Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) has claimed overall victory at Rás Mhaigh Eo, taking the initiative on the final stage today in the same spot where he was ambushed by Matthew Devins and his Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei team 12 months ago.
However, while the Rás Tailteann champion from two years ago was not exactly a surprise winner this weekend, he was made to work for it by 18-year-old Sam Coleman (AS Villemur).
The junior rider won the opening stage yesterday morning and then defended very well in the short afternoon TT by taking 2nd place, behind Feeley. And though Coleman also rode a very strong final stage today in defence of yellow, Feeley overwhelmed him, as he tends to.
Coleman was perhaps also on the backfoot without any team mates in the race when he needed them, though the lessons of today from Feeley - and a few other wily riders he was with up the road - will stand the second-year junior in good stead for the months and years ago.
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Today's final stage - some 108km with the the three categorised climbs of Leenane, Aile Dubh and Maamtrasna - was marked by aggressive and fast racing from the gun.
Coleman started the stage in yellow with an advantage of 16 seconds over Paul Kennedy (Team Skyline-Cadence), the man he gained 35 seconds with on stage 1. Then came stage 2 TT winner, the main dangerman in the field, Feeley; at 3rd overall, some 33 seconds down on Coleman.
Niall McLoughlin (Amicale Cyclist Bisontine) was 4th overall at 40 seconds, followed by Curtis Neill (Lyon Sprint Evolution) and Liam Crowley (UCD CC); in 5th and 6th, both at 49 seconds. Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), who had a big say today, starting the final stage in 7th at 51 seconds while James Delaney (Lucan CRC) was 8th overall, at 1:02.
Feeley's plan was clearly aimed at wearing down Coleman and though it took a long time, the elastic eventually snapped with about 25km to go, in the Louisburgh area, where he saw his chance of winning overall slipped away from him last year.
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When he went, he had the company he needed to drive the pace on out front in the hope of gaining enough time to wrestle the yellow jersey from a very strong Coleman.
With Feeley were: Moynalty's Smith, Joe-Nathan Matar (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club), Simon Ryan (Greenmount CA) and Feidhlim Dignan (Blarney Cycling Club).
They worked together to establish a gap, with Feeley especially anxious to drive it on as the final yellow jersey was at stake and slow but surely coming his way. Though Dignan and Ryan eventually lost their places out front, the remaining trio kept it going all the way to the line.
Smith and Matar had the advantage of being with Feeley, who was more interested in riding for time than the stage win. And on the line Smith took the victory to open his account for the year, edging out Matar. Feeley trailed in one second behind them, in 3rd on the day but having done enough to win the race overall.
Behind the leading trio, Bren Broekaart (Challenge Cycling Club) edged out Christopher Donald (Spellman-Dublin Port) in the sprint for 4th place, some 1:13 down the breakaway.
The rest of the main bunch, numbering 40 riders, was a further two seconds back, with yellow jersey Coleman in the middle of it, losing yellow put having put in a very strong weekend.
The stage result and the time gained and lost ensure Feeley claimed overall victory from stage 3 winner Smith by 17 seconds, with Matar 3rd at 37 seconds. Coleman dropped to 4th, though still a strong result, at 41 seconds, with Kennedy 5th overall at 57 seconds and Neill 6th at 1:30.
Feeley also won the sprints classification, with Odhran Doogan (Caldwell Cycles) winning the climbers' classification and Team Dan Morrissey-Primor by Pissei best team.
