Bialoblocki still in driving seat as race heads towards bigger climbs today
Coping with a succession of steep climbs inside the final 50 kllometres of the race, Australian fastman Rico Rogers blasted home to victory on stage six of the An Post Rás into Carlow on Friday.
The Synergy Baku rider was quickest of the 48 riders in contention for the stage win, beating Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team), race leader Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain UK Youth Pro Cycling), Nick Stopler (Holland Koga Cycling Team) plus the others to the line.
He crashed afterwards, sustaining cuts to his nose, but was otherwise okay and was able to celebrate the victory on the podium and speak about the result to the media afterwards.
“It is brilliant, actually. Last year I didn’t get to do the Rás and I really wanted to,” he said. “I kind of felt like I missed out last year and so this year to come here and take away at least a stage win and for us to be sitting so well on GC… I am happy…but we can always be happier.”
His team-mate Connor McConvey remains second overall, level on time with Bialoblocki and third-place Rasmus Guldhammer (Blue Water Cycling). Having temporarily distanced the yellow jersey on Thursday’s stage, both riders tried again on day six but were unable to open any gaps. However they may have more opportunity on stage seven as the race hits some bigger climbs in Wicklow, thus giving Bialoblocki and his UK Youth team a lot of riding yet to do.
“When we came into the finish climbs, we thought they would be harder than they were. Nobody could really get the gap and make it to the finish so it just ended up in a sprint,” said Guldhammer afterwards. “We couldn’t distance him – he was focussing more on me today and when I tried to attack get away with four other guys, he and his team closed on me straight away. I think I have to wait until tomorrow and hopefully I can attack on the climbs.”
Bialoblocki has been in the yellow jersey since the end of stage three last Tuesday, and while stage placings are the only thing which separate him from his two rivals, he continues to march onwards in pole position towards the race finish on Sunday. He was understandably pleased to get through Friday’s stage.
“I am very happy,” he said after receiving a fresh yellow jersey at the finish. “Again, it was another fantastic day. My team-mates and another few guys helped to close the gap [to the break].”
The stage had a very aggressive start, with many attacks being launched after the race left Mitchelstown. However the break of five which went clear after approximately 18 kilometres had no GC threats present, with John Lynch (Dublin Central UCD), Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology), Art McManUSA (Dublin South), Stephen Halpin (Ireland Polygon Sweet Nice) and Olan Barrett (Cork Aquablue) hoping for a bit of breathing space as a result.
They built a maximum lead of two and a half minutes but their advantage dwindled and the move was eventually whittled down to Barrett and Rytlewski after Urlingford. It then increased to four when the British riders Dan Barry and his Node4 Girodana team-mate Michael Northey jumped across, and their input helped drag the gap back up.
However with a number of climbs rearing up in the final hour of racing, the break was hauled back with twenty kilometres to go.
A late break by Joseph Perrett (Britain IG Sigma Sport) was brought back before the line and Rogers was then quickest into Carlow, clocking up his team’s second stage win of the race.
“It was a climbers’ day, predominantly,” he said afterwards. “Our team had a focus to follow the moves and shut anything dangerous down that we needed to. It was sort of a last thought, us the sprints, Christop and I going to the line. But we hung in there in the hills, we worked hard and we managed to come back.
“In the latter part we did what we could for Connor, making sure he was in a good position and then lastly we looked after the stage win and came away with it, which was nice.”
He said that Synergy Baku were determined to keep the pressure on Bialoblocki and others. “We are going to attack. We are here to race our bikes. Unless we are winning, we are not going to let up. There is no point, we are not tired. This is not a particularly long stage race for us so we will race it until the very last minute.”
How it unfolded:
The sixth stage of the An Post Rás looked set to be a day of two halves, with flat, fast terrain early on contrasting with a much tougher final hour of racing. This featured five categorised climbs, namely Byrnesgrove (category 3, km. 108.8), Castelcomer (category 3, km 116.3), the first category wall of Gorteen (km 120.9), plus the second category pair of Coan West (km 124.6) and Clongrennan (km 133.5).
The 154.6 kilometre stage started in Mitchelstown with 137 riders lining out. Those not signing on were Matthias Schnapka (Germany Bike Aid – Schwalbe), Philipp Becker (Germany Bike Aid – Schwalbe), Roy Eefting (Holland Koga Cycling Team) and stage one winner Conor Dunne (Tipperary Carrick Iverk Prod.), who crashed in the finale on Thursday and injured his elbow.
The day’s first attacker was Ryan Sherlock (Ireland Polygon Sweet Nice) , who was joined by Christoph Schweizer (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku) and Conor Murphy (Dublin West Eurocycles). However they were soon reeled in.
After an unsuccessful move by Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) and Mike Fitzgerald (Tipperary Carrick Iverk Prod.), Louth Prague Charter’s Bryan McCrystal cliipped away for several kilometres. He too was hauled back, as were Marc Potts (Derry Duffin Transport) and John Dempsey (Tipperary Carrick Iverk Prod.).
