Corkery takes biggest career win as Rás races into Monaghan | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Dillon Corkery has taken the first win for an Irish rider on Rás Tailteann 2023, claiming stage 4 into Monaghan (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

One of the pre-race favourites for stage wins and overall victory, Dillon Corkery (Team Ireland) has won stage 4 of Rás Tailteann today. The 24-year-old Corkman had far too much in the tank for his rivals at the finish in Monaghan Town.

It was the first Irish stage win on the race so far this year as the first three stages went to British and Australian riders. However, today Corkery showed his class - not to mention the level he has been riding at for several seasons in France - and proved best in the drag race to the line.

With four days fatigue now in the legs of the bunch, and the best riders rising to the top, today's stage produced arguably the best podium line-up since the race began last Wednesday.

Corkery, who rides for CC Etupes in France, beat Finn Crockett (Foyle CC) into 2nd place. British rider Crockett won Kerry Group Rás Mumhan 2023 and claimed Commonwealth Games road race bronze last year. Matthew Fox (UK Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli), the Australian who won stages 2 and 3 in bunch sprints, was 3rd today, rounding out the classy podium at the end of 176.9km of racing.

Gardener is caught in the last kilometre and Dillon Corkery of Team Ireland shows super strength to claim victory on Stage 4 in Monaghan #Rás2023 pic.twitter.com/aDMvV8udvP

— Rás Tailteann (@rastailteann) May 20, 2023

There were six Irish riders in the top 10 today; winner Corkery, Leo Doyle (ARBO Headstart ONFahrrad) in 5th, US-based Cormac Daly (Good Guys Racing NYC) 6th, JB Murphy (Cycling Leinster) 7th, Patrick O'Loughlin (Team Ireland) 9th and Mark Dowling (All human-VeloRevolution) 10th. Yellow jersey Conor McGoldrick (UK: Richardsons Trek DAS) finished in the bunch to maintain his race lead.

The stage took the riders from Charlestown to Monaghan and came down to a bunch sprint after a late breakaway was caught with about 1km to go.

Dan Gardner (Embark Spirit BSS) started that move, attacking solo with about 15km to go. He started the stage this morning in 2nd place overall, just four seconds down on yellow jersey Conor McGoldrick (UK Richardsons Trek DAS).

Earlier breakaway got three minutes

Earlier in the stage a very dangerous breakaway had pulled clear and opened a gap of three minutes on the peloton. In that group were: Damien Clayton (Embark Spirit BSS), Dom Jackson and Andrew Rigg (Foran CC), Marcus Christie (Isle of Man), James McKay (Cycling Sheffield), Shane McKay (St Tiernan's CC), Odhran Doogan (Team Ireland), Lee Rosie (UK Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli), Darnell Moore (All human-VeloRevolution), Conor Halvey (Cycling Ulster) and Gareth O'Neill (PB Performance).

*The breakaway that gained about three minutes at one point racing through Termonbarry (Photo: JW Photography)*

They broke away just after Frenchpark and with Jackson best of overall starting this morning - 5th at 17 seconds - he was yellow jersey on the road for much of the stage. It was no surprise then that the two Foran CC riders in the break stepped up to contribute heavily to the workload.

By the time they reached Strokestown their advantage was up over one minute and passing through Termonbarry, with 68km of racing completed, they had two minutes, which was soon to reach 2:53. However, around the halfway point of the stage, the UK Richardsons Trek DAS team of yellow jersey, McGoldrick, went to the front of the bunch and started to work, ensuring the gap opened no further and then gradually reeling them in. With 100km of racing done, the gap was back down to two minute

As the gap continued to fall, the Clonbroney cat 3 climb was won by young Shane McKay (St Tiernan's); a first-year U23 rider based in France and the son of former international road rider Leslie McKay With 50km of racing to go, the gap was down to one minute and it was clear the breakaway was definitely going to be caught. Shortly after that point of the race, as the team cars were pulled out from behind the breakaway, that front group split.

*The UK Richardsons Trek DAS team of Rás Tailteann yellow jersey, Conor McGoldrick, on the front of the bunch chasing the breakaway (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

Marcus Christie, a top Irish rider - who has ridden the Worlds on the national team - made a big effort to keep the break going, getting clear on his own as the others split into groups and were caught. Christie - a TT specialist - put in a storming ride out front alone, holding the bunch at bay for a long time and enjoying a gap of one minute for most of his effort. However, when the race reached the 20km to go marker, even he had been caught.

Just a few kilometres later, Gardner made his move, which would result in the final breakaway that was caught just before the finish, paving the way for the bunch sprint won by Corkery.