Manx missile denies Cigala, O'Brien in Rás Mumhan opener

Manx missile denies Cigala, O'Brien in Rás Mumhan opener

Tom Mazzone claimed the opening stage this evening in Killorglin with a brilliantly-timed kick up the hill to the finish line (Photo with thanks to George Doyle)

By Brian Canty

Tom Mazzone of the Isle of Man has won the opening stage of this year’s Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in Killorglin. He will wear the yellow jersey tomorrow.

The Manx rider galloped in ahead of Matteo Cigala (Aqua Blue Academy) and Páidí O'Brien (Killorglin CC).

They were at the head of a depleted peloton after a ferociously fast opener. It was completed in a little over two hours this evening.

Not even a few climbs and some heavy rain could quell the speed of the bunch in what was one of the fastest opening days in recent years.

It’s a huge win for Mazzone and he will now set his eyes on defending it tomorrow for the first time in his career.

However, there is a very long way to go yet before the riders return to Killorglin on Monday for the finish.

Today, Mazzone kept his powder dry as best he could as plenty of others took the chance to get up the road.

And first to do so were Adam Darbyshire of the Surrey League Team and Eoin O'Connell of Killarney CC.

They were back in the bunch before long and the next move of the day involved Cigala and Ronan McLaughlin (both Aqua Blue Academy).

Matt Garthwaite (Rhino Velo Racing) was with them as well as, brother of the eventual winner, Leon Mazzone (Isle of Man).

McLaughlin took the first KOH at Kilcummin with Cigala just behind him.

But by the next categorised climb at Tooreencahill it was a different quartet clear.

This time Sean Lacey (Aqua Blue Academy), Eoin Morton (UCD-Fitzcycles.ie), Lawrence Carpenter (Surrey League) and Oliver Hayward (Rhino Velo Race Team) were clear.

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Morton took the honours there followed by Lacey. But just like the group that had escaped, the move persisted before being caught.

And with 30 kilometres to go it was all together at the front. However, there was no let-up in the aggression.

Approaching the third and final climb at Milltown with 10 kilometres to go there was a break of 11 clear.

It looked very threatening with a number of established heads in there, including former winner Mark Dowling (Strata3VeloRevolution).

They were tracked by around 80 riders with the next group of some 35 riders almost six minutes in arrears.

Lacey took the KOH at Milltown to ensure he ended the day in the climbers' jersey. But the escape was reeled in.

Mark Shannon (Burren Racing Team) and Conn McDunphy (Irish National Team) both tried their luck but were quickly brought back.

As a result, the race ended in a furious bunch sprint up the hill into the finish town.

Now ahead of the riders, tomorrow’s stage takes then on a 130km journey. The route leads from Listowel into west Limerick before heading for the finish in Athea.