Bagdonas battles conditions to claim stage

CYCLING:BUFFETED AND bashed by what were the toughest winds seen in many years on the An Post Rás, yesterday's second stage turned out to be far more difficult than anticipated and greatly reduced the list of those in the running for the yellow jersey in the days ahead.

Only 22 riders finished within three minutes of the stage winner Gediminas Bagdonas. The rest of the field was at least nine-and-a- half minutes in arrears and the main bunch 34:35 back.

It was a extremely difficult day and the average speed of 33.4kph – approximately seven kilometres slower than usual – told as much a story as the wearied faces and tired bodies at the finish in Kilrush.

Bagdonas had the boost of a stage victory, the Lithuanian outsprinting breakaway companions Shane Archbold (New Zealand), Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Professional) and Anatoliy Pakhtusov (Ukraine ISD Lampre) to the line.

It was an important victory for his An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Seán Kelly team, which is based in Belgium but has Irish sponsors.

He ended the day level on time with Archbold, but the latter took over the yellow jersey by virtue of better accumulated stage placings.

Overnight leader Dean Downing had been part of the move but cracked in the final 20km, finishing one minute 27 seconds back in an 18-man chase group.

“It was a long day with very strong wind. The whole team worked and helped me . . . in the last 30 kilometres I attacked and then waited for the sprint. I’m very happy,” said Bagdonas.

Describing his climbing as “sometimes good”, he has a chance to push for the yellow jersey on today’s stage.

Archbold is a track specialist, having taken the silver medal in the omnium event at this year’s world track championships, and admitted at the finish that he wasn’t confident about defending his lead when the terrain got tougher.

“I’m really targeting stage wins here, and so to take yellow is a big bonus,” he said. “I was fourth yesterday and to get second today is even better.

“I can get over the odd climb if I have to, but I definitely won’t continue in the yellow jersey later in the week.”

Another track specialist who rode well yesterday was Ireland’s Martyn Irvine. He was one of the first attackers, going clear inside the first two kilometres and sparked off a eight-man move which also included Robin Kelly (Kildare Newbridge). The octet were eventually reeled in, but Irvine’s prime win on Corkscrew Hill put him in the King of the Mountains jersey.

Best Irishman on the stage was Ronan McLaughlin, who finished fifth, 1:23 behind his victorious team-mate Bagdonas.

Adam Armstrong was four seconds further back in eighth, while Mark Cassidy, Seán Downey and David McCann also came home in this group and remain in contention for the final victory.

McCann is best placed overall, sitting sixth heading into today’s hillier third stage. It runs 175km to Castleisland and includes the steep Crag Cave climb inside the final 13km.

Archbold will start in yellow, but it is far from guaranteed that he’ll keep it.