2nd Tour of Ireland - 2.1

Ireland, August 27-31, 2008

Photography

Stage 5 - August 31: Killarney - Cork, 144km

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• Sandra Hodnett, soigneur with the Garmin Chipotle H30 team and a native of Cork, prepares the liquid refreshments for her riders at the start of Stage 5 in Killarney, County Kerry.
• Race leader Russell Downing (Pinarello CandiTV) arrives for at the sign on.
• Downing arrived at the start looking rested and composed.
• Leader of the Points Classification Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia).
• Bernard Eisel (Team Columbia) gets ready for takeoff as the peloton leave Killarney.
• Thumbs up for the start of Stage 5 from the race leader.
• The peloton began to splinter as the race passed over the first climb of the day at Crohane.
• The first significant break of the day push their advantage.
• The riders cross the border between Counties Kerry and Cork.
• The break was whittled down to three riders
• The Pinarello CandiTV team maintained a high tempo at the front of the peloton.
• The green jersey rolls through some even greener countryside.
• Fuelling up time for the leading trio.
• The peloton arrives on the brutish circuit in Cork.
• The leading trio has become a duo with Ericcson and Rabon pressing on.
• IIya Chernetskiy (Tinkoff – Credit Systems) has lost contact with his breakaway companions.
• Ericcson and Rabon wrestle with the 25 percent gradient of St. Patrick's Hill.
• Leader of the Mountains Classification Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) measures his effort on the exceptionally steep climb.
• The crowds cheer on IIya Chernetskiy (Tinkoff – Credit Systems).
• St. Patrick's Hill is hallowed ground for Irish cycling fans and anyone who has the nerve to tackle it deserves all the support they can get.
• The most difficult section is also the narrowest.
• Team Columbia rode very aggressively on stage 5. Here, Michael Barry makes his bid for overall glory.
• Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia) takes an emphatic solo victory on the most difficult stage of the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Frederik Ericsson (Pezula Racing Team) crossed the line 15 seconds behind his breakaway companion to take second place on Stage 5.
• Marco Pinotti stormed home in third place on Stage 5 and completed a magnificent week for Team Columbia by taking overall victory in the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• The suffering is over and Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) begins to enjoy the experience of victory.
• Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia) could not have been happier as he arrived on the podium to collect his trophy for victory on Stage 5.
• A child's view of the podium presentations.
• Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia) had good reason to be pleased. His win on Stage 5 meant that Team Columbia took victory on four out of five stages.
• Second placed rider on the stage Frederik Ericsson (Pezula Racing Team) has enjoyed his time racing in Ireland.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) receives his race winner's yellow jersey.
• Pinotti's happiness was shared by the Irish crowd who were charmed by the Italian rider.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) receives his Waterford Crystal race winner's trophy.
• Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) rode consistently on all five stages to take a convincing victory in the Mountains Classification.
• The final podium of the 2008 Tour of Ireland
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) was a deserving victor in the 2008 Tour of Ireland and was enthusiastic about the possibility of returning in 2009 to defend his title.

Images by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

• Mark Cassidy (An Post - Sean Kelly team) on the approach to the summit of Patrick's Hill, Cork.
• Paidi O'Brien (An Post - Sean Kelly team) leads the chasing peleton on the approach to the summit of the Crohane climb.
• Russell Downing (Pinarello CandiTV)after being presented with the An Post green jersey.
• Russell Downing (Pinarello CandiTV) was happy having won the green jersey.
• Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia) celebrates as he crosses the line to win the stage into Cork.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) pulls on the race winners yellow jersey after winning the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) after winning the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) along with his team dominated the Irish Tour.

