Tom Martin (Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli) has won stage 4 of Rás Tailteann as a breakaway again succeeded today, on the road from Horse and Jockey to Kildare.
The British rider broke clear with over 40km remaining with compatriot Will Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) and young Irish rider Conal Scully (Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei), who would crash just before the finish.
While they built an advantage of 1:10 at one point that gap was coming down as they approached the finish and was down under 50 seconds with about 8km to go as Perrett was, comfortably, yellow jersey on the road.
Martin had started the breakaway with about 45km to go and was soon joined by Perrett and Scully, attacking them again with about 3km to go to win the day.
He finished just two seconds up on Perrett, with Scully unfortunately caught by the bunch before the finish after his crash in the final couple of kilometres.
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The sprint for 3rd place, from that bunch, was won 18 seconds after the winner crossed the line, by Jim Brown of Ribble Rebellion. John Buller (Spellman Dublin Port), who was 2nd yesterday, took 4th on the stage.
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"I'm made up," Martin said at the finish. "I went with 45k to go and was joined by two others and we dropped off well together.
"But then I went solo with 3km to the finish, so I'm very happy with that. It's my first Rás win... this is my third Rás and I'm happy to win a stage after yesterday's mechanical put me out of GC."
An earlier move on the stage, featuring Dean Harvey and Dillon Corkery of Team Ireland, spent a long time clear, with Harvey taking the first five categorised climbs of the day. However, while that meant he claimed the climbers' jersey, that move was canceled out by a chase in the bunch before the winning move went.
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While Perrett was virtual yellow jersey on the road a long time today, the gap to the leaders was brought back to enable Dom Jackson of Foran CC hold onto the race lead with just one stage remaining into Bective, Co Meath, tomorrow.
Odhran Doogan (Team Ireland) took over the points jersey today while his team mate, Liam O’Brien retains the young rider classification. Matteo Cigala (Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei) has also retained by the county rider jersey classification, though JB Murphy (Leinster) won the county rider award today.
Very early in the stage a group of six got clear comprised of: Marcus Christie (CC Isle of Man), Dean Harvey (Team Ireland), Paul Kennedy (Skyline - Cadence), Ciaran Maguire (Dan Morrissey), Kieran Riley (Spellman Dublin) and Lindsay Watson (All Human - VeloRevolution).
Though Gareth O’Neill (Challenge CC) and Darnell Moore (All Human - VeloRevolution) sensed the danger and tried to bridge across to the leaders, they were unable to do so. However, Dillon Corkery of Team Ireland was able, getting up to the leaders to make it seven up front.
By the time the leaders had 15km completed, passing through Urlingford, they had 30 seconds on the bunch and with 30km done they had one minute and were looking good; Harvey and Corkery pulling hard on the front.
At the first KOH of the day, at Ballyragget, Harvey took maximum points over the top, as the gap for the leaders began to extend towards the 1:30 marker.
And while the leaders raced onto the next KOH almost immediately - the cat 3 at Castlecomer after 50km - it was clear they were not being allowed to simply ride away, with the peloton proving determined in its pursuit.
Again, Harvey was first over the top; from Kennedy, Watson and Christie. And on the cat 1 at Gorteen, after 55km completed, Harvey led again; from Corkery, Watson, Christie, Kennedy and Maguire.
Harvey was again best on the cat 2 of Carn West, after 60km completed and again on the cat 2 at Clogrenan, after 67km. However, the gap was then gradually reduced and was just under 30 seconds after 80km completed and they were soon caught.
And very quickly after that catch was made, eventual stage winner Martin took off solo, starting the three-man breakaway that would win the day.
More to come.
