‘Anger’ driving force for Power

CIARAN POWER (Pezula Racing) strengthened his grip on the Pauline Sugrue Auctioneers Rás Mumhan when he won a three-man sprint into Waterville to take yesterday’s gruelling South Kerry Climbs. His victory highlights his disgust with having been denied a Sports Council Grant this year and Cycling Ireland’s refusal to put forward an appeal on his behalf.

“I am driven by the fact that Cycling Ireland would not put forward my appeal for a grant,” he said. “As bad as that might appear to be I have to admit I get a lot of motivation from that. I am riding like I am angry. I just want to show everybody how strong I am.”

A two-time Olympian and a two-time winner of the FBD Insurance Rás, his strength has never been questioned and this race has just underscored his all-round ability. After winning the first stage on his own on Friday, he finished second to his team mate, Cameron Jennings, on Saturday’s stage after going off the route when he had a lead of 1:58.

The big climbs eventually decided the stage and who will hold the Donal McKenna Cup aloft after today’s concluding stage around Killorglin for Power now enjoys a healthy lead of 2 mins 15 secs over Dutchman, Tino Haakman, (Forte Junie Translations) with Paul Griffin (Giant Asia) moving from eighth up to third place up to at 2:29 following his contribution to yesterday’s action.

Lesser climbs at Coom a Ciste, Béal na Meine and Boolananave provided the setting for a heroic performance by the evergreen Carrick-on-Suir veteran, Martin O’Loughlin, who launched the first attack of the day and was joined by Denis Lynch (Kanturk Town), David Peelo (Kilcullen) and subsequently Denis Dunworth (An Post/Sean Kelly) and Conor McCarthy (Earl of Desmond Tralee).

O’Loughlin, Lynch and Dunworth drove forward on the first climb with Ciaran Power’s Pezula team now leading the chase at the front of the bunch. Their lead had been cut to 20 seconds when Mark Cassidy (An Post/Sean Kelly), celebrating his 23rd birthday in the Mountains jersey on loan from Power, got across to sweep up the points he needed to claim custody of what was his first major jersey.

Between the two first category climbs Power, teak tough Paul Griffin, Mark Cassidy and young Isaac Speirs, rode clear of the leading group as the main bunch split three ways behind them. Isaac Speirs crashed into a roadside boulder on the descent and needed a replacement bike.

And then Power punctured with just over six kilometres remaining but got back up to the two leaders at the 5k to go marker. Griffin tried to drive away from the other two but when Mark Cassidy went to the front turning to face the finishing straight in Waterville Power was perfectly placed to win the sprint 1:51 ahead of the chasing group led in by Haakman and young Maurice O’Brien from Kanturk town.

O’Brien is in fourth place on GC at 2:56 with Micheal Concannon (Killorglin CU) fifth at 3:03 with Sean Lacey dropping from third to sixth at 3:38.

Said the Aussie Jennings: “This is my first time in Ireland and I am enjoying it. It was nice to win a stage and help Ciaran.”