Flying Irish star Bennett finishes Rás on a high

It was as easy as one, two, three for the An Post Chain Reaction team yesterday as Sam Bennett led teammates Nicholas Vereeken and Shane Archbold over the line in Skerries for a clean sweep of the podium places on the last stage of the An Post Rás.

Bennett once again benefitted from an express delivery by his An Post teammates who stamped their authority on the race in the final three kilometres to seal a second stage win on this year’s Rás.

“It was a great leadout from the team,” said a delighted Bennett. “We were starting to get swamped coming into Skerries so I let a roar out of me and Ronan McLaughlin just hit the afterburners from about 3km out. Shane hit the front at 500m to go with Nicholas on his wheel. I didn’t know who was coming or what was happening behind and wasn’t sure if Nicholas was going to keep it until the line so I went for it. I’m delighted. I wasn’t expecting to get another one.”

Despite going into yesterday’s final stage tied on time with second-paced Connor McConvey of Syenrgy Baku and third-placed Ramsus Guldhammer of the Danish Blue Water team, Polish professional Marcin Bialoblocki held onto his yellow jersey in Skerries to take the biggest victory of his career.

“It’s the biggest win of my life,” said the British-based rider. “I can’t believe it. I was thinking about winning when I came here but I wasn’t expecting to take yellow on the third stage, I was thinking about stage seven. It’s hard to defend with a four-man team and with no gap to the others for five days. My teammates were incredible. They worked so hard for me. There was big pressure because before the stage I had no time gap and if I lost 30 places to Connor I would lose the jersey so I had to be very close to him. If I punctured in the last few kilometres or crashed, it was all over.”

Roger Aiken of Louth Prague Charter was next best of the Irish, the domestic amateur finishing eighth overall and taking the best county rider award.

“I love doing the Rás,” said the national cyclo-cross champion. “I can get really motivated for it, the big bunch, the speed, the good riders you’re racing with. I think some of these riders, like those young English guys can go on to better things. I rode against (world time trial champion) Tony Martin in 2007 and it’s good seeing him now in the pro races, seeing what he’s done.”

The Cork Aquablue team of Tim Barry; Sean Lacey, Damien Shaw, Joe Fenlon and Olan Barrett won the county team award despite not quite figuring as prominently as they would have liked.

“It was a tough week,” said Barry. “We’d a couple of mishaps but there was nobody going to touch Roger Aiken this week for the county rider awards. He was flying and, fair dues to him, he deserved that. We just concentrated on getting as many bodies into the front groups every day and backing each other up and we won the team prize. It’s great to get something out of the week.”

John Dempsey of Tipperary Iverk Produce was best second category rider overall. “It was a great week for the team,” said the accountant. “To win the first stage with Conor Dunne and get the yellow jersey was beyond all our expectations. The second category prize is a bonus as well. It’s something nice to get. It’s been a great week for the club.”