CYCLING:AS A former pro and a manager of four winning Rás teams, John Herety is one of the most experienced managers in the history of the race. He and his Rapha Condor team displayed cool, calm strategy on yesterday's 154.6 kilometre stage from Killorglin to Scariff, playing things to perfection and ensuring the easiest possible ride for race leader Simon Richardson and the team.
First to the line was Australian rider Nicholas Walker, as the 20-year-old held off quadruple Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant Veoila) to take his second consecutive win. But, while Cinelli Down Under competitor Walker was understandably delighted with what is a rare feat in the race, it was Richardson and Herety who had the biggest smiles.
The reason for their satisfaction was not just the defence of the yellow jersey, but also the manner in which it was achieved. Richardson’s team-mates Darren Lapthorne and Chris Newton started the day inside the top-10 and, instead of Rapha Condor chasing down each move, it simply tried to get one or other into it. Newton eventually got clear when seven other riders clipped away 40 kilometres after the start.
Marking David O’Loughlin (Ireland An Post M Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly), Morten Kruse Brink (Denmark Designa Kokken), Luke Roberts (Germany Kuota-Indeland), Rune Jogert (Norway Giant-Veolia), Rob Partridge (Britain Halfords Bike Hut), Pete Williams (Britain Candi TV Marshalls) and Eugene Moriarty (Meath Engraveit.ie/BDBC), he and the group gained two-and-a-half minutes and caused a stir behind.
The Denmark Designa Kokken and Austria Arbo KTM Junkers teams of Mads Christensen and Jan Barta, second and third overall, started to chase furiously. The effect was Rapha Condor had to do very little and could remain fresh for the final three stages.
“Today was a great day for us,” said Richardson. “Everything went perfectly to plan. As much as possible we had a fairly easy day in the bunch, as KTM and Designa Kokken did 90 per cent of the work to bring that break back.”
Former Olympic team pursuit champion Roberts attacked 35 kilometres from the finish, and was eventually joined by Newton and Mayo rider O’Loughlin. The latter took maximum points on the day’s second climb and had strengthened his lead in the mountains competition, but was gunning for the stage win.
But all three were mopped up by the main bunch with about 10 kilometres to go, setting things up for the duel between Kirsipuu and Walker and the latter’s victory.
“It was very frustrating,” said O’Loughlin. “I felt good today but we were caught. I’ll keep trying for a stage win.”
So too will the other Irish. Paul Healion (Ireland national team) was a fine fifth in the bunch gallop, while 18-year-old Sam Bennett (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) was three places further back, thus netting his third top-eight finish in five days. He’s also 20th overall, a promising Rás debut.
“If I am in the right position I know I can compete with those fellows,” said the Carrick-on-Suir rider. “I feel in my heart and soul that I can. Maybe in the next few days I can get in another group, get in a good position and finish further up.”
Today is a mainly flat, 159 kilometre leg to Castlebar.
