Dutch Destroyer: Bakker takes stage and overall victory in Killorglin (Photo: Pat Doherty)
Ryan Sherlock has lost the ‘Kerry Group Ras Mumhan’ on the final stage, as Dutchman Dennis Bakker took a solo stage win into Killorglin today and with it the time he needed to take the yellow jersey from the shoulders of the overnight leader.
Sherlock was in full flight in the last 1.5kms, desperately trying to close the gap to Bakker up the road to protect his lead, when he overshot a corner and came off in the wet. While Sherlock remounted and finished in the bunch, Bakker had no such problems and maintained the gap he needed to close the 44 seconds he was down on GC, with a little bit to spare.
Bakker, who was leading the U23 classification going into this morning’s fourth and final stage, got up the road at the start of the finishing circuits in Killorglin in a three man group that included Sean McFadden (LK Bikes Donegal) and Silvan Buis (West Frisia)
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They managed to stay off the front despite some hard chasing behind in wet conditions.
Bakker (Ruiter Dakkapellen) then attacked his two breakaway companions in the closing stages to take a great win and secure enough time on those behind to lift this year’s GC title. That’s a major disappointment for Sherlock (Iverk Produce-Carrick Wheelers) who had ridden a really strong race over the weekend.
The breakaway riders never managed to pull out much of a gap and it hovered at one minute for most of the 35km escape. They got clear with the full seven laps of the tough 5km circuit around the streets of Killorglin remaining.
Both Sherlock and DID Dunboyne’s Daniel Clifford tried to get across to the leaders when it became clear the chase in the bunch behind wasn’t making any inroads into the gap of those upfront. However, those efforts came to nothing and Bakker grabbed his chance with both hands .
Sherlock finished second overall with Colin Parry (Primal Europe) maintaining his third n GC. (Those podium placings are provisional so we will confirm that for you later.)
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Parry and former yellow jersey and stage 2 winner Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) were clear in a group of eight riders earlier in the stage before the race moved onto the Killorglin finishing circuit. However, that gap was closed down and Sherlock and his team mates looked as though they had it under control until Bakker and the other two riders took flight.
With a couple of laps remaining, while the gap to Bakker and his fellow escapees was still around the one minute mark, they were being reeled in very slowly. While they never looked like being caught it appeared that Sherlock would probably just about hang on for the GC win.
In the end though the firepower up front, and perhaps Sherlock’s crash, saw the gap maintained by Bakker and the 2012 title going to Holland. McFadden and Buis hung on for second and third on the stage.
Full report, full results and photos later. That’s a tough day for Ryan Sherlock…….
Provisional Results
Stage 4 - Killorglin/Beaufort/Killorglin, 115kms.
1 Dennis Bakker (Ruiter Dakkapellen), 2.38.39;
2 Silvan Buis (West Frisia), @2 secs;
3 Sean McFadden (LK Bikes Donegal), @17secs;
4 Paidi O'Brien (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes), @46 secs;
5 Daniel Clifford (DID/Dunboyne CC), same time;
6 Rober jan Moll (West Frisa), st.
FINAL OVERALL:
1 Bakker, 11.47.56;
2 Ryan Sherlock (IVERK/Carrick Wheelers), @11;
3 Colin Parrey (Primal Europe), @13;
4 Tom Stockdale (Primal Europe) @1.05;
5 Chris McNamara (Surrey), @1.07;
6 George Harpur (Felt Colbornes), @1.16.
Under 23 Baker:
Points - Bakker;
Mountains - Adam Arnstrong (Eurocycles);
Category 2 - Matt Slattery (Killarney CC).
Team - Reuiter Dakkapalen.
