May's day on Rás Stage Four

Maximillian May of the German Thuringer Energie team claimed today’s fourth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás from Oughterard, Co. Galway to Tipperary Town.

The promising young rider sprinted to the line ahead of Joseph Lewis (Australia Drapac Porsche) and Pieter Ghyllebert (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and as a result of today’s shake-up, the yellow jersey now rests on the shoulders of Swedish rider Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro).

Wetterhall, the U23 National champion from his native country, was part of a 20-man lead group that finished over two minutes clear of a chase group that contained the yellow jersey of Dan Craven (Rapha Condor).

Such was the shake-up today that a total of eight teams are now represented in the top 10 on the General Classification, which should see plenty more aggressive riding before the week is out.

Today’s stage featured some narrow, tricky roads that were always going to cause splits in a tiring nunch. With a tail-wind and two category three climbs, that of Killanena (km 77.6) and Knockanena (km 85), the latter coming almost exactly halfway through the 169 kilometre race to