Russell Downing of the Candi TV - Marshalls Pasta Team has won the first stage of the Tour of Ireland 2009. The Lancashire rider won the 196km trek from Enniskerry to Waterford in a time of 5 hours 10 minutes 37 seconds, writes Tadhg Peavoy.
Downing was followed over the line by Russian Alexander Kolobnev of Saxo Bank and third place was taken by his teammate Matti Breschel of Denmark. Both riders crossed the line one second behind Downing.
The best of the Irish was Philip Deignan of the Cervélo Test Team who also finished a second behind Downing, but in fourth place.
Deignan was in a bunch of 24 that arrived into the sprint finish in Waterford, but was pushed out of the podium places at the line.
As a result of the win Russell Downing is top of the General Classification and also tops the points table ahead of Alexander Kolobnev. Matt Wilson leads the King of the Mountains standings.
It was a day of action on the opening day of the Tour with several breaks throughout the day.
The first climb was the Lower Sugarloaf, or the long hill as it’s known locally in the Wicklow area. Matt Wilson claimed the King of the Mountain points there.
Wilson was the winner of the King of the Mountains jersey in the Tour last year and the Australian drew first blood in the battle this year.
There followed a short break from Dutchman Dennis van Wimden of the Rabobank Team; however he was soon pulled in by the peloton.
The first intermediate sprint was then claimed by Frantisek Rabon of the Czech Republic, riding for the Columbia Team who boast a roster which includes defending champion Marco Pinotti and the fastest man in the world on a bike Mark Cavendish.
The pace for the opening 15 to 20 km was fast then slow as the riders jockeyed for position in the usual manner.
The second sprint that followed at Rathdrum Post Office was won by British Kristian House of the Rapha Condor Team.
It was after this second sprint of the day that the day’s main breakaway took place.
South African Jay Thomson of MTN Energade broke from the group and established a lead of 59 seconds.
Thomson developed this lead into a massive six minute gap and he held on to take the King of the Mountains points at Mount Leinster, followed over by Matt Wilson and Marco Pinotti.
The race trundled on at an average speed of 38 km per hour as Thomson headed for the next sprint stage at Borris. The 2008 South African Time Trial champion had a lead of 2m53 as he went through the sprint at Borris.
Thomson led the peloton for nearly 100km at this point; however, his time at the head was coming to an end.
Irishman Philip Lavery made the break from the peloton to rein him in. A superb display from Lavery saw him pull back Thomson and instantly pass him just after the third category climb at Coppanagh.
Lavery quickly built up a lead of 2 minutes 28 seconds ahead of the peloton and was first to the top of the next third category climb at Inistioge.
At this point he was 55 seconds clear of the peloton. The brave effort was not to last to the finish though and the peloton gradually began to peg him back.
A 24 man break from the pack began to chew away the distance Lavery had developed.
This bunch included some very experienced cyclists in the form of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, defending champion Marco Pinotti and the man who held the yellow jersey going into the penultimate stage of the Tour last year, Russell Downing.
Lavery was pegged back on the approach to Waterford city and the group made their way into the city for a bunch gallop.
As the pack headed down the home straight along the quays in Waterford, the riders jockeyed for position. Deignan seemed well placed to take the victory coming into the last but didn’t have the legs to record a home win.
It was the experienced Downing who stormed and steered his way clear at the end to romp home for glory, while Deignan crossed in fourth.
Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong crossed the line in 23rd. Mark Cavendish – who was widely touted to win two stages here in Ireland – crossed the finish in 68th.
Tomorrow’s racing is a 196km stage from Clonmel to Killarney. As an aside, when quizzed by the press this morning Lance Armstrong answered just one question: Are you glad to be back racing in Ireland? ‘Yes, I am,’ he replied.
RESULTS:
Stage 1 Result: Enniskerry to Waterford.
1 Russell Downing (GBR) Candi TV –Marshalls Pasta 5h10’37”
2 Alexander Kolobnev (RUS) Team Saxo Bank 5h10’38” +01”
3 Matti Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 5h10’38’ +s/t
4 Philip Deignan (IRL) Cervélo Test Team 5h10’38” +s/t
5 Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) Astana 5h10’38” +s/t
General Classification:
1 Russell Downing (GBR) Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta 5h10’27”
2 Alexander Kolobnev (RUS) Team Saxo Bank 5h10’32” +05”
3 Matti Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 5h10’34” +07”
Points Competition:
1 Russell Downing (GBR) Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta 15 pts
2 Alexander Kolobnev (RUS) Team Saxon Bank 14 pts
3 Matti Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 13 pts
Mountains Competition:
1 Matt Wilson (AUS) Team Type 1 22 pts
2 Jay Thomson (RSA) MTN-Energade 21 pts
3 Philip Lavery (IRL) Irish National Team 12 pts
Young Rider Competition:
1 M Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank 5h10’34”
2 Frederik Wilman (NED) Joker Bianchi +04”
3 Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) Team Saxon Bank +10’
