Paidi O'Brien puts end to Aquablue's winning run with strong victory in "brutal" Rás Luimni

Paidi O'Brien (Osbourne Butchers-Edge Sports) takes victory at Rás Luimni from Sean Lacey of Aquablue (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)

By Brian Canty

Paidi O'Brien has broken Aquablue's early season run in today’s Rás Luimni, emerging the fastest from a breakaway that got clear on the final lap of a gruelling encounter in Caherconlish, Co Limerick.

The Osbourne Butchers-Edge Sports star turn just about held off a late charge from defending champion Sean Lacey (Aquablue), with his team mate Robin Kelly rounding out the podium.

John Mannix of Killarney CC was next over the line followed by Keith Gater of Aquablue, making it a 2-3-5 for the Cork-based team; not quite as good for them as the victories in each of the last three weekends.

Kelly won the Ned Flanagan in Kildare on the opening weekend of the season, with Bryan McCrystal following up by winning the Traders Cup in Dundalk the following Sunday, when Damien Shaw also won the Lacey Cup in Tralee. And Shaw was at it again last weekend, taking the Cycleways Cup.

But today belonged to O'Brien, who opened a 2014 account that will inevitably see further handsome deposits in the months ahead.

The former professional and reigning national criterium champion was totally outnumbered in the break. But her showed his class and his coolness, leaving Lacey to lead out the sprint on the uphill finish before coming around him in the closing 50 metres.

Lacey kicked again to try and claw back the deficit but O'Brien did just enough.

Kelly said the race was as hard as he's done in a while and even suggested it was as hard as a Rás stage.

"Today was just brutal, so hard," said an exhausted Kelly, who finished 2^nd in Clonard yesterday.

"Maybe there was a bit of fatigue in my legs from yesterday but the break didn't go until the last lap so it was just furious; attacks going, getting brought back, going, getting brought back."

The riders had to contend with strong crosswinds, but mild temperatures made the going fast; a welcome relief from the freezing temperatures and sleet that marred last year’s edition.