Cycling Rás: American Danny Pate yesterday exploited the solo strength which saw him win the world under-23 time trial championship five years ago when he raced to a superb stage win in the FBD Insurance Rás.
The USA TIAA-CREF rider attacked three breakaway companions with six kilometres remaining in the wind-buffeted, 180km stage from Enniscorthy to Cobh. He used his power against the clock to open a strong lead, and then rode well on the final, steeply uphill section to scoop the stage win and yellow jersey.
"It was just chaotic racing all day, with a lot of groups splitting in the wind," said Pate, who added rather modestly, "I happened to be fortunate enough to come out with the win."
Martin Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest) finished 27 seconds back in second place, with Wayne Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line) and Robin Sharman 34 and 41 seconds in arrears, respectively.
Pate's team-mate Mike Friedman had an impressive solo ride to finish three minutes and seven seconds back, having come out of a chase group which was five minutes in arrears, while overnight race leader Chris Newton (Britain Recycling.co.uk) led home a 13-rider selection over three-and-a-half minutes behind the stage winner.
Just two days have passed, but it will take a very big effort for any of those outside the top four to get back into contention.
For Irish fans, the day was disappointing. Tommy Evans (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations), David O'Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton), Simon Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) and Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways) were all in Newton's group and therefore also have an uphill road if they are to challenge for the final yellow jersey.
Evans dropped from second to seventh overall, while the rest are slightly further back.
Newton also lost out, gambling that Sharman would be able to take over his yellow jersey. However, while the latter did no work in the break - as was his right as Newton's team-mate - he was only able to finish fourth and is 41 seconds off the race lead.
He may move up, but the team may equally opt to try to get Newton or Kristian House back into the picture; if so, this may also help the Irish riders make up the time lost.
Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey) finished over seven minutes back, his lack of racing this year telling towards the end of the long stage.
But he was clear early on, along with several other Irish riders, and placed first and sixth on mountain primes. He thus retained his lead in the King of the Mountains competition.
The Rás continues today with a 173km stage to An Daingean (Dingle).
RÁS (2.2) - Stage Two: (180km, Enniscorthy to Cobh): 1 Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) 4 hours 31 mins 15 secs; 2 M Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 27 secs; 3 W Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line) at 34 secs; 4 R Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk) at 41 secs; 5 M Friedman (USA TIAA-CREF) at 3 mins 10 secs; 6 C Newton (Britain Recycling.co.uk) at 3 mins 41 secs; 7 M Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest); 8 B Matysiak (Poland Legia Bazylisek); 9 T Evans (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) at 3 mins 45 secs; 10 J Schoonacker (Ireland M Donnelly); 11 J McDonnell (Australia FRF Couriers); 12 D O'Loughlin (Ireland Grant Thornton); 13 B Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/Cycleways); 14 S Kelly (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group); 15 A Andresen (Norway Sparebanken Vest) ast.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION: 1 Danny Pate (USA TIAA-CREF) 7 hours 19 mins 54 secs; 2 M Prazdnovsky (Norway Sparebanken Vest) at 27 secs; 3 W Randle (Britain Doncaster Stena Line) at 34 secs; 4 R Sharman (Britain Recycling.co.uk) at 41 secs; 5 M Friedman (USA TIAA-CREF) at 3 mins 7 secs; 6 C Newton (Britain Recycling.co.uk) at 3 mins 29 secs; 7 T Evans (Dublin IRC Usher Insulations) at 3 mins 37 secs; 8 M Hegreberg (Norway Sparebanken Vest) same time; 9 B Matysiak (Poland Legia Bazylisek) at 3 mins 41 secs; 10 J McDonnell (Australia FRF Couriers) same time. Under-23: 1 Bartlomiej Matysiak (Poland Legia Bazylisek) 7 hours 23 mins 35 secs. Points: 1 Chris Newton, 25 pts; 2 Sharman, 21; 3 Evans, 21. Mountains: 1 Ciarán Power (Éireann Dan Morrissey) 20; 2 Pate, 16; 3 Prazdnovsky, 15. County Rider: 1 Tommy Evans, 7 hours 23 mins 31 secs. International Team: 1 Norway Sparebanken Vest 22 hours 7 mins 35 secs. County Team: 1 Dublin IRC Usher Insulations, 22 hours 32 mins 39 secs; 2 Meath MyHome.ie Cycleways, at 2 secs; 3 Cork Murray Ford Developments, at 1 min 57 secs; 4 Kerry Earl of Desmond, at 3mins 14 secs; 5 Kildare Murphy Surveyors, at 4 mins 56 secs.
