Ireland's Matt Teggart has taken a brilliant bunch sprint victory on the opening stage of Ras Tailteann which got underway in Tallaght today.
The 26-year-old Banbridge man, riding for the five-man Cycling Ulster team, blasted to victory at the end of a frenetic 140-kilometre stage which was characterised by a stiff tailwind, a number of threatening and futile breakaways, and a thrilling finale.
Teggart is well-known for his sprinting prowess and doubled his Ras stage win tally today, adding to his maiden victory back in 2017 when he rode for the An Post Chain Reaction team.
He got the better of runner-up Rory Townsend - another of the pre-race favourites - while Italian-born Irishman Matteo Cigala (Carlow Dan Morrissey) rounded out the podium in third.
"In the sprint I was on Townsend’s wheel in the last couple of kilometres," explained Teggart.
"It was kind of a headwind coming into the finish so I wanted to wait a little bit before getting out to launch my sprint.
"I had to brake with about 350m to go and I lost a bit of momentum but then I was coming really, really fast in the last 50 metres but not enough for the win," he added ruefully.
Cigala was clearly up for it today and knowing there were time bonuses awarded for the first three riders over the line at Hot Spot sprints in Dunlavin after 33km, Athy after 60km, Urlingford (122km) as well as the finish in Horse and Jockey, he was a man on a mission in the opening hour of racing, claiming the first of these intermediate sprints.
In contrast, Teggart played it more cagey, opting to let his teammates Lindsay Watson and Gareth O´Neill get up the road, try and mop up the other time bonuses, and allow their fast man more of an armchair ride behind, knowing the race would almost certainly end in a sprint.
The riders had almost 50 kilometres completed in the first hour of racing which had many in difficulty at the back, but equally difficult for those at the front trying to escape the clutches of a nervous peloton.
A quartet did eventually manage to wriggle free; Dean Watson (Britain Embark Bikestrong), Nathan Kurensky (Brocar-Ale), the aforementioned Lindsay Watson (Cycling Ulster) and Ronan Killeen (Mayo Castlebar CC). They worked very well together to eke out a maximum gap of around 50 seconds.
But inside the final hour of racing, Team Ireland sensed danger and keen to set up their fast man, Rory Townsend, they along with Cigala´s teammates ramped up the speed in an effort to reel in the escape.
Watson (Britain Embark Bikestrong) tried his luck from the break when he sensed the cohesion dissipate, but despite his gallant solo attack, he was no match for a fresher peloton behind who made the catch inside the 10k to-go banner.
Teggart is one of the fastest men in the country, and at 26 years of age will still feel he can go a long way in this sport. He signalled his intentions earlier in the week when he suggested he is here for more than just stage wins.
And based on his current form, he is the man to beat this week.
Tomorrow´s stage takes the riders from Horse and Jockey further into the south west of the country and after two categorised climbs the riders will finish in Castleisland around 2pm.
