Italian Francesca Reda takes opening stage thriller in Rás

Italian rider Francesca Reda is the first race leader of this year’s An Post Rás after a thrilling opening stage from Dunboyne to Carlow yesterday which saw the peloton lose over 10 minutes and Ian Richardson of UCD take the county rider prize.

Team IDEA 2010 man Reda edged Lukas Postlberger (Tirol Cycling) in a two-up sprint to the line after they’d broken away from a 15-man group. Rob Partridge of NFTO led the remnants of that break over the line for third.

The race was frenetic from the off with four category 3 climbs and three Post Office Hot Spot Sprint Primes – with time bonuses on offer.