Eddie Dunbar had a relatively uneventful day on the penultimate stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland and is set for a big win, barring disaster, when the race wraps up tomorrow. (Photo: www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)
By Brian Canty
Eddie Dunbar is in pole position to become the first Irish rider since Sam Bennett in 2009 to win the Junior Tour.
The Stena Ireland rider survived today’s relatively easy penultimate stage around south-west Clare and he still holds a 2:18 advantage over Mark Downey (Nicolas Roche Performance Team) in second, with Dunbar’s teammate Thomas Fallon in third at 2:25.
Dunbar, who also leads the first year junior category, has been the man of the race so far this week; minding his legs when necessary, but opening them too when the need arises.
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Today was the shortest and flattest stage – bar the opening day time-trial – and at just 80 kilometres, the peloton swept around it in a little over two hours.
Owen Gillott of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team gave them their second stage win, with Downey in second to give the squad a very impressive 1-2.
But most of the bunch crossed the line together and thus, no time gaps were incurred by any of the big contenders.
There was one blot on the copybook of the race leaders, however, and that came with four kilometres to go when Dunbar’s loyal teammate Dylan Foley crashed hard on the swift run-in after being accidentally taken out by another rider who slipped on gravel.
Foley suffered road rash to his side but remounted a few minutes later to finish the stage, albeit four minutes down on Gillot.
The Corkman slips from fourth overall to 30th but will be on the start-line tomorrow, and how Dunbar might need a man of his class.
As in the previous two stages since Dunbar took the jersey from Downey, Foley has been exceptional in chasing down breaks – not least yesterday’s threatening escape - and he was at the head of affairs for much of the stage again today.
Stephen Shanahan (Munster Sensa) and Danny Bruton (Nicolas Roche Performance Team) comprised the breakaway today, the duo bursting clear before Kilrush after around 25 kilometres of racing.
Shanahan started the day almost three minutes down on GC in seventh but has been coming into form lately, and he has underlined that with a few strong showings already this week.
He’s also in third spot in the first year junior category, behind Dunbar and Downey, so was chasing that jersey and yellow today. The chances of that were remote, but when he got a minute with Bruton things were looking up.
They crested the day’s two climbs together but when Bruton punctured out of the break, the game was up. Shanahan pressed on but he was never likely to stay away solo and was eventually caught with around 12 kilometres to go.
That paved the way for the bunch sprint, which Gillot won from Downey and Harry Franklin (DeVere Cycles) in third; the latter holding onto his points jersey for the third day in a row.
Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders in a north westerly direction before turning south, where it will finish on the category one Gallows Hill. They’ll pass through Barefield, Crusheen, Maghera, Tulla, Broadford, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe, cresting four climbs along the way and if that won’t shred the race, the final ascent surely will.
