Credit Union Ras Mumhan - NE

Ireland, April 18-21, 2003

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Stage 1 - April 19: Nissan Ring of Kerry, Killorglin-Killorglin, 104 miles

Doyle on top after first road stage

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent/Evening Herald/Sunday Independent

Paul Doyle takes the sprint
Photo: © Gerry McManus

National Criterium Champion Paul Doyle (Tile Choice/Killarney) is the new overall leader of the Credit Union Ras Mumhan after yesterday's testing stage with a start and finish in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Doyle more accustomed to riding over shorter distances took his breakaway companions by complete surprise when he sprinted clear to win the second stage and take over as race leader. He dislodges Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT) who won the opener on Friday, but yesterday he was completely at sea as his team failed to cover the decisive move that went clear on the approach to the Coomakista Mountain prime. "I didn't think that there was any danger to my lead, but suddenly the time gap started to increase up to a minute plus. When I decided that the danger signals were obvious, I found myself all at sea in my attempt to limit my loss. In the end, I just ran out of steam but tomorrow could see another twist to this star studded event which has several climbs included in the 94 mile stage," said Kevin.

As for the new race leader, Paul Doyle, "admittedly I turned up the pressure on the ascent to the prime at Coomakista, which set the break of six up. After that I did odd piece at the front to keep the chasers at bay. In the sprint, I had little difficulty in gaining the stage win," said Paul.

The action started in earnest after 12 miles on the approach to Killarney when local cyclist Matthew Slattery made a forward move. He was soon joined by Brian Keneally of the Carrick Cidona CC and Denis Lynch who is guesting for Tilechoice from Killarney. The trio stayed clear for two of the category one climbs at Ladies View (25mls) and Molls Gap (28mls) until Slattery punctured shortly after crossing over the prime line. This did not deter Kenneally and Lynch forcing the pace. Surprisingly, this is Kenneally's first race and it is evident that he has put in some preparatory miles to be excelling in this company. They finally were caught by a group of five on the outskirts of Caherdaniel and it proved to be the move of the stage. Eventually, Lynch and Kenneally surrendered to the aggressive tactics of the quintet.

Ten miles from the finish in Killorglin a brave attempt was made by Eugene Moriarty of the Cycleways/Lee Strand team who got to within 10 seconds of the break after initially having opened up a deficit of 1 minute and 40 seconds on the fragmented bunch, but it was not to be.

Gerry Geary a former cyclist and doing neutral service on the event was of the opinion, "if Paul had not got a drink of Coca Cola a number of miles from the finish he would have lost out. But on this occasion he was saved by that drink in the nick of time and went on to win a stage which was certainly beyond his wildest dreams setting out this morning," said Jerry.

Today, there is little doubt that Doyle will retain the race lead and it may just come back to Dawson on the evidence of yesterday's stage, as he was always willing to have a go.

The next stage leaves Killorglin at 11 am for another arduous testing stage in the Kerry Mountains.

Report by Shane Stokes

National Criterium champion Paul Doyle (Tile Choice Killarney) showed his finishing speed at the end of today's Randles Nissan Ring of Kerry stage of the Credit Union Rás Mumhan, taking both the stage and the yellow jersey to boot. The Dubliner outsprinted Vincent Gleeson (Hibernian Ireland) and London Irish rider Rory Wyley at the end of the tough 101 mile leg. Gleeson is now two seconds behind an impressive Doyle while Adrian Bird (Artic-Rocheford) is at nine seconds. Yesterday's prologue winner and the 2002 champion Kevin Dawson slips to fifth, 12 seconds off the pace being set by Doyle in the tough four day event.

Tomorrow's stage is 96 miles in length, taking the riders over the Conor Pass and into Dingle before finishing once again in Killorglin.

Photography

Images by Gerry McManus

Kevin Dawson (Life Repair CRT) wears the leader jersey as he climbs Molls Gap
Gary Dodd attempts to catch the leaders
Rory Wyley (London Irish) and Vincent Gleeson (Hibernian Ireland) lead the break
Vincent Gleeson, Rory Wyley and Paul Doyle (Tile Choice)
Paul Doyle takes the stage win

Results

1 Paul Doyle (Tile Choice)                        3.58.44
2 V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland)
3 R. Wyley (London Irish)
4 A. Bird (Artic Rochford)                           0.02
5 J. Veness (Surrey)
6 P. Sheppard (4 bikes on line.com, Wales)           0.18
 
General classification after stage 1
 
1 Paul Doyle (Tile Choice)                        4.04.08
2 V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland)                0.02
3 A. Bird (Artic Rochford)                           0.09
4 K. Dawson (Life Repair CRT)                        0.12
5 R. Clarke (Cycleways/Lee Strand CC)                0.16
6 P. Moriarty (Hibernian Team Ireland)               0.17
 
Points classification
 
1 Paul Doyle (Tile Choice)                             22 pts
2 V. Gleeson (Hibernian Team Ireland)                  20
3 P. Sheppard (4 bikes on line.com, Wales)             19
 
Mountains classification
 
1 B. Kenneally (Carrick Cidona)                        28 pts
2 D. Lynch (Tilechoice, Killarney)                     22 
3 M. Slattery (Killarney CC)                           20