By Tommy Campbell Apr 25, 2011,
Fortune favours the brave and none more so than Sean Lacey of the Edge CC in Cork who took the imitative to forge ahead when the competitors blasted off shortly after the fourth and final stage of the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan yesterday in Killorglin which was sponsored by Fexco.
The lecturer in UCC in Cork turned a minute deficit overnight of one second to a winning margin over his closest challenger by twenty six seconds on Isle of Man resident Christian Varley with overnight lead Dutchman Bram Imming sliding on the scale to finish in fifth place overall. Thirty one competitors along with Lacey steadily built up a lead of over two minutes before there was a reaction from the bunch and Imming who was now isolated with little or no help from his team. Entering the town of Killorglin the bunch had cut the deficit back to 50 seconds for ten laps of a 2.7 miles. Ultimately the chase to catch the leaders on the road proved negative as they rapidly ran out of steam as their heroic effort started to slacken when they hit the circuit and the climb up into Killorglin town. The chase started to take its toll on the third ascent of the town and the lead went out to well over a minute.
In the dash for the line in Killorglin after 71 miles, Paudi O’Brien of Sportactive/engraveit.ie won the stage but all the plaudits were for Sean Lacey who stuck to his task and claimed one of the biggest prizes in Irish cycling. Sean was also keeping the trophy which was won last year by his team mate Timmy Barry a master tactician when it comes to winning trophies, not alone for himself but his club also.
Sean Lacey was full of compliments when I spoke to him this historic wins. “I always had ambitions of winning this event. When I spoke to in Tralee at the end of February, I said one of my goals for the early season was to the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan. My team were unselfish in their efforts today as we cut a smart dash within a couple of miles of the start. Amazingly, the race leader missed the move, but I was also aware that Chris Varley second overnight was there. It was too early to asses the position, as the race leader had three team mates in the group which I found strange. As we progressed into the stage , I noticed that one of his team mates had dropped off the pace to return to the main bunch. The group just kept up the pace and with the aid of Timmy Barry we consolidated our position and I came home the winner. I am so proud for my family that I have won this race and I thank the organisation for a wonderful race,” said Sean as he mixed with friends and colleagues at a reception for the prize giving.
On the other side of the coin, I caught up with Bram Imming’s manager Paul Taback and questioned him about the mis-calculation. They f….. up.! When they asked that his team riders in front of the group with Sean and co should wait for Bram’s group. I said no and the penalty is that they will not be allowed to go out and savour the Irish hospitality,” said Paul.
Certainly not a happy camper when they had the the race at their mercy. But, that’s bike racing and fair dues to Sean Lacey for taking the initiative when the Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam dithered and dawled.
Kerry Group Ras Mumhan, fourth stage 71 miles, Killorglin-Killorglin Stage 4 result
1 P. O’Brien (Sportactive/engraveit.ie), 2hrs.36mins.55 secs;
2 A. Roche (Isle of Man), same time;
3 RJ Mol (West frisa), st;
4 P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond/BC), st;
5 P. Elderman (Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam), st’;
6 l. Good (West frisa), st.
Final General Classification:
1 S. Lacey (The Edge CC), 11hrs.36mins.00secs;
2 C. Varley (Isle of Man) @ 26secs;
3 N. Delahaye (Team Dectek), @51;
4 G. Straiting (Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam), 1.41;
5 B. Bramming (Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam), @1.47;
6 P. Griffin (Earl of Desmond/BC), 2.31.
U23: Strating.
Points-Griffin.
Mountains: L. Burger (Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam).
A/2.3: M. Cullinane (Comeragh CC).
Teams: (Reuiter Dakkpallen Wielerteam).