Martin Ayres
A SUN-BAKED An Post Rás ended on Sunday with overall victory going to France’s Nicolas Baldo, riding for the Swiss Atlas team. Baldo took the leader’s yellow jersey with a powerful display on the two hilly stages in Donegal. He successfully defended it over the last three days to become the first French winner in the 60-years history of the Rás. It was a French one-two with Thomas Rostollan (Aix en Provence) second at just 13 seconds.
This year’s Rás was also a milestone event for Mayo cycling, with the county fielding two five-man teams for the first time — Castlebar Western Edge and Mayo Centra.
A high-speed race, in heat wave conditions took its toll on all the teams. But nine of the 10 Mayo starters completed the 727-mile, eight-day event. The high survival rate was a tribute to the fitness and dedication of the team members, who are local club cyclists. The only ‘casualty’ was Castlebar’s Peter Tuohy. Drafted into the team as a late replacement, he gave a good account of himself before withdrawing at half-way.
Castlebar were keen to improve on their 2011 third place in the county team contest. It wasn’t to be; time lost in the opening stages saw them slip to fifth out of 23 teams. But Patrick Clarke provided strong consolation by finishing third individual in the County section. Clarke moved up the table with an impressive display on the toughest stage of the race in Donegal.
“With a bit more luck Pat could have finished even higher,” said Castlebar manager Kevin Dunleavy. “He is living and racing in Belgium and it’s made him fitter and stronger.” Team-mate Chris Coyle also had his share of bad luck but was 11th county rider overall.
Harrington battles through pain barrier
IF there was a prize for most meritorious performance it would surely go to Donal Harrington of Mayo Centra.
Making his Rás debut at 36, Harrington crashed heavily on stage one, needing 10 stitches in a head wound. Determined to finish the Rás, he suffered sleepless nights, pain and fatigue before finishing a respectable 60th out of 73 in the county category. Coach Padraig Marrey, who was Centra’s best finisher, said “We were the oldest team in the race with an average age of just under 40 and probably the heaviest, so it was a great achievement to finish with a full line-up,” he said.
Louisburgh’s Charles Prendergast rode with the UCD team and went well for four days but then due to a cold, lost form and pulled out on stage seven.
Race statistics
Final overall: 1. Nicolas Baldo, France, 26-55-57; 2. Thomas Rostollan, France @ 13 seconds; 3. Martin Hunal, Czech Republic @ 17 seconds. 1st Irish rider: Connor McConvey (An Post Sean Kelly) @ 24 seconds.
County riders: 1. Adam Armstrong (Dublin West) 26-56-49; 2. Ryan Sherlock (Tipperary Carrick) @ 7sec; 3. Patrick Clarke (Castlebar Western Edge) @ 8-54; 11. Chris Coyle (CWE) @ 26-29; 26. Padraig Marrey (Mayo Centra) @ 54-47; 30. David Brennan (CWE) @ 1-2-33; 48. Ciaran Clarke (CWE) @ 1-33-58; 52. John James Flaherty (MC) @ 1-40-12; 59. Michael Flanagan (MC) @ 2-25-37; 60. Donal Harrington (MC) @2-31-56; 62. Micheal Brady (MC) @2-38-7.
County team: 1. Dublin West Eurocycles; 2.Tipperary Carrick; 3. Carlow Dan Morrissey; 4. Meath Dunboyne DID; 5. Mayo Castlebar Western Edge; 11. Galway Black Rose; 16. Mayo Centra.
Starters 161; finishers 145.