Stage 4 - August 30: Limerick - Dingle, 186km

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) was in yellow at the start, but would lose that jersey at the end of the day.
• Mark Cavendish negotiates a river at Sleigh Head followed by some cobbles.
• The sun tried to come out at Connor Pass.
• Stage 4 of the 2008 Tour of Ireland started in the city of Limerick on the banks of the Shannon river. The Campagnolo-equipped Merckx bicycles of the Topsport Vlaanderen team were ready for arguably the most challenging stage of the race.
• Simon Clarke (SouthAustralia.com/AIS) was obviously feeling the chill of an autumnal Irish climate.
• Paidi O'Brien (An Post Sean Kelly Team) assists team-mate Stephen Gallagher with some last minute adjustments to his cleats.
• The Garmin Chipotle - H30 team bus was an oasis of tranquility before the start of Stage 4.
• Meanwhile, next door, members of Team Columbia were dancing enthusiastically to what sounded like traditional German music.
• Judith Gabriel is soigneur with Team Columbia and has had a busy but rewarding week so far at the Tour of Ireland.
• A close up of the race leader's Giant TCR Advanced.
• Minor cosmetic damage from the crash in which Cavendish was involved during the latter half of Stage 3.
• Mark Cavendish's race machine.
• The Garmin Chipotle - H30 team made the intelligent decision to ride rubber well suited to rougher roads.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia) leads team-mate Morris Possini (Team Columbia) on the road out of Limerick.
• New Zealand National Champion Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle - H30) maintains his position at the head of the group as racing begins in earnest.
• The men at the back said everyone attack and it turned into a breakaway blitz. Here, Joachim Bohler (Joker Bianchi Team) tries to get something going.
• Roger Aiken (Irish National Team) was active in the early attacks.
• The squally showers subsided and there was even some sunshine as the riders made their way southwest onto the Dingle peninsula.
• The Irish riders were exceptionally keen to be involved in any attacks. Paidi O'Brien (An Post Sean Kelly Team) takes a flyer.
• Eventually three riders make it stick as the race passes by Blennerville windmill on the outskirts of Tralee, County Kerry.
• The chasing peloton passed through four minutes and 30 seconds later.
• Magnus Backstedt (Garmin Chipotle - H30) leads Peter Williams (Pinarello CandiTV) and Wesley Sulzberger (SouthAustralia.com/AIS).
• The inhabitants of Abbeydorney in County Kerry were out in force and gave the riders an exceptionally warm welcome.
• Frantisek Rabon represents Team Columbia at the head of the chasing group.
• The leading trio were working well together as they approached the intimidating first category climb of the Connor Pass.
• The savage beauty of the Dingle peninsula's most challenging climb.
• With race leader Mark Cavendish (Columbia) out of the picture, David Millar (Garmin Chipotle - H30) turns the screw in support of team-mate and GC contender Julian Dean.
• The Pinarello CandiTV rider from Rotherham was overjoyed with his victory on Stage 4.
• Russel Downing (Pinarello) gets the win.
• Downing's joy was compounded by the news that he had also taken the race lead by two seconds from Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle - H30).
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia) had a relatively quiet day on Stage 4 and did well to maintained his lead in the An Post Points Classification.
• Gonzalo Rabunal (Karpin Galicia Cycling Team) took second place on Stage 4 and the lead in the Best Placed U-23 Classification.
• Matthew Wilson's performance on stage four confirmed his status as one of the favourites to take the overall victory. His lead in the Mountains Classification is convincing to say the least.
• With 18 seconds separating the top 18 riders in the general classification, new race leader Russell Downing (Pinarello CandiTV) will have a battle on his hands on the final stage to Cork City.

