Sitting on the edge of the presentation stand at the end of an eyeballs-out opening stage of the FBD Milk Ras yesterday, Irish professional David McCann considered his chances for the tough week ahead. "I had a heavy cold during the week and still feel very bunged up," he said, pointing to his sinuses. "but hopefully I will get over it soon."
Regardless of his malady, McCann had minutes earlier ridden to a stirring solo victory on the streets of Ballaghaderreen, a daring pursuit race between the Belfast Olympian and a fast-closing main bunch which saw his green and white national champion's jersey crest the tape three seconds clear. The prize was his third stage win in the event and his first ever yellow jersey in the race. As opening stages go, it was a humdinger. Covering over 28 miles in the first hour, the early stages saw a number of shortlived attacks. 1999 winner Philip Cassidy pipped defending champion Julian Winn to take the opening hotspot sprint, and three-second time bonus, in Delvin, with the Welshman again second behind Stephen O'Sullivan in Edgeworthstown and thus becoming leader on the road.
However, just minutes later he missed a crucial breakaway. Quickly opening a time gap , the riders pooled their strengths and eked out a decisive lead; those present included 2000 Tour of Italy stage winner David McKenzie, Cassidy, McCann, Ireland/Shannon Oaks teammate Aidan Duff, plus Krzystof Zasada and Peter Wedge of the professional Legia and Jet Fuel Coffee squads.
Deutsche Telecom's Dirk Reichl took the Strokestown bonus sprint and climbed convincingly to assume the lead in the mountains competition, while Paddy Moriarty and Richie Cahill increased the Irish interest. Chris Young of Deeside and Winn's team-mate Anthony Malarczyk made it 11 up front.
As the miles to the finish ticked down, so too did the deficit. One minute and three seconds with 12 kilometres left in the stage, 53 seconds with ten remaining and then just 35 as the leaders reached the five kilometres to go sign. Touch and go, nail biting stuff. Responding to an attack by Wedge, McCann finally shook off his shadow Reichl and made one last burst which drew him clear.
