RÁS Focus - day two
UCD Fitz Cycles rider Eoin Morton (pictured) from Swords put on a exciting performance to emerge victorious on stage two of An Post Rás today.
The Dubliner battled it out with Louth native, Bryan McCrystal (Louth Asea Wheelworx), on the home straight to take his first stage win on the race in front of a packed Charleville main street
Day two of An Post Rás was to be the longest of the eight gruelling days. The peloton left Westmeath this morning, making their way 183 kilometres south to Charleville.
Morton signalled his intentions from the off, attacking out front three times with various riders, but the bunch managed to reel him eventually on each occasion.
The UCD rider was persistent though and on his fourth effort he managed to stay clear, being joined solely by McCrystal.
The duo broke away inside the 90 kilometre mark and worked tirelessly together, establishing a huge lead of over seven minutes.
Despite the gap slowly dwindling to the chasing bunch headed by Matteo Cigala (Cork Aquablue), Morton and McCrystal were not to be denied.
McCrystal attacked Morton but the Dubliner staved off the challenge, managing to accelerate away in the final kilometres to claim a famous victory.
Morton continues on a family legacy of Rás winners, following in the path of his father, Peter Morton who claimed a stage victory, just down the road in Mallow on the 1979 edition of the race.
Clearly delighted with the win, Morton admitted he was in total shock.
“Speechless. I have no words to describe it. A lad with a nine to five job takes a stage of the Rás. I have to go to work to teach a few kids on Monday. It’s incredible, I’m so happy,” he said.
Morton and McCrystals’ control over today’s stage highlights the talent in the Irish cycling scene.
Morton will hold on to the King of the Mountain jersey for a second day, while McCrystal was presented with the Irish County Rider title. Nicolai Brochner of Denmark’s team Riwal Platform took third finishing 11 seconds behind Morton’s impressive winning time of 4:14.15.
Sunday’s Stage one winner, Taco van de Hoorn retains the coveted leader Yellow Jersey for day three while New Zealand national team ride, Dylan Kennett retains the Under-23 jersey as the riders head off tomorrow towards Dingle.
Stage three tomorrow (Tuesday) is a 133.2Km route that will take the riders out towards Kerry with some tough mountain climbs before finishing at the Dingle Peninsula.
Irish County Team standings
1 DUBLIN UCD Fitz Cycles 12h43m07s
2 KERRY 12h43m18s
3 DOWN North 12h43m18s
4 ANTRIM Ballymoney Biesty's 12h43m18s
5 CORK Aquablue 12h43m18s
6 LOUTH Asea Wheelworx 12h56m52s
7 GALWAY Team iTap 12h56m59s
8 WATERFORD Dungarvan 12h56m59s
9 MEATH Dunboyne 12h56m59s
10 LIMERICK Mego Raw Cycles 12h56m59s
11 CORK Strata3/Velorevolution 12h56m59s
12 DUBLIN South 13h10m40s
13 MEATH Navan Avonmore 13h10m40s
14 DOWN Newry Wheelers 13h10m40s
15 TIPPERARY Nenagh 13h10m40s
16 DUBLIN Orwell Wheelers Scott 13h10m40s
17 ANTRIM Phoenix 13h24m21s
18 WATERFORD Comeragh 13h24m21s
19 WATERFORD Racing Club 13h24m21s
20 CAVAN Velo Cafe Magasin 13h26m27s