Level crossing delay for Rás on day two

Despite an unscheduled stop for a closed level crossing near Claremoris, Jan-Willem Van Schip (Delta Cycling Rotterdam) soloed to a superb victory on stage two of An Post Rás from Longford to Newport in Co. Mayo today.

He was seven seconds ahead of a fiercely chasing bunch that included Christopher Latham (Britain Team Wiggins) with Yannis Yssaad (France Armee de Terre) taking third place ahead of Matteo Cigala (Cork Aqua Blue Sport) in fourth.

The 142-kilometre route for day two of the eight-day race was much like the opening stage with flat roads from Longford to Newport set to allow for good racing.

No categorised climbs featured but three An Post Hot Spot Sprints were once again on offer for the riders in Ballymoe (48km), Williamstown (57km) and Breaghwy (108km).

It was all out attack from the off, with the Irish contingent in the race looking to set the pace.

David Watson (Down Bikehouse) was first out of the blocks but was almost immediately reeled in.

Mullingar’s Damien Shaw (An Post Chain Reaction) was next to try after spearheading the front of the peloton entering Roscommon.

His unsuccessful attempt was followed by one from his team mate Sean McKenna but the bunch was adamant that no groups were going clear.

The peloton then split briefly due to the pace of the racing.

As it began the first An Post Hot Spot Sprint, which was taken by Ian Bibby
(Britain JLT Condor), the gap was 28 seconds. However, it wasn’t long before it was all together again.

Entering Claremorris, nine riders went clear and were joined by 21 chasers and that group began to establish a small gap before they were unexpectedly halted by a closing railway barrier, which temporarily stopped the race.

Following the restart, several attacks, including one from Dubliner Eoin Morton (Ireland National Team), were swallowed up but with 30 kilometres to go, a breakaway of five riders managed to escape.

Shaw and Mark Dowling (Cork Strata3/ Velo Revolution) headed the attack with Van Schip, Edward Laverack (Britain JLT Condor) and Alexander Richardson (Britain Bike Channel Canyon) on the shoulders of the Irish duo.

The five-man break worked tirelessly to manufacture a one minute lead over the bunch but with 16 kilometres to go, that gap began to dwindle.

Van Schip was in no mood for hanging around though and feeling a change in the wind, the Dutchman attacked out front.

With five kilometres to go, the remaining four riders were caught but Van Schip had the engine to stay away, soloing into Newport town to a rapturous applause.

Today’s action see’s only one change to the jersey classifications.

Christopher Latham’s performance results in him being the new owner of the green points jersey but Nicolai Brochner Nielsen (Denmark Riwal Platform) retains the lead at the top of the general classification with a nine-second advantage.

With no categorised climbs in today’s stage, Dennis Bakker (Delta Cycling Rotterdam) keeps hold of the King of the Mountains jersey and Sasha Weemaes (Belgian National Team) stays in the u-23 jersey.

Another good ride by Ulster Cycling’s Chris McGlinchey ensures he tops the county rider table while Richard Maes (Kerry Killarney) took an excellent 10th place finish.

STAGE TWO
Longford to Newport:

1, Jan Willem Van Schip (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam)
2, Christopher Latham (Britain Team Wiggins)
3, Yannis Yssaad (France Armée de Terre)
4, Matteo Cigala (Cork Aqua Blue Sport)
5, Andrew Tennant (Britain Team Wiggins)
6, Dennis Bakker (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam)
7, Daan Meijers (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam)
8, Robert-Jon McCarthy (Britain JLT Condor)
9, Dexter Gardias (Britain Bike Channel Canyon)
10, Richard Maes (Kerry Killarney) all same time

OVERALL

1, Nicolai Brochner Nielsen (Denmark Riwal Platform Cycling) 6:29.30
2, Dennis Bakker (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam) at 9 secs
3, Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz (Ireland An Post Chain Reaction) same time
4, Thómas Rostollon (France Armée de Terre) at 15 secs
5, Alexandre Blain (Britain Madison Genesis) at 23 secs
6, Jan Willem Van Schip (Netherlands Delta Cycling Rotterdam) at 24 secs
7, Christopher McGlinchey (Cycling Ulster) at 28 secs
8, Christopher Latham (Britain Team Wiggins) at 31 secs
9, Matteo Cigala (Cork Aqua Blue Sport)
10, Robert-Jon McCarthy (Britain JLT Condor) both same time

Points: Christopher Latham
Mountains: Dennis Bakker
Young rider: Sasha Weemaes (Belgian National Team)
County rider: Christopher McGlinchey

INFO taken from An Post Ras website and Facebook. Photo; Inpho.