Nicolai Brochner takes victory on stage four. Photo: INPHO

RAS Focus Day four

Nicolai Brochner of Denmark's Riwal Platform narrowly edged a bunch sprint to the claim victory on stage four of An Post Rás today.


Emiel Wastyn and Aaron Gate, both of An Post Chain Reaction were second and third place respectively with the pack eagerly on their heels.

Today’s 162.8 kilometre stage rolled out of Dingle and threatened to up-end the general classification (GC) with two category three climbs, a category two climb and a testing ascent of the category one Ballaghisheen Pass.

The rolling roads from Dingle to Sneem appeared perfect for a break but early attacks were consistently thwarted as the peloton charged through Inch, Castlemaine, Milltown, Killorglin and Cappaghmore.

It wasn’t until the 85-kilometre mark, on the approach to Ballaghisheen pass, that a breakaway of seven riders came together, establishing a two-minute 45-second lead over the bunch.

Driving hard at the front were county riders Bryan McCrystal (Louth Asea Wheelworx) and Anthony Walsh (Cork Aquablue).

A puncture by Walsh and a crash to Ike Groen (Netherlands Join-S de Rijke) on the descent reduced the lead pack to five.

With 115 kilometres covered, the gap was down to one minute 50 seconds with the riders battling a strong head wind as they headed towards the penultimate climb of Coomakista.

Eddie Dunbar (Irish National Team) and yellow jersey leader, Clemens Fankhauser (Austria Tirol Cycling) were spearheading the chasing pack, pushing hard to bridge the gap.

Arriving in Sneem, the riders completed a 17-kilometre loop and with only five kilometres to go, the break was caught.

The peloton hurdled to the finish line but Brochner had most left in the tank and edged the An Post Chain Reaction duo to cross the line in an impressive three hours, 52 minutes, 54 seconds.


Thursday's 148.3-kilometre stage five will see the peloton take on two category two and three category three climbs.

They will leave Sneem and head towards Skibbereen before crossing the line in Clonakilty.


Irish County Team Overall

1 CORK Aquablue 42h52m53s

2 KERRY @2m51s

3 DUBLIN UCD Fitz Cycles @5m23s

4 DOWN North @5m39s

5 LOUTH Asea Wheelworx @6m14s

6 GALWAY Team iTap @38m01s

7 LIMERICK Mego Raw Cycles @1h12m29s

8 DUBLIN South @1h39m04s

9 MEATH Dunboyne @1h40m33s

10 CORK Strata3/Velorevolution @1h56m53s

11 WATERFORD Dungarvan @2h17m34s

12 DUBLIN Orwell Wheelers Scott @2h24m51s

13 WATERFORD Racing Club @2h34m35s

14 DOWN Newry Wheelers @2h37m33s

15 MEATH Navan Avonmore @2h53m50s

16 WATERFORD Comeragh @3h11m35s

17 TIPPERARY Nenagh @3h37m20s