Stage 3 - August 29: Ballinrobe - Galway, 201km

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• The town of Ballinrobe in County Mayo hosted the start of Stage 3 of the 2008 Tour of Ireland. The race rolled out from the 'The Cornmarket' under darkening skies.
• The King's mount: Mountains Classification leader Matt Wilson's Team Type 1 issue Orbea Orca.
• Stage 3 was the longest stage of the race covering 201 kilometres of roads around the rugged landscapes of counties Mayo and Galway.
• The early kilometres passed through lands renowned for their picturesque and varied scenery.
• Kieran Page (Pezula Racing Team) and Kurt Hovelijnck (Topsport Vlaanderen) managed to go clear on the approach to the first KOH climb of the day.
• The chasing peloton were led by Team Type 1 and Team Columbia defending their respective classification leads.
• The early pace was brisk but steady.
• This king of the mountain seemed unperturbed by the noise and colour of the passing race.
• A dense mist hung over the upper slopes but had no impact on the scenery in the valleys.
• Juan Francisco Mouron (Karpin Galicia) battled to stay clear of the peloton on the weather-beaten climb of Maumturk.
• David George (MTN Energade) leads a group of riders in an attempt to stir it up on the third category ascent of Maumturk.
• A gusting headwind was enough to encourage the peloton to stick together.
• Visibility deteriorated as the main group wound its way through the hilly boglands with approximately 70 kilometres remaining.
• The hazy sunshine added to the festival mood at the finish line in the seaside town of Salthill.
• After a tumultuous final fifteen kilometres Mark Cavendish (Columbia) prevailed yet again in a hectic bunch sprint along the seafront.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia), The Unstoppable Sprint Machine, made it three stage wins out of three.
• Galway is known as the 'City of the Tribes' and 'The Columbians' showed their collective class by giving another exhibition in team work.
• Mark Cavendish and Bernard Eisel celebrate Team Columbia's third stage victory.
• Cavendish's victory was made all the more impressive by his recovery from a crash in the final 25 kilometres.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia) was not the only victim of crashes. There were many bloodied knees and elbows after the finish of Stage 3.
• The impressive stage winner's Waterford Crystal trophy.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia) receives his reward after a long day in the saddle.
• The Manxman also took the lead in the An Post sponsored Points Classification.
• Another day, another sprint, another win, another yellow jersey. Ireland has been good to Mark Cavendish (Columbia) so far but he made his own luck today. Fortune seems to favour the bold.
• Alexander Kristoff (Joker Bianchi Team) dons the white jersey of best placed U-23 rider. The Norwegian rider is actually second in this classification behind you know who.
• Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) has a 36 point lead in the Mountains Classification after scoring points on all of the day's climbs.
• This young lady was not overly impressed by Cavendish's victory and looked as though she may well have had the measure of the Manxman. If only the UCI allowed stabilizers in the pro peloton.
• Clad in an oversized yellow jersey and clutching a souvenir team bidon to his chest, this young fan will doubtlessly remember the day the Tour of Ireland came to Galway in 2008.
• The only way is up for the leader of the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Mark Cavendish (Columbia) looks on in the race leader's top.

Stage 2 - August 28: Thurles - Loughrea, 158km

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• Stage 2 of the 2008 Tour of Ireland traversed the midlands of the country from Thurles in County Tipperary to Loughrea in County Galway.
• After some early skirmishes, Swedish National Time Trial champion Fredrik Ericcson (Team Pezula Racing) went clear after 12 kilometres.
• Sean Lacey (Team Ireland) concentrates on maintaining his position in the pursuing peloton.
• The race passed through the heartlands of hurling and sports fans of all persuasions lined the route.
• Joachim Bøhler (Joker Bianchi Team) requests for support from his team car as the peloton maintain a steady tempo.
• Irish hopes were dealt a serious blow when Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H30) was forced to retire from the race. The reigning National Champion had been suffering with a viral infection in recent days and was obviously weakened from the experience.
• Martin disappointment was palpable as he boarded the Broom Wagon. His hopes of a strong ride in his home tour may have been dashed but the Garmin Chipotle H30 rider made a mature decision. Ride on and risk the rest of his season or cut his losses and plan for the future. There will be other races to contest when he has returned to full strength.
• Back in the bunch, it was Martijn Maaskant (Garmin Chipotle H30) turn to get the drinks in.
• It was business as usual for Team Columbia at the head of affairs. Bernard Eisel sets the pace as the sun breaks through and the race begins to heat up.
• Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle H30) takes valuable points at the third sprint into the town of Portumna.
• There was a mood of celebration along the route.
• A traditional Irish music session was in full flow as the race approached Loughrea to begin the 16 kilometre loop of the Lough from which the town takes its name.
• The New Zealand National Champion was again active in the hunt for sprint points and bonus seconds as the peloton started the lap of the Lough.
• Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) timed his sprint to perfection to take victory on Stage 2 of the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• That man from the Isle of Man looked calm and composed as he celebrated his second stage win of the race.
• Literally minutes after thundering across the line Cavendish was faced with a barrage of cameras and questions.
• While the victor recounted his sprint the vanquished arrived home. A high-speed crash in the closing kilometres saw Simon Holt (Rapha Condor Recyciling.co.uk) hit the deck. Fortunately he was able to remount and cross the line.
• Another victim of the crash and last man home Ingar Stokstad (Joker Bianchi Team) received every encouragement for his efforts from the crowd as he rolled delicately across the line.
• Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) now has a matching set of the Waterford Crystal vases given to stage winners.
• He may not have won the stage but the perks of making it up onto the podium certainly put a smile on the face of Alexander Kristoff (Joker Bianchi Team).
• With Cavendish in yellow and Kristoff in green, Juan van Heerden (MTN Energade) will shoulder the white jersey of Best Placed Young Rider.
• Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) consolidated his lead in the Mountains Classification on Stage 2.
• Two victories in two days is certainly worth smiling about.
• Cavendish was understandably satisfied with his brace of stage wins and will certainly be motivated to go for a hat trick.

