Cyclingnews

May 30, Stage 8: Kilcullen - Skerries 140km

Wetterhall weathers storm for overall

By:

Shane Stokes

Published:

May 31, 2010, 19:35,

Updated:

May 31, 2010, 15:13

Degenkolb grabs final stage

Under constant attack on Saturday's mountain stage, the final leg of the race was altogether more straightforward for Alexander Wetterhall and his Team Sprocket squad, who scooped the overall victory in Skerries today.

The 24-year-old finished in a main bunch led home by German sprinter John Degenkolb (Thüringer Energie), thus maintaining his comfortable overnight lead over his rivals. He ended the event 59 seconds ahead of Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) and 1:32 up on Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp).

Connor McConvey (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) was best of the home competitors in fourth place, the 21-year-old also winning the white jersey of best young rider.

"I had a really good ride into the finishing town here," Wetterhall said, clad in the final yellow jersey of the race. "My legs felt really good on the last two climbs, I was so fresh. I managed to control the attacks well.

"This is the greatest stage race I've ever done. It is great for my mind, my confidence."

Team manager Martin McCrossan was impressed by the squad's performance on the final 140km stage. "The plan was to calm the race, put the boys on the front for the first five kilometres to control it and settle it down after the start, but they stayed on the front the whole day," he said.

"Everybody said this race was a lottery, very difficult to control. We sat down beforehand and said that we'd just race for stage wins, and if we were in contention coming into the final two days, we'd go for the overall then. It just worked out perfectly - it took pressure off the guys and let them race the way they wanted to race."

Williams was closest to Wetterhall in the overall standings, but had mixed feelings at the end. "I was looking at trying to win a stage, as I thought it was going to be a bit hilly for me for the GC. I managed to hang in there on yesterday's hilly stage, though.

"I was second in the points, second overall, second and third on stages. That was nice, but it would have been good to have won something. But I can't be too disappointed, really."

Sprint finish after day of attacks

German sprinter John Degenkolb (Thüringer Energie) followed up his stage win on Friday when he outsprinted Matt Cronshaw (Rapha Condor Sharp) and the rest of the main bunch at the end of the 140km leg to the coastal town of Skerries. Chris Coyle (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) was best of the Irish in tenth.

The day had been marked by a long range move involving seven riders. Saturday's stage winner Mark Cassidy (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) was on the hunt for more primes to secure his victory in the King of the Mountains competition, and went clear with several others 30km after the start in Kilcullen.

He joined up with compatriot Neil Delahaye and double FBD Rás champion Chris Newton (Rapha Condor Sharp), Kit Gilham (Sigmasport Specialised), Bastian Burgel (Thuringer Energie), Josef Kugler (Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis) and Ian Bibby (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta), and these opened up a decent lead over the main bunch.

Cassidy took top points on the day's first climb, the category three ascent of Pluckhimin, and this moved him five points clear of his team-mate David O'Loughlin in the KOM rankings.

Delahaye, Newton and Burgel attacked several kilometres later and while Cassidy chased hard to try to get back on, the front three pulled well together and moved further ahead. He nevertheless picked up fourth place on the Cross of the Cage climb, adding two points to his total and increasing his final advantage to seven points over O'Loughlin.

Newton attacked on the first of two 13.8km finishing laps and was still clear with 11km to go; 2008 FBD Rás champion Stephen Gallagher (Sigmasport Specialized) clipped across to him, but the duo was unable to hold off the peloton, making a bunch sprint the inevitable outcome.

Degenkolb was clearly quickest, getting a good jump on the peloton and finishing well ahead at the line. "It was a nice climb on the circuit. It was good for me - not so long and not so steep," he said afterwards. "I had good legs today."

He took the green jersey as points winner. Cassidy finished seven points clear of his An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly teammate in the mountains classification, and McConvey landed the white jersey as best young rider.

The Irish-sponsored, Belgium-registered team had a successful campaign in what is one of the most important races of the year for it, also landing two stage wins and victory in the team's classification.

McConvey was satisfied with his showing. He was focused on mountain bike competition until this season, and has very little stage race experience. Despite that, he appeared to be fresh and motivated, and said he'd have liked the race to have been longer.

"I'm still learning as I have not been doing road racing for that long. This was the longest stage race I did," he stated. "Next up for me is the under 23 Nations Cup Event in Canada this week... I fly out tomorrow. That's very important for the country as we are trying to qualify for the world championships."

It was a successful and exciting edition of the FBD Insurance Rás, and confirmation has been received that the race will continue as usual in 2011.

Long-time race organiser Dermot Dignam had stated for quite some time that this was to be his last edition, but he has decided now to work with a committee next year, giving his input and guidance and ensuring that the 58-year-old contest will continue.

FBD Insurance will stay on as main sponsor, being very happy with its long association with Dignam, his crew and the race.

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