Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port) leads the U23 classification.
How it unfolded
The original breakaway was comprised of: Conor Kissane (Killarney Cycling Club), Conor Halvey (Newcastlewest CC), Vladislav Evseev (All Human-VeloRevolution), Feighlim Dignan (Blarney CC), Mark Shannon (Burren CC), Danny MacDonald (Burren CC), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), Lindsay Watson (All human-VeloRevolution), Andy Maguire, Nathan Keown (Dan Morrissey-Pactimo), Monte Guerini (Foran CC), Thomas Springbett (Foran CC), Mike Hooiveld (Moynalty CC), Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port), Jamie Meehan (Spellman Dublin Port), Ben Fish, Conor Hennebry (Dan Morrissey-Pactimo), Adam Stenson (Dan Morrissey-Pactimo), Rhys Kenny (UCS Cycling Club), Darnell Moore (All human-VeloRevolution), Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port) and Quillan Donnelly (Ireland Junior).
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That breakaway formed very early on the stage when McDonald, McCarter and Moore were among the early aggressors; forming a small group out front that very quickly swelled.
By the time the large group approached Gleann na nGealt, the first cat 3 climb of the race, the gap between the breakaway and the bunch was already just over one minute and when they were hurtling towards Inch, that had doubled, to just over two minutes.
With about 15km to go, Watson and McCarter were active off the front of the breakaway and managed to pull clear; combining to put daylight between themselves and the remainder of the large breakaway.
The cat 2 Castlemaine Climb with 6km did plenty of damage in the main breakaway behind the two leaders; that group splitting significantly as the pressure really went on.
However, the leading pair managed to survive over that climb and into the finish and fought it out for stage honours and the first yellow jersey of the race.
More to come.
Kerry Group Rás Mumhan 2022
Fri, April 15th: Stage 1 Tralee-Tralee
- Watson, Lindsay Velo Revolution A1 1:58:48
- Mccarter, Darragh Spellman Dublin Port Cycling Team A1 +00
- Guerini, Monte Foran Cycling Club A2 +04
- Maguire, Andy Pinergy Orwell Wheelers A1 +12
- Smith, Luke Moynalty Cycling Club A1 +12
- Hennebry, Conor Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo A1 +12
- Shannon, Mark Burren Cycling Club A1 +12
- Harvey, Dean Spellman Dublin Port Cycling Team A1 +12
- Kissane, Conor Killarney Cycling Club A1 +12
- Moore, Darnell Velo Revolution A1 +12
- Fish, Ben TAAP Cervelo A1 +12
- Halvey, Conor Newcastlewest Cycling Club A2 +12
- Springbett, Thomas Foran Cycling Club A1 +18
- Keown, Nathan Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo A1 +1:23
- Dignan, Feighlim Blarney Cycling Club (A) A2 +1:23
- Donnelly, Quillan Cycling Ireland Jnr Team JNR +1:25
- Meehan, Jamie Spellman Dublin Port Cycling Team A2 +1:25
- Kenny, Rhys UCD Cycling Club A1 +1:54
- McDonald, Danny Burren Cycling Club A1 +2:04
- Stenson, Adam Team Dan Morrissey/Pactimo A1 +2:04