Stage 1 - August 27: Dublin - Waterford, 192km

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• Grand Canal Square hosted the start of Stage 1 of the 2008 Tour of Ireland. Joshua Bell Curran from Lucan in County Dublin was prepared for the worst but thankfully no rain fell on his parade.
• The Pezula Racing Team was one of the first to sign on and obviously keen to get the show on the road.
• Tinkoff Credit Systems added yet more colour to the start along the banks of the Grand Canal.
• The MTN Energade team travelled from South Africa to take the start of the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• The Pinarello CandiTV team arrived ready for action.
• The Karpin Galicia Cycling Team relax before the start.
• Stephen O’Sullivan and Sean Lacey (Team Ireland) added another few shades of green to the start in Dublin’s Grand Canal Square.
• Stephen O’Sullivan (Team Ireland) gives his stamp of approval to the ongoing rejuvenation works along the Grand Canal.
• Sean Lacey (Team Ireland) at the Docklands departure.
• Zakkari Dempster (SouthAustralia.com/AIS) waits for the start in true Aussie fashion: No worries, mate.
• Bernard Eisel (Team Columbia) was back again to rip it up on Irish roads.
• The other teams will have their work cut out to get the better of this Julian Dean/Daniel Martin combo. National Champions from different hemispheres on the same Garmin Chipotle H30 team.
• The serious business begins as the race rolled out on schedule and with 192 kilometres of racing ahead.
• A casual pace saw the peloton still together as the race passed over the third category Lower Sugar Loaf climb after 16 kilometres.
• A break has gone clear as the race passes through the second sprint bonus of the day in Rathdrum with Martyn Irvine (Team Pezula Racing) taking the points from David George (MTN Energade) and Travis Meyer (SouthAustralia.com/AIS).
• The peloton passed through over six minutes behind and seemed content to let the leading trio stay away.
• Having lost contact with the leading group Martyn Irvine (Pezula Racing Team) had a lonely ascent of the first category Mount Leinster.
• Team Columbia set a steady pace as the peloton approach the summit some three minutes later.
• Local Hero: Ciaran Power’s number one fan. The Pezula rider received every encouragement from the Waterford crowd.
• Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) showed the rest of the peloton a clean pair of cleats at the finish in Waterford.
• The Manx Express strikes again, winning with ease ahead of Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle H30).
• The ease with which he took the victory belied the effort invested.
• Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) receives his Waterford Crystal trophy.
• Mellow yellow: Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) receives the first race leader’s jersey of the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Podium: Stage winner and race leader Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia), leader of the Mountains Classification Matt Wilson (Team Type 1 Cycling Team) and leader of the Points Classification Alexander Kristoff (Joker Bianchi Team). Boy Van Poppel (Rabobank) is third in the Under 25 Classification behind Cavendish and Kristoff and will wear the white jersey on Stage 2.

Pre-race press conference

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Images by Stephen McMahon

• The pre-race press conference included a questions and answers session with three prominent riders: (L-R) Gerry McManus (Press Officer), Alan Rushton (Event Director), Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H30), David O'Loughlin (Pezula Racing Team) and Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia).
• Alan Rushton, event director at the 2008 Tour of Ireland.
• Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) looking fit and focused.
• Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H30) fielded questions from the press.
• David O'Loughlin (Pezula Racing Team) is back home and looking forward to getting the 2008 Tour of Ireland under way after his fine effort in the 4 kilometre Individual Pursuit at the Beijing Olympics.
• Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H30), Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia) and David O'Loughlin (Pezula Racing Team).
• The trio battles it out for Daniel Martin's newly unveiled special edition Felt. More on that later...
• The competition heated up and reinforcements were called in. Teams were paired off for a Madison around the grounds of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin.
• Irish National Champion Daniel Martin (Garmin Chipotle H30) was understandably keen to show off his newly custom painted Felt.
• The green, white and orange colour scheme is subtle yet striking.
• A scattering of pastel shamrocks decorate the top tube.
• Martin is obviously proud of his victory in the Irish National Championships and intent on celebrating his status on and off the bike.