Powerful Cyrille Thiery takes Rás Tailteann stage one

Stage one of the 2018 Rás Tailteann began under dry skies yesterday in Drogheda with the ceremonial start taking place from St Peter’s Church.

The field then embarked on a relatively flat 136km stage to Athlone, where Swiss rider Cyrille Thiery broke clear with 1km to go and held off the chasing pack to claim victory.

There was a minutes silence held before the start in memory of long-term Rás volunteer and stalwart Gabriel Howard, who was tragically killed in a farming accident in February.