Irish riders were on the attack today at Rás Mumhan and have collected all the jerseys bar one. But the stage win has gone to one of the Dutch riders, Wouter Been of West Frisia (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Former Rás Mumhan winner Sean McKenna well placed
The Irish riders have gone on the attack on Kerry Group Rás Mumhan into Athea today but it was a Dutch visitor who won the day.
Wouter Been of West Frisia made the key 10-man breakaway. And in the closing stages he attacked those who remained in the escape and rode clear.
He survived to win solo and also took the race lead for his efforts. Matteo Cigala (VinerCaremarkPactimo) was also in the breakaway and won the sprint for 2nd place, having been 5th yesterday.
And the stage winner’s team mate Harry Sweering rounded out on the podium on the day after 129km from Listowel into Athea.
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Just over one hour into the stage, the all-out racing resulted in a key escape group being formed. It would never been seen by the rest of the field again.
The breakaway was made up of Sean McKenna (Ireland Development) and Matteo Cigala (VinerCaremarkPactimo) along with Harry Sweering and Wouter Been of West Frisia.
Also present was Matthew Garthwaite (Rhino Velo Racing) as well as Stephen Murray and James Davenport of Strata 3-VeloRevolution.
And completing the line-up were three more Irishmen; Richard Meaney of Westport Covey, Patrick Clarke of Ballina CC and Simon Ryan of Killarney.
The breakaway pulled out a gap of 1 minute quite quickly but it would never go too much higher than that.
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And for much of the stage a six-man chase group was trying its best to catch them.
In that second group were Conn McDunphy (Ireland Development) and the Panduit Carrick Wheelers pair Jamie Blanchfield and John Hodge.
A winner already this season, Cathal Moynihan (Tralee BC) was also present as was Eoin O’Connell of Blarney CC.
Up front the breakaway would slim down to eight when Ryan and later Clarke lost contact.
Just inside the final 15km a group about 20 riders, which included yellow jersey Alex Luhrs (Pro Cycling UK), caught the six-rider chasing group.
As the finish neared the gap between the yellow jersey group and the breakaway dipped below one minute.
Meanwhile, up front Meaney and Murray lost their places in the escape, such was the pressure.
Late attack won stage and yellow
And with out about 4km remaining it was Dutchman Been is struck out decisively from the breakaway. He attacked hard and eked out a small gap on the five he had been with.
And at the end of the 129km stage from Listowel to Athea, he stayed clear and won the stage. He also took the race lead.
Marcus Treacy of Killarney CC holds the A2 classification jersey going into tomorrow’s stage 3.
McDunphy wears the U23 leader’s jersey, McKenna the climbers’ classification and Cigala the points jersey.
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