Philip Cassidy of the Ireland team gave his younger rivals a lesson in stage race-riding as he registered his second win in the FBD Milk Ras which ended in Dublin yesterday.
After a total of 798 miles over the nine days at almost 26 miles an hour 37-year-old Cassidy, the winner in 1983, had two minutes and 11 seconds to spare over Dermot Finnegan (Meath) with Colby Pearce of the USA/Europe selection third at 2:24.
Cassidy's experience was the vital factor but he had the fitness and strength to get into the right positions and although he only took over the lead at Cootehill on Friday, he was then in command and won convincingly.
After the finish of Saturday's eighth stage at Drogheda, he revealed that he had been ill during the previous night but he kept it a secret from his rivals and, although he was uneasy on the stage he managed to stay up with the leaders and held his 2:11 advantage.
When Cassidy's wife, Anita, greeted him after the Drogheda finish she suggested that he should stay in training and be the first veteran (over 40) to win the Ras. When I asked for his reaction to that he said: "I wouldn't discount it, I wouldn't rule anything out, anyway I hope to be back and win the Ras again next year".
It is obviously a sad reflection on the younger riders that Cassidy can beat them so soundly but he said after the finish he did not want to take anything from anybody.
Saturday's 102 miles from Cootehill to Drogheda did not produce any changes to the top placings but the number of withdrawals continued to grow. Following the retirement of Ian Chivers (Dublin Orwell) with knee trouble on Friday Jon Clay (McCartneys) and Brian Kenneally (Wicklow), who had slipped from first and second places to 14th and 15th on Friday, were among the non-starters because of food poisoning and a chest infection respectively.
After the climb at Windy Gap a group of 47 formed at the front between Dundalk and Ardee but nine of them broke clear with 80 miles covered, including three Dutch.
With eight miles to go Jansen and Kil went on with Malarczyk and just before the last hill at King William's Glen Jansen sprinted clear. He arrived in West Street Drogheda four seconds up to claim his fourth stage and Malarczyk prevented a Dutch one-two by beating Kil. Cassidy was at the back of a group of 23 at 10 seconds. Jansen's feat is not unique feat, four stage wins has been accomplished seven times before.
Yesterday the 99 still in raced around the Dublin city centre circuit up and down O'Connell Street and around Parnell Square. There were some breakaway attempts and special primes went to Joe Fenelon (Carlow), Alges Massikmets (Estonia) and Jansen.
At the end of 25 laps 96 were still together for the final massed sprint and Belgian Peter van Hoof had his first win of the season when he beat Kil with Paul Griffin (Carlow) third just ahead of Simon Whelan (Dublin Swords).
Cassidy was there safely to hold his advantage and lead Ireland to victory in the team classification. Kil's second place put back at the top of the points classification as Jansen was only 11th. Jeff Wright was king of the mountains again.
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