Junior Tour of Ireland - NE

Waterford, Ireland, August 6-11, 2002

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Stage 2 - August 7: Tramore Road, Waterford, 57 miles

O'Brien takes stage 2

By Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com

The Roche boys
Photo: © Shane Stokes

Páidí O'Brien of the Stena Ireland national team won today's second stage of the M. Donnelly Junior Tour, unleashing a burst of speed in the final 200 metres which carried him to a fine stage win in the event. O'Brien outpaced Dutch rider Joost Van Leijen (Tempo BMV Veldhoven A - Netherlands), race leader Nicolas Roche (Team Stephen Roche - France) and the rest of the field at the end of the 57 mile leg into Waterford, comfortably winning the mass bunch sprint.

The result ensures that Stephen Roche's son Nicolas retains the yellow jersey he took in yesterday's prologue time trial in Dunmore East, although not without a scare today. Van Leijen, who placed a close second yesterday, went clear early in the undulating stage and opened up a lead of over a minute to become race leader on the road. However despite his and team-mate Rudi Van Houts' best efforts, their committed ride was not enough to hold off the late charge of the main bunch, who recaptured them with just three miles remaining.

Roche tried to go clear himself inside the final mile but was reeled in, paving the way for O'Brien's finishing burst and a brave second place by Van Leijen.

'It was a tough day today, very fast', said O'Brien afterwards. 'Nicolas was very strong. I was a bit worried when the two Dutch riders got that big gap so I asked my team-mates Cian Power and Andrew McQuaid to chase and they helped to bring it back. I got tangled up in some bikes after a crash and was delayed, but Andrew came back and helped me to get back up before the finish'.

Next home was Roche, who rode strongly during the stage and held onto a jersey he was prepared to give away. 'I would have preferred if another rider had managed to take it by a few seconds and had it for the next few days', he admitted afterwards. 'It was very hard to defend the lead today as everyone was expecting me to do all the riding. There were a few times when I got clear and Irish riders were on my wheel; we had a gap and they could have ridden for the stage, but they wouldn't do any work and we were brought back.'

Competing with just two others on the Stephen Roche team, he was lucky to profit from rivalry between the two squads from the Netherlands. 'The other Dutch team (District Noord Holland) came up to me during the race and said that they would ride to bring back the two up front - I wasn't sure why they were going to do that, but I wasn't complaining! My two team-mates were very tired and one of them crashed twice, so it was good that others would ride'.

'I felt very strong during the stage, good on the hills too, and had a go near the finish. I didn't actually know where the line was, so was caught out, but still had enough left for the sprint.'

The M. Donnelly Junior Tour continues tomorrow with a 57 mile stage from Waterford to Thomastown and Mullinvat, before finishing once again in Waterford. The race continues until Sunday.

Photos

By Shane Stokes

Great Britain road race champion Steffan Wilson
Eventual prologue winner Nicolas Roche concentrates before the off
Mark Cassidy before his effort
Second placed Joost Van Leijen and team-mate Rudi Van Houts
James Lawless warms up
Levi Heimans before his ride, which netted him fourth place on the day
Barry Woods looks good coming to the finish
Irish Junior Road Race champion Paidi O'Brien prepares for 1.7 miles of flat out effort
Top three on the stage - Van Leijen, Roche and Theo Hardwick, plus former Irish Senior road race champion John McQuaid
Points, race and mountains leaders
Henry Whelan and Sinead Power congratulate Joost Van Leijen, Paidi O'Brien and Nicolas Roche
Nicolas Roche talks about his winning ride
Like father, like son. Nicolas Roche and dad Stephen.
Yellow! One Roche shares his experience in putting on the golden tunic.
Proud father Stephen Roche saying a few words.

Results

1 Páidí O'Brien (Stena Ireland)                              2.18.41
2 J. Van Leijen (Tempo BMV Veldhoven A Netherlands) 
3 N. Roche (Team Stephen Roche France) 
4 P. Johnston (Team South West England)
5 D. Bellemakers (Tempo BMV Veldhoven A Netherlands)
6 S. Roach (Wales)
7 T. Hardwick (Stena Ireland)
8 S. Wilson (North West Division)
 
Primes
 
KOH at Tramore
 
1 O'Brien
2 A. Murphy (Scotland)
3 R. Partridge (Wales)
 
KOH at Annstown
 
1 Roche
2 O'Brien
3 Hardwick. 
 
KOH at The Pike
 
1 Van Leijen
2 Van Houts
3 S. Lampier (Team South West)
4 L. Heimans (District Noord Holland)
 
General classification after stage 2
 
1 Nicolas Roche (Team Stephen Roche)                         2.22.02
2 J. Van Leijen (Tempo BMV Veldhoven Netherlands)               0.01
3 T. Hardwick (Stena Ireland)                                   0.06
4 L Heimans (District Noord Holland)
5 D. Bellemakers (Tempo BMV Veldhoven A Netherlands)            0.07
6 R. Van Houts (Tempo BMV Veldhoven Netherlands)                0.08
7 R. Connor (Ballymena)                                         0.09
8 J. Elfares (VC La Pomme France)                               0.10
 
Mountains classification
 
1 O'Brien                                                         12 pts
2 Van Houts                                                       10 
3 Roche                                                            9 
Van Leijen                                                         9 
 
Points classification 
 
1 Roche                                                           28 pts
2 Van Leijen                                                      28 
3 Hardwick                                                        22 
 
First-Year Junior competition
 
1 Theo Hardwick (Stena Ireland)