The opening stage of the An Post Ras into Kilkenny today, Sunday, went to Marcin Bialoblocki (Node4 Girodana) who was the quickest to the line of a four man breakaway that had just seconds to spare over the main field.
He wears the yellow jersey on stage 2 tomorrow.
Jacob Nielsen from Denmark was in the breakaway today and took second. He wears the points jersey tomorrow while Bialoblocki's team mate Dave Clarke holds the climbers jersey after taking first and second on the day's two climbs today.
Philip Lavery (NODE 4 Girodana) took the hotspot sprint at the Hill of Allen today from Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport), with those two Irish riders looking very strong on the opening stage. Lavery will hold the U23 classification jersey tomorrow.
Sam Bennett of the An Post-Sean Kelly team also looked in good form and just about missed getting across to the winning breakaway.
Last year's overall winner and a team mate of Bennett's, Gediminas Bagdonas won a hot spot sprint today and also took the second KOH of the day. He was also right up there in the bunch sprint just behind so he is looking strong.
Aaron Buggle (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) took the county rider award.
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We'll have the stage in full and lots of extras a little later folks. Please come back to us, and follow us on Facebook for live updates all week.
Stage 1: Dunboyne to Kilkenny
1) Marcin Bialoblocki (NODE4 Girodana) 3:09:04
2) Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) same
3) Nicolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 2 secs
4) Simon Richardson (IG Sigma Sport) same
5) Roy Eefting (Koga Cycling) @ 6 secs
6) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post-Sean Kelly)
7) Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport)
2) Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) same
3) Nicolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 2 secs
4) Simon Richardson (IG Sigma Sport) same
5) Roy Eefting (Koga Cycling) @ 6 secs
6) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post-Sean Kelly)
7) Peter Hawkins (IG Sigma Sport)
General classification
1) Marcin Bialoblocki (NODE4 Girodana) 3:08:54
2) Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) @ 4 secs
3) Nicolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 8 secs
4) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Grant-Sean Kelly) @ 10 secs
5) Simon Richardson (Britain IG Sigma Sport) @ 12 secs
6) Philip Lavery (Britain Node4 Giordana) @ 13 secs
7) Peter Hawkins (Britain IG Sigma Sport) same time
2) Jacob Nielsen (Blue Water) @ 4 secs
3) Nicolas Baldo (Atlas Jakroo) @ 8 secs
4) Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post Grant-Sean Kelly) @ 10 secs
5) Simon Richardson (Britain IG Sigma Sport) @ 12 secs
6) Philip Lavery (Britain Node4 Giordana) @ 13 secs
7) Peter Hawkins (Britain IG Sigma Sport) same time
