Paidi O’Brien (Planet Tri Racing Team) excelled in the sprint to the finishing line in Waterville today to claim victory on stage three of the Kerry Group Ras Mumhan after a tortuous 142.4kms of competitive cycling at the highest level despite the wintry conditions. The “Pocket Rocket’ as he is known in cycling circles led in a five man group into Waterville this afternoon.
Included in the quintet was Damien Shaw of (Aquablue), winner of stage one. There advantage was over one minute on a chase group of 16 riders including the overnight leader Harry Sweering (West Freisa) from Holland. Shaw now leapfrogs back into the race lead for the final stage tomorrow in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, but is advantage is 28 seconds and the possibility of a grand stand finish to this highly regarded is still very much in the melting pot.
In the various categories, the Aquablue team from Cork has taken a stranglehold on the Overall/King of Hills/Points.
Stage Three-146kms.
1 Paidi O’Brien (Planet Tri Racing Team) 3hrs.49mins.17secs;
2 George Harpur ((Felt Colborne Hargroves) same time;
3 Conor McIlwane (Ireland U-23) st;
4 mike Ashurst (Biketreks-Uk) st;
5 Damien Shaw (Aquablue) st;
6 Olan Barrett (Aquablue), @1.04secs.
Overall-Shaw.
KOH-Timmy Barry (Aquablue).
Points-Shaw.
“The Iron Man” Winner of The Rás Tailtean 1958