A more successful break begain 18 kilometres after the start when John Lynch (Dublin Central UCD) jumped away and was joined by Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) and Art McManUSA (Dublin South). Stephen Halpin (Ireland Polygon Sweet Nice) and Olan Barrett (Cork Aquablue) also bridged up and eked out a half-minute gap after 27 kilometres of racing.
This continued to rise and by the time they got to Cashel, 44 kilometres after the start, they had two minutes. Ten kilometres later this was up to two minutes thirty, the maximum lead.
McManUSA dropped back after approximately 68 kilometres, by which time the break’s advantage was down to one and a half minutes.
Just before the An Post post office sprint in Urlingford (km 77.4), Barrett jumped away and nabbed the prime, then waited for the others. Halpin sat up and went back to the bunch, while the other three tried to hold onto the ever-diminishing lead.
Dan Barry and his Node4 Girodana team-mate Michael Northey set off in pursuit and got across to Barrett and Rytlewski after approximately 80 kilometres, while Lynch sat up before the junction and also went back to the bunch.
The reshuffling gave the break fresher legs and the quartet built the lead back up to one minute and five seconds. Barrett then had the misfortune to puncture, and this spelt the end to his time in the break.
The climbs begin:
Behind, the teams of the first and third riders overall, Marcin Bialoblock’s UK Youth and Rasmus Guldhammer’s Blue Water cycling, were riding on the front in order to reduce the one minute ten seconds lead the break held.
Barry beat Northey and Rytlewski over the prime line for the category 3 climb at Byrnesgrove (km 108.8), while Hunal picked up the final points there. The gap was one minute twenty seconds at that point, and dropped slightly before the start of the second climb, that of Castlecomer.
Behind, Ronan McLaughlin (Belgiun An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly), Jacob Nielsen (Denmark Blue Water) and Thomas Lavery (Waterford Comeragh) attacked and opened up a gap on the peloton. Rytlewski took the prime ahead of Northey and Barry, while Nielsen was best of those behind. However his break was reeled in om the first category climb of Gorteen.
Rytlewski was again first to the top of the climb, while behind Hunal jumped clear and picked up fourth. The USA Astellas Oncology rider was also best on the category two Coan West (km 124.6). After the summit Roger Aiken (Louth Prague) attacked the peloton and was casing the leaders, closing to within twenty seconds before being gobbled up.
The break was caught going over the summit of Clogrennan (km 133.5), where Rytelewski again took top points. After the regrouping they hurtled towards the finish. Joseph Perrett (Britain IG Sigma Sport) launched an attack and was away for several minutes, but was recaptured before the line.
Roger Aiken, who started the day ninth overall, was involved in a crash and was delayed. Crucially, this was outside the final three kilometres, thus meaning that the time lost would count towards his general classification.
Once into Carlow town, Rico Rogers (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku) got into position and then blasted home ahead of Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team), Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain UK Youth Pro Cycling) plus the others in the front group.
Aiken trailed in 22 seconds back but remained ninth overall as he had sufficient buffer over the rider in tenth place.
As for Bialoblocki, he held onto the yellow jersey, moving one day closer to winning the race overall. The race continues Saturday with a mountain stage through Wicklow, and this penultimate leg will be the biggest test for his leadership.
An Post Rás stage six, Mitchelstown – Carlow:
1, Rico Rogers (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku) 154.6 kilometres in 3 hours 43 mins 55 secs
2, Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team)
3, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Uk Youth Pro Cycling)
4, Nick Stopler (Holland Koga Cycling Team)
5, Rasmus Guldhammer (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
6, Daniel Foder (Denmark Blue Water Cycling)
7, Nicholas Vereecken (Belgium An Post Chain Reaction)
8, Benjamin Edmuller (Austria Arbo Gebrder Weiss)
9, Samuel Harrison (Great Britain National Team)
10, Ryan Aitcheson (USA Astellas Oncology)
11, Connor McConvey (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku)
12, Jasper De Buyst (Belgium National Team)
13, Evan Oliphant (Scotland National Team)
14, Elliott Porter (Britain Rapha Condor JLT)
15, Steve Lampier (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) all same time
One Direct and Cuchulainn County rider:
1, Bryan Mccrystal (Louth Prague Charter Team) 3 hours 43 mins 55 secs
2, Thomas Martin (Dublin West Eurocycles)
3, Damien Shaw (Cork Aquablue) both same time
Primes and climbs:
Post Office prime at Urlingford (km 77.4): Olan Barrett (Cork Aquablue)
Category 3 at Byrnesgrove (km 108.8):
1, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 5 pts
2, Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 4
3, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 3
4, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic Ac Sparta Praha) 2
Category 3 at Castlecomer (km 116.3):
1, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 5
2, Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 4
3, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 3
4, Jacob Nielsen (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) 2
Category 1 at Gorteen (km 120.9):
1, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 15 pts
2, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 12
3, Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 10
4, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic Ac Sparta Praha) 8
5, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) 6
6, Rob Partridge (Britain Uk Youth Pro Cycling) 5
7, John Ebsen (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku) 3
Category 2 at Coan West (km 124.6):
1, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 10 pts
2, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 8
3, Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 6
4, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) 4
5, Ronan Mclaughlin (Belgium An Post Chain Reaction) 3
6, Joseph Perrett (Britain Team Ig – Sigma Sport) 1
Category 2 at Clogrennan (km 133.5):
1, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 10
2, Michael Northey (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 8
3, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 6
4, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic Ac Sparta Praha) 4
5, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) 3
6, Simon Yates (Great Britain National Team) 1
International team:
1, Great Britain national team, 11 hours 11 mins 45 secs
2, Denmark Blue Water
3, Azerbaijan Synergy Baku
4, Scotland national team
5, Britain Rapha Condor JLT
County team :
1, Louth Prague Charter, 11 hours 15 mins 34 secs
2, Cork Aquablue, 11 hours 18 mins 39 secs
3, Dublin West Eurocycles, same time
4, Meath Dunboyne DID, 11 hours 22 mins 6 secs
5, Tipperary Visit Nenagh.ie, 11 hours 35 mins 3 secs
Overall classification after six stages:
1, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Uk Youth Pro Cycling) 20 hours 25 mins 50 secs
2, Connor McConvey (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku)
3, Rasmus Guldhammer (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) both same time
4, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) at 24 secs
5, Remi Pelletier-Roy (Canada National Team) same time
6, Daniel Foder (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) at 46 secs
7, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic Ac Sparta Praha) at 48 secs
8, Simon Yates (Great Britain National Team) at 52 secs
9, Roger Aiken (Louth Prague Charter Team) same time
10, Jasper De Buyst (Belgium National team) at 1 min 39 secs
11, Sam Bennett (Belgium An Post Chain Reaction) at 1 min 43 secs
12, Steve Lampier (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) at 1 min 45 secs
13, Ben Greenwood (Scotland National Team) at 1 min 48 secs
14, Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team) at 2 mins 25 secs
15, Umberto Atzori (Holland Koga Cycling Team) at 2 mins 31 secs
Post Office Sprints:
1, Marcin Bialoblocki (Britain Uk Youth Pro Cycling) 52 pts
2, Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team) 52
3, Rico Rogers (Azerbaijan Synergy Baku) 45
4, Rasmus Guldhammer (Denmark Blue Water Cycling) 44
5, Nicholas Vereecken (Belgium An Post Chain Reaction) 41
One4all Bikes4work King Of The Mountains:
1, Martin Hunal (Czech Republic Ac Sparta Praha) 69
2, Michael Cuming (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) 60
3, Richard Handley (Britain Rapha Condor JLT) 54
4, Jacob Rytlewski (USA Astellas Oncology) 43
5, Dan Barry (Britain Node4 Giordana Racing) 41
Irish Sports Council Under 23:
1, Simon Yates (Great Britain National Team) 20 hours 26 mins 42 secs
2, Jasper De Buyst (Belgium National Team) at 47 secs
3, Owain Doull (Great Britain National Team) at 1 min 33 secs
4, Joseph Perrett (Britain Team Ig – Sigma Sport) at 1 min 51 secs
5, Alistair Slater (Great Britain National Team) at 1 min 54 secs
Massi Ireland County Rider:
1, Roger Aiken (Louth Prague Charter Team) 20 hours 27 mins 4 secs
2, Damien Shaw (Cork Aquablue) at 3 mins 21 secs
3, Thomas Martin (Dublin West Eurocycles) at 4 mins 33 secs
4, Sean Lacey (Cork Aquablue) at 8 mins 41 secs
5, Chris Reilly (Meath Stamullen M.Donnelly) at 11 mins 31 secs
Ci Category 2 Overall:
1, John Dempsey (Tipperary Carrick Iverk Prod.) 20 hours 45 mins 28 secs
2, Ciaran Clarke (Mayo Castlebar Fedaia Bikes) at 13 mins 52 secs
3, Nigel Forde (Galway City Nigel’s Cycles) at 15 mins 59 secs
4, Ultan Coyle (Louth Prague Charter Team) at 17 mins 49 secs
5, Mehall Fitzgerald (Tipperary Visit Nenagh.Ie Dmg) at 20 mins 27 secs
International team:
1, Azerbaijan Synergy Baku, 61 hours 20 mins 19 secs
2, Great Britain national team, at 2 mins 13 secs
3, Denmark Blue Water, at 2 mins 14 secs
4, Belgium An Post Chainreaction, at 4 mins 15 secs
5, Britain Rapha Condor JLT, at 4 mins 36 secs
County team:
1, Cork Aquablue, 61 hours 42 mins 55 secs
2, Louth Prague Charter, at 10 mins 54 secs
3, Dublin West Eurocycles, at 24 mins 16 secs
4, Tipperary Carrick Iverk Produce, at 36 mins 48 secs
5, Meath Dunboyne DID, at 45 mins 37 secs