Action from today's sixth stage of the RAS. Photo: INPHO

RÁS Focus - Day six

Aaron Gate of An Post Chain Reaction sprinted to a magnificent stage six An Post Rás win in Dungarvan today while Ian Richardson is the top Irish County rider overall going into tomorrow's seventh day of action.

Nicolai Brochner (Denmark Riwal Platform) and Matt Holmes (Britain Madison Genesis) took second and third respectively in a lung- busting 42-man sprint finish. Damien Shaw (An Post Chain Reaction) finished with the first bunch to climb to a superb third place on general classification (GC).

Today’s 159.1-kilometre route, which started from Clonakilty, was relatively flat in comparison to previous stages featuring just three category three climbs of Windygap, Rathcormack, and Knockroe.

Relentless attacks from Irish National Team rider Eddie Dunbar began early in the day as he pulled away with a slight lead.

Dylan Kennett (New Zealand National Team) and Daire Feeley (Galway Team Itap) were unwilling to let the Irishman go and bridged the gap to form a three-man lead group.

Dunbar ferociously pressured his rivals, breaking free numerous time and was first over the ascent of Windy Gap, but the pair consistently reeled him in.

With 42 kilometres conquered, the trio built an impressive four-minute and 30-second lead and maintained an unrelenting cadence through Donoghmore and on to Mallow.

Yellow jersey leader Clemens Fankhauser (Austria Tirol Cycling) and his teammates, alongside the teams of Madison Genesis and Australia were in dogged pursuit, chipping away to bridge the distance.

Coming up to the final climb of Knockroe with 40 kilometres to go, the bunch swallowed up Kennett, who was struggling to maintain the pace and then subsequently the two Irishmen.

Intense jockeying at the recapture saw three new riders; Josh Edmondson (Britain NFTO Pro Cycling), James Gullen (Britain Pedal Heaven) and Taco van der Hoom (Netherlands Join-S De Rijke) emerge to the front and establish a 40-second gap ten kilometres outside of Dungarvan.

The latter two had both clinched stage wins earlier in the week and were in eager pursuit of the yellow jersey.

Within sight of the finish line the three were caught while Aaron Gate delivered a late surge to seal the stage victory in a time of three hours, 47 minutes, 53 seconds.

Gate’s victory moves him into fifth place in the overall GC just five seconds behind race leader Fankhauser while his An Post Chain Reaction teammate, Shaw sits only two seconds back.

Fankhauser, winner of the 2014 An Post Rás, retains the yellow leaders’ jersey for the fourth consecutive day, with only two days of racing remaining.

On the podium again today was Jai Hindley (Australia National Team) who stays in the u-23 Rider jersey and Ian Richardson (UCD Fitz Cycles) remains the best Irish County rider.

Both riders have made their fourth appearance on the stage for this year’s race.

Nikodemus Holler (Germany Stradalli Bike Aid) was named King of the Mountains for the third time and Gate once again retains the green points jersey.

DAY SEVEN

Saturday’s penultimate stage will leave Dungarvan and head towards Baltinglass. The 155 kilometre trek will include three category three climbs as well as the daunting category one climb of Mount Leinster.

 

Irish County Team Overall


1 CORK Aquablue 64h53m56s

2 DUBLIN UCD Fitz Cycles @14s

3 DOWN North @3m27s

4 KERRY @7m24s

5 LOUTH Asea Wheelworx @7m29s

6 GALWAY Team iTap @40m59s

7 MEATH Dunboyne @2h12m32s

8 LIMERICK Mego Raw Cycles @2h45m32s

9 CORK Strata3/Velorevolution @2h47m32s

10 WATERFORD Dungarvan @3h47m50s

11 DUBLIN South @3h51m22s

12 DOWN Newry Wheelers @4h00m31s

13 DUBLIN Orwell Wheelers Scott @4h01m34s

14 WATERFORD Racing Club @4h34m09s

15 MEATH Navan Avonmore @4h48m56s

16 WATERFORD Comeragh @5h45m50s

17 TIPPERARY Nenagh @5h49m52s

Irish County Rider Overall

1 116 Richardson, Ian 21h29m19s

2 133 Feeley, Daire @4m09s

3 147 McCrystal, Bryan @6m22s

4 148 Christie, Marcus @7m22s

5 96 McKenna, Sean @9m37s

6 137 Maes, Richard @9m52s

7 106 Watson, David @10m48s

8 107 Ferguson, Lewis @10m52s

9 117 Morton, Eoin @10m59s

10 136 Moynihan, Cathal @11m04s