The middle four climbs are two category twos and two category threes, making it the hardest stage of the race.
July 2nd-7th Junior Tour of Ireland
Saturday July 6th: Stage 5: Clarecastle – Cooraclare (80km)
1 Gillott,Owen NRP NRPT Standard Life2 2h04'21"
2 Downey,Mark STA NRPT Standard Life1
3 Franklin,Harry VER Devere Cycles
4 Valognes,Quentin USA Novo Nordisk USA
5 van Empel,Justin TEM TempoBrunsVeldhoven
6 Rooij,Paul AMS Cycling Amsterdam
7 Kirkham,Joe VER Devere Cycles
8 Lewis,Adam TRE Bike Treks
9 Thomas,Waree POL Pole Espoir de Caen
10 Sadler,Jack MI Munster Sensa 1
11 Traca,Batiste POL Pole Espoir de Caen
12 Shanahan,Stephen MI Munster Sensa 1
13 Teggart,Matthew STA NRPT Standard Life1
14 Dunbar,Eddie IRL Stena Ireland
15 Schumacher,Laurens AMS Cycling Amsterdam
16 McBride,Aaron NP North Pole
17 Lutjens,Job AMS Cycling Amsterdam
18 Ryan,Fintan STA NRPT Standard Life1
19 van Brussel,Chris TEM TempoBruns Veldhoven
20 O'Callaghan,Mark M2 Munster Sensa 2
21 Campbell,Ciaran LEN Cycling Leinster
22 McQuerry,Justin USA Novo Nordisk USA
23 Campbell,Darragh USA Novo Nordisk USA
24 Fyffe,Angus ULS Cycling Ulster
25 Debieu,Leo POL Pole Espoir de Caen
26 Hetherington,Ben DRT Dirt Wheels
27 Fallon,Thomas IRL Stena Ireland
28 Heneghan,Kieran WES Western Lakes
29 Cooke,Henry MI Munster Sensa 1
30 McCauley,Craig ULS Cycling Ulster
31 Arrigon,Craig LEN Cycling Leinster
32 Bailey,Darragh DD Donamon Dynamos
33 Knox,James VER Devere Cycles
34 Jeuken,Chris MUN Munster
35 Leigh,Andy VER Devere Cycles
36 Dwyer,Cian M2 Munster Sensa 2
37 Long,Darragh STA NRPT Standard Life1
38 Prendergast,Jason MUN Munster
39 Bruton,Danny NRP NRPT Standard Life2
40 Hahessy,Sean M2 Munster Sensa 2
41 Whelan,Jack LEN Cycling Leinster
42 Reid,Declan ULS Cycling Ulster
43 Moran,Gary CAS Castlebar
44 Trihy,Conor M2 Munster Sensa 2
45 McCarthy,David NRP NRPT Standard Life2
46 Verbeek,Robin TEM TempoBruns Veldhoven
47 Cowen,Jake TRE Bike Treks
48 Lynch,Eoin DEV Leinster Development
49 Dunne,Niall og MD Munster Development
50 Gilmore,Curtis ULS Cycling Ulster
51 O'Brien,Dylan MI Munster Sensa 1
52 Hyland,Paul MD Munster Development
53 Clarke,Anthony BWW Bray Whls
54 Hayes,Corey MUN Munster
55 Coen,Cale CAS Castlebar
56 Brady,David CAS Castlebar
57 Benoit,Cosnefroy POL Pole Espoir de Caen
58 O'Brien,Graham DD Donamon Dynamos @15"
59 Corcoran,Liam NRP NRPT Standard Life2 @26"
60 Walsh,Thomas CAS Castlebar @01'35"
61 Farrell,Cian DEV Leinster Development @01'37"
62 Mahony,Calum MD Munster Development @04'24"
63 Alexander,Gavin USA Novo Nordisk USA @04'27"
64 McAllister,Sam DEV Leinster Development @ s/t
65 Dunne,Ben TUL Tullamore CC @ s/t
66 Feeley,Daire DD Donamon Dynamos @04'36"
67 Foley,Dylan IRL Stena Ireland @04'41"
68 Moriarty,Michael MD Munster Development @07'44"
69 Flood,Jordan DEV Leinster Development @10'31"
General Classification
1 Dunbar,Eddie Y1 Stena Ireland 10h37'11"
2 Downey,Mark Y1 NRPT Standard Li @02'18"
3 Fallon,Thomas 2 Stena Ireland @02'25"
4 Hetherington,Ben 2 Dirt Wheels @02'34"
5 Traca,Batiste 2 Pole Espoir de C @02'35"
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6 Gillott,Owen 2 NRPT Standard Li @02'43"
7 Shanahan,Stephen Y1 Munster Sensa 1 @02'46"
