UCD Fitz Cycles' Eoin Morton prevailed in a thrilling battle with his compatriot Brian McCrystal to take stage 2 of the An Post Rás on Monday.
The Dubliner battled it out with Louth native McCrystal (Louth Asea Wheelworx) on the home straight to take his first ever stage win on the race in front of a packed Charleville main street.
Day 2 was the longest of the eight gruelling stages. The peloton left Westmeath Monday morning, making their way 183km down south to Cork.
Morton signalled his intentions from the off, attacking out front three times with various riders but the bunch managed to reel him eventually on each occasion.
The UCD rider was persistent though and on his fourth effort he managed to stay clear, being joined solely by McCrystal.
The duo broke away inside the 90 kilometre mark and worked tirelessly together, establishing a huge lead of over seven minutes.
Despite the gap slowly dwindling to the chasing bunch headed by Matteo Cigala (Cork Aquablue), Morton and McCrystal were not to be denied.
McCrystal attacked Morton but the Dubliner staved off the challenge, managing to accelerate away in the final kilometres to claim a famous victory.
It was a fight to the finish today as Irish riders Eoin Morton and Bryan McCrystal battled for victory in todays’ 183.7 Km stage of An Post’s 2016 Rás.
The riders pulled away in the longest stage of the race to establish a sizable gap between themselves and the rest of the field that forced a sprint finish as they approached the stage two finish line in Charleville.
Morton continues on a family legacy of Rás winners, following in the path of his father, Peter Morton who claimed a stage victory, just down the road in Mallow on the 1979 edition of the race.
Clearly delighted with the win, Morton admitted he was in total shock.
“Speechless. I have no words to describe it. A lad with a nine to five job takes a stage of the Rás. I have to go to work to teach a few kids on Monday. It’s incredible, I’m so happy.”
Morton and McCrystal's control over Moday's stage highlights the talent in the Irish cycling scene. Morton will hold on to the King of the Mountain jersey for a second day, while McCrystal was presented with the Irish County Rider title.
Nicolai Brochner of Denmark's team Riwal Platform took third finishing 11 seconds behind Morton’s impressive winning time of 4:14.15.
Sunday’s Stage one winner, Taco van de Hoorn of Dutch team, Join-S De Rijke retains the coveted leader Yellow Jersey for day three; while New Zealand national team rider, Dylan Kennett retains the Under 23 jersey as the riders head off tomorrow towards Dingle.
Stage three’s 133.2km route will take the riders out towards Kerry with some tough mountain climbs before finishing at the Dingle Peninsula.
