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Craven Takes Big Win In FBD Rás, Armstrong Best Of Irish
By
May 24, 2010, 07:17
Two weeks after winning the Shay Elliott memorial race in Wickow, Dan Craven outsprinted seven others to take the opening leg of the FBD Insurance Rás and with it, the first yellow jersey of the race.
The 27 year old Namibian rider was clearly one of the strongest on the roads between Dunboyne and Dundalk, slipping into an early breakaway move, netting second in each of the day’s three intermediate sprints, breaking clear on the day’s toughest climb near the finish and, after being brought back, still having the strength to win the small gallop to the line.
He swept past Mark McNally (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) inside the final 100 metres and edged him out to take second place on the stage.
“I attacked twice in the last three kilometres; my last one was with virtually a kilometre to go and Mark McNally got my wheel. He was right behind me and then there was a gap to the third rider.”
Some tactics then played out and these may well have won him the stage.
“As he caught me I swung over and it was one of those moments that if he sat up, we would have been swamped and none of us would have been on the podium. He basically realised that and kept going. I hooked on his wheel and he was on the front for 500 or 600 metres to go. I started my sprint way too late. I jumped and because had been on the front for 500 metres I was able to get around him again.”
McNally was a little disappointed with how things worked out. “I haven’t won a race this year, so I really want to get one. I was hoping for it today. It was disappointing not to get it, but it is one of those things…you have to think of the bigger picture,” he explained. “I’m second overall, and that is a nice place to be. Anyway, we will see - it is a long race and it is still only the first day…there are a few hard days to come.”
The move of the day went clear in the first 15 minutes of racing. Craven, McNally, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised), Michael Singer (Austria Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis), David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche), Masaaki Kikuchi (Japan - Nippo), Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) and Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) pulled steadily clear and were joined approximately 70 kilometres later by Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Luis Mas Bonet (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon).
While they never built up a huge lead, they gauged their effort perfectly and saved their strength for the closing kilometres. This enabled them to stave off the later efforts of a 40-man chase group to get across.
Craven showed good form when he placed second in the three intermediate sprints in Slane, Collon and Carlingford, being pipped by Pell, Gilham and McNally, but showing greater consistency across all three and scooping six seconds in time bonuses.
He later ramped up his aggression when he launched on the climb of Long Woman’s Grave, cresting the summit together with Pell and opening up a 25 second lead. However they were with 15 kilometres remaining by the others, with the exception of Singer and Mas Bonet, who had been dropped by the climb.
Things then stayed essentially together until the end, lining things up for the sprint and Craven’s fine victory.
The first eight riders on the stage finished in the same time, Masakki Kikuchi (Japan – Nippo) and 1997 FBD Rás winner Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshall’s Pasta) netting third and fourth. Roche is from the Isle of Man but has Irish links, having competed in multiple occasions in the past in an Ireland jersey.
Adam Armstrong (Ireland Subway National Team) was the first home rider against the internationals, finishing in a 13-man group one minute 46 seconds back. He placed 18th. Last year’s winner Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialised) and former Irish road race champion David O’Loughlin (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) also finished in that chasing bunch.
Craven ended the day with the yellow jersey, the points jersey and the King of the Mountains lead. Tomorrow he will get to wear his first-ever leader’s jersey in a UCI-ranked world calendar race, and will aim to defend it on the mainly flat 155 kilometre leg from Dundalk to Carrick on Shannon.
He admitted it was very early to hold the lead, given the amount of work that would impose on his team, but played down suggestions that he could try to hand it over to a rival for a few days.
“If you lose the jersey you never know if you are going to get it back,” he explained. “We’ve got the yellow jersey and we could try to keep it for a few days of glory or we could lose it as quickly as possible tomorrow and try to get it back.
“Having never worn a yellow jersey in a UCI tour before it’s not really that I want to give up yet, but also it is not something that I’m going to go out and defend. It would be ideal if we could lose it and get it back. We’ll just take it as it comes. We have such a strong team it would be perfect if one of them [his team-mates] clipped away and took the yellow jersey from me.”
