Henry Cooke powers his way up the drag at the finish in Westport to take the opening stage of Rás Maigh Eo (Photo: www.jimmymcelroy.com – follow Jimmy on Facebook and Twitter)
The lone Limerick CC rider in Rás Maigh Eo, Henry Cooke will have the yellow jersey on his back in tomorrow morning’s stage 2 time trial after a fantastic effort in the opening stage this afternoon.
The 18-year-old was active on today’s 90km stage - starting and finishing in Westport - and pulled clear in a promising group just over the halfway point.
However, the 130-rider A2-A3 bunch never gave up and closed down all of the many moves that broke clear, paving the way for a mass sprint which Cooke won from former national junior champion Liam Corcoran (Castlebar CC).
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With a string of classification jerseys on offer as well as the stage win, the field was nervous and aggressive; with Lucan CRC trying many times to shake things up as well as Covey Wheelers, Castlebar CC and Daire Feeley of iTap.
Despite being lined out for long periods in the crosswinds, the field stayed together for the stage to be settled in a sprint.
Feeley was especially active but having won a string of races last year as a junior when he represented Ireland at the World Championships and other major events and also having ridden well as a first-year U23 in recent weeks; he was very heavily marked.
With a tailwind at the start, the racing was simply too fast for any of the groups that clipped up the road to ever build a meaningful lead.
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However, when the race turned right after Coraun around the halfway point, the crosswind forced the whole field into the gutter in a line-out and it looked like the pressure may force significant splits.
But the field remained intact, though the final climb of Barley Hill just a couple of kilometres before the first ensured the strongest riders were at the head of affairs hurtling in to the line.
Lucan CRC were out in force, going for the sprint and climbers' primes; generally doing their best to break up the race.
Eventual winner Cooke was among them and when the in-form Simon Tuomey (Cork Giant) made a very late bid for glory that came up short, Cooke took his lead from the move and jumped off Tuomey who inadvertently led out the sprint.
And the Limerick man’s sprint was good enough in the drag up to the finish to see off Corcoran, with the classy but heavily marked Feeley in 3rd place.
The riders now face an 8km time trial tomorrow morning before another 90km road stage in the afternoon.
For stage 1 and full classification results, click here.
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