McCarthy takes the first yellow

The An Post-Chain reaction team may have fielded just two Irishmen out of a possible five in its line-up for this year’s An Post Rás, but it is the Belgian-based squad who drew first blood on stage one into Roscommon yesterday.

Irish-born Robert Jon-McCarthy took the stage win and first yellow jersey of this year’s race. The Australian U23 international romped home at the head of the huge sprint to take his first senior race in Ireland.

His family emigrated to Australia when he was 14 and had already begun cycling with Fermoy CC, his performance yesterday capping a fantastic homecoming of sorts for him and his family.