How it unfolded:
Under bright, blue skies, 153 riders gathered in Dunboyne prior to the start of the 2010 FBD Insurance Rás. There was a festive atmosphere in the town, with a talented local band playing popular cover versions, stalls selling various products, and the glitz and colour of a big bike race all making it a perfect start venue.
In memory of a local competitor, the riders completed a short neutralised loop which passed by the house of the late Paul Healion, stage winner in last year’s race. He passed away in a car accident less than a week before he was due to ride with the Irish national team in the Tour of Ireland, and was remembered today.
Once the flag dropped, Luis Mas Bonet of the Spanish Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon team was one of the first attackers and was in turn chased by Stephen Surdival (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge). They were each hauled back by the peloton, but a more successful move followed.
Approximately ten kilometres into the 149 kilometre stage, eight riders went clear. These were Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised), Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp), Michael Singer (Austria Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis), David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche), Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Masaaki Kikuchi (Japan - Nippo), Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) and Ivan Meloro Coco (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon)
Meloro Coco suffered a rear wheel puncture shortly after then, slipping back, while 1997 FBD Rás winner Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) jumped across and took his place.
They had opened a lead of half a minute and Vincente Grau Jorda (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon) recognised the danger. He tried to get across but failed to do so, as did Neil Delahaye (Ireland Subway National Team) and David O'Loughlin (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly).
From that point on the break worked to build its lead. It had over a minute on the peloton at Slane, 33.1 kilometres after the start, where Pell beat Craven, Gilham and Roche for the joint KOM/sprint prime there.
Craven was second again at the next sprint, that in Collen (km 42.5), behind Gilham and ahead of Pell. The break was working well together while behind, the peloton broke into several groups. The nearest to the break was a minute back and comprised approximately 40 riders.
Two of those got clear and chased hard and shortly after the first passage over the finish line in Dundalk (km 76.9), Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie) and Luis Mas Bonet (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon) managed to get across and swell the break to ten riders.
McNally took the hot spot sprint in Carlingford (km 104.9) ahead of Craven and Gilham, then several minutes later the riders turned onto the second category climb of Long Woman’s Grave.
There Craven and Pell attacked, climbing clear of the other riders and crossing the summit with a gap over Wetterhall and Gilham. Further back, Peter McDonald (Australia Drapac Porsche), Mark Cassidy (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Alessio Signego (Japan - Nippo), Ben Greenwood (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) and Neil Delahaye (Ireland Subway National Team) were chasing, but this group dropped to four when Delahaye lost contact.
Once on the plateau past the top, Craven and Pell opened up a 25 second lead over Wetterhall, Gilham, McNally, Kikuchi, Roche and Schadlich, and an even greater advantage over Singer and Mas Bonet, who were dropped. With 20 kilometres to go that duo were one minute 20 seconds back, while the McDonald/Cassidy group were reeled in by a large chase behind.
Fifteen kilometres from the finish, Craven and Pell were recaptured and the eight man group hurtled towards the finish. There were many attacks from the break but nothing gained much traction. Craven and McNally opened a slight gap inside the final kilometre and were the first two across the line, with Kikuchi, Roche, Schadalich, Wetterhall, Pell and Gilham all finishing in the same time.
John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) led home the nearest chasers at one minute 46 seconds back, with Adam Armstrong (Ireland Subway National Team) best of the home riders in 18th. David O’Loughlin and Connor McConvey (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) were also in this group, as was last year’s overall winner, Simon Richardson (Britain Sigmasport Specialized).
In all 69 riders finished within 3 minutes 37 seconds of Craven. The gaps may sound large one day into an eight day stage race but as previous editions of the FBD Rás have shown, big time gains and losses can be expected over the days ahead. The race is still wide open.
