Rás Stage 3: Bagdonas grabs Westport win after late bids by McCann & Lavery

Bagdonas takes the applause on the podium in Westport (Photo: Barry Sutton: www.irishcyclingpohotos.com)

Bagdonas takes the applause on the podium in Westport (Photo: Barry Sutton: www.irishcyclingphotos.com)

Last year’s double stage and overall winner, Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post-Sean Kelly) has taken the third stage of the An Post Ras into Westport today, Tuesday, after a day of carnage saw late efforts by Philip Lavery and David McCann just come up short.

Lavery, riding for NODE4 Giordana, went clear in the closing three kilometres and dangled off the front with Dutch rider Lars Vierbergen (Koga Conti) in pursuit of the long-time lone leader, Norwegian rider Sondre Hurum (Oneco Mesterhus).

However, the duo was caught just inside the closing two kilometres by the large group or around 60 riders they had just left. And shortly after that Hurum was overhauled, paving the way for the group sprint that was won in a powerful gallop by Bagdonas.

Hurum had been out front for half the stage; a day hit by a very high number of crashes and what was effectively time-loss carnage for those riders not in the leading group.

At around 73km Hurum got across to three riders who had just moved clear of the bunch. The trio were: Eugene Moriarty (Meath East-Spin 11), Tim Barry (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) and Gruffudd Lewis (UK Youth Cycling).

The four crested the first climb of the day - Tir na Cille at 83km – clear of the main chasing bunch, containing the yellow jersey. However, on the next climb - the second cat Gowlaun at 95km – both Barry and Lewis crashed coming off that climb and Moriarty lost contact with the breakaway at that point.

That left Hurum up front on his own, and that was the way it was to remain until he was recaptured with just a couple of kilometres remaining on the stage.

As Barry and Lewis crashed there were a number of big crashes in the groups behind them, with eventual stage winner Bagdonas one of the fallers.

The large group behind lone leader Hurum was to split – with around 20 riders moving clear, leaving the yellow jersey of Primin Lang behind.

However, with around 10kms to go those two groups merged; the gap between them never having reached much more than 30 seconds.

In the run in to the finish Irish riders David McCann (RTS Racing) and Lavery both went clear in small groups before being recaptured. Lavery’s moved with Dutch rider Lars Vierbergen (Koga Conti) was closest to the finish and it briefly looked like they might catch the lone Hurum up front and contest stage honours in a three-up sprint.

But it wasn’t to be; with all three caught in the final 2km and Bagdonas - clearly having recovered from his earlier spill - taking the sprint win from stage 1 winner Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana).

Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport) was best of the Irish on the stage in 8th, while Adam Armstrong was 10th and took the county award for the second stage running.

Stage 3 Result: Gort - Westport

1) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post-Sean Kelly) 3:09:03
2) Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana)
3) Roy Eefting (Koga Cycling)
4) Cameron Karwowski (New Zealand)
5) Remi Sarreboubee (AVC Aix En Provence)
6) Martin Hunal (AC Sparta Praha)
7) Thomas Rostollan (AVC Aix En Provence)
8 Peter Hawkins (IG - Sigma Sport)
9) Wouter Sybrandy (IG - Sigma Sport)
10) Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles)

General Classification

1) Pirmin Lang (Atlas Jakroo) 9:52:00
2) Dale Appleby (Metaltek SCOTT)
3) James Moss (Node4 Giordana)
4) Richard Handley (Rapha Condor Sharp)
5) Connor McConvey (An Post Sean Kelly)
6) Dan Craven (Team IG - Sigma Sport)
7) Christian Jensen (Blue Water)
8 Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Giordana) @ 12 secs
9) Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) @ 18 secs
10) Nicjolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 20 secs