8 Hahessy,Sean 2 Munster Sensa 2 @02'47"
9 Leigh,Andy 2 Devere Cycles @02'49"
10 Knox,James 2 Devere Cycles @03'13"
11 Franklin,Harry 2 Devere Cycles @03'15"
12 Sadler,Jack 2 Munster Sensa 1 @03'16"
13 Cooke,Henry Y1 Munster Sensa 1 @03'21"
14 Cowen,Jake 2 Bike Treks @03'22"
15 Lewis,Adam 2 Bike Treks @03'23"
16 Bruton,Danny 2 NRPT Standard Li @03'29"
17 Teggart,Matthew Y1 NRPT Standard Li @03'37"
18 McCauley,Craig Y1 Cycling Ulster s/t
19 Jeuken,Chris 2 Munster @03'43"
20Fyffe,Angus 2 Cycling Ulster @03'45"
21 Bailey,Darragh Y1 Donamon Dynamos @03'46"
22 Debieu,Leo Y1 Pole Espoir de C @03'48"
23 McBride,Aaron 2 North Pole @03'52"
24 Arrigon,Craig 2 Cycling Leinster @04'04"
25 Campbell,Ciaran 2 Cycling Leinster @04'06"
26 van Brussel,Chris 2 TempoBruns Veldh @04'21"
27 Reid,Declan 2 Cycling Ulster @04'38"
28 Gilmore,Curtis 2 Cycling Ulster @04'59"
29 Kirkham,Joe 2 Devere Cycles @06'08"
30 Foley,Dylan 2 Stena Ireland @07'07"
31 Heneghan,Kieran 2 Western Lakes @07'19"
32 Benoit,Cosnefroy 2 Pole Espoir de C @09'16"
33 Valognes,Quentin Y1 Novo Nordisk USA @09'43"
34 Coen,Cale Y1 Castlebar @09'59"
35 van Empel,Justin 2 TempoBruns Veldh @10'25"
36 Rooij,Paul 2 Cycling Amsterda @10'46"
37 O'Callaghan,Mark Y1 Munster Sensa 2 @10'51"
38 McCarthy,David 2 NRPT Standard Li @11'10"
39 Schumacher,Laurens 2 Cycling Amsterda @11'12"
40 Lutjens,Job 2 Cycling Amsterda @17'00"
41 Campbell,Darragh 1 Novo Nordisk USA @17'13"
42 Prendergast,Jason 2 Munster @19'15"
43 Long,Darragh Y1 NRPT Standard Li @20'11"
44 Whelan,Jack 2 Cycling Leinster @20'58"
45 O'Brien,Dylan Y1 Munster Sensa 1 @21'19"
46 Thomas,Waree Y1 Pole Espoir de C @23'38"
47 Ryan,Fintan Y1 NRPT Standard Li @26'25"
48 Feeley,Daire Y1 Donamon Dynamos @27'15"
49 Dwyer,Cian 2 Munster Sensa 2 @27'21"
50 Verbeek,Robin 2 TempoBruns Veldh @30'16"
51 Lynch,Eoin 2 Leinster Develop @35'40"
52 Walsh,Thomas 2 Castlebar @35'51"
53 Moran,Gary Y1 Castlebar @36'04"
54 Hyland,Paul 2 Munster Developm @37'58"
55 Brady,David Y1 Castlebar @38'14"
56 Clarke,Anthony Y1 Bray Whls @40'17"
57 Dunne,Niall og Y1 Munster Developm @49'49"
58 Corcoran,Liam 2 NRPT Standard Li @51'12"
59 Hayes,Corey Y1 Munster @53'58"
60 O'Brien,Graham Y1 Donamon Dynamos @54'37"
61 McQuerry,Justin 2 Novo Nordisk USA @55'45"
62 Trihy,Conor 2 Munster Sensa 2 @56'13"
63 Farrell,Cian Y1 Leinster Develop @59'36"
64 McAllister,Sam Y1 Leinster Develop @1h06'42"
65 Moriarty,Michael 2 Munster Developm @1h09'09"
66 Dunne,Ben Y1 Tullamore CC @1h10'49"
67 Mahony,Calum 2 Munster Developm @1h11'56"
68 Alexander,Gavin Y1 Novo Nordisk USA @1h13'35"
69 Flood,Jordan 2 Leinster Develop @1h18'30"
Climbers' Classification
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1 Traca,B POL 50
2 Teggart,M STA 38
3 Dunbar,E IRL 37
4 Fallon,T IRL 21
5 Benoit,C POL 15
6 O'Brien,D MI 12
7 Kirkham,J VER 7
8 Thomas,W POL 6
9 Leigh,A VER 5
10 Cowen,J TRE 3
11 Schumacher,L AMS 3
12 Prendergast, MUN 3
Points Classification
Sponsored by Kingspan & IVCA
1 Franklin, H De Ver Cycles 49
3 Gillott, O NRPT Standard Life 47
2 Sadler, J Munster Sensa 39
5 Lewis, A Bike Treks 35
4 Fallon, T Stena Line Ireland 28
First Year Junior
Sponsored by Stena Lina
1 Dunbar,E IRL = 10h37'11"
2 Downey,M STA @ 02'18"
3 Shanahan,S MI @ 02'46"
4 Cooke,H MI @ 03'21"
5 Teggart,M STA @ 03'37"
6 McCauley,C ULS @ 03'37"
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