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FBD Insurance Rás, 2.2, May 23 – 30
Stage 1, Dunboyne – Dundalk:
1, Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) 149 kilometres in 3 hours 28 mins 28 secs
2, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly)
3, Masakki Kikuchi (Japan – Nippo)
4, Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshall’s Pasta)
5, Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie)
6, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden Team Sprocket)
7, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche)
8, Kil Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) all same time
9, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 1 min 46 secs
10, Joseph Lewis (Australia Drapac Porsche)
11, Vincente Grau Jorda (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon)
12, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis)
13, Rob Partridge (Wales)
14, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Porsche)
15, John Anderson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) all same time
Hot spot sprint/KOH cat 3 at Slane, km 33.1:
1, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) 3 seconds/5 KOH points
2, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 2”/4 pts
3, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised) 1”/3 pts
4, Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) 2 pts
Hot spot sprint at Collen, km 42.5:
1, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised) 3”
2, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 2”
3, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) 1”
Hot spot sprint at Carlingford, km 104.9:
1, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 3”
2, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 2”
3, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised) 1”
KOH Category 2, Long Woman’s Grave:
1, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 10 pts
2, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) 8
3, Alex Wetterhall (Sweden Team Sprocket) 6
County rider:
1, Philip Lavery (Dublin Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn)
2, Tony Brady (Meath Martin Donnelly)
3, Thomas Martin (Dublin Eurocycles)
International team:
1, Australia Drapac Porsche, 10 hours 28 mins 56 secs
2, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, same time
3, Germany Thuringer Energie, at 5 secs
4, Britain Rapha Condor Sharp, at 56 secs
5, Sweden – Team Sprocket Pro, at same time
County team:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 10 hours 36 mins 11 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 4 secs
3, Limerick BDO Get Back, at 4 mins 26 secs
4, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 7 mins 39 secs
5, Dublin Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn, at 14 mins 7 secs
Overall standings after stage one:
1, Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) 3 hours 28 mins 12 secs
2, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 7 secs
3, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) at 11 secs
4, Masakki Kikuchi (Japan – Nippo) at 12 secs
5, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) same time
6, Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshall’s Pasta) at 16 secs
7, Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie)
8, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) both same time
9, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 2 mins 2 secs
10, Joseph Lewis (Australia Drapac Porsche)
11, Vincente Grau Jorda (Burgos 2016-Castilla y Leon)
12, Josef Kugler (Austria Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis)
13, Rob Partridge (Wales)
14, Stuart Shaw (Australia Drapac Porsche)
15, John Anderson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) all same time
First Irish:
18, Adam Armstrong (Ireland Subway National Team) same time
Points:
1, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 15
2, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 14
3, Masaaki Kikuchi (Japan - Nippo) 13
4, Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta) 12
5, Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie) 11
King of the Mountains:
1, Dan Craven (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) 14
2, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) 13
3, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialised) 7
4, Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) 6
5, Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie) 3
Under 23:
1, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) 3 hours 28 mins 19 secs
2, Lucas Schadlich (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 9 secs
3, John Degenkolb (Germany Thuringer Energie) at 1 min 55 secs
County rider:
1, Philip Lavery (Dublin Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn) 3 hours 31 mins 10 secs
2, Tony Brady (Meath Martin Donnelly) at 47 secs
3, Thomas Martin (Dublin Eurocycles) at 51 secs
International team:
1, Australia Drapac Porsche, 10 hours 28 mins 56 secs
2, Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly, same time
3, Germany Thuringer Energie, at 5 secs
4, Britain Rapha Condor Sharp, at 56 secs
5, Sweden – Team Sprocket Pro, same time
County team:
1, Dublin Eurocycles, 10 hours 36 mins 11 secs
2, Tipperary Dan Morrissey, at 4 secs
3, Limerick BDO Get Back, at 4 mins 26 secs
4, Mayo Castlebar Western Edge, at 7 mins 39 secs
5, Dublin Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn, at 14 mins 7 secs
[Full results available elsewhere on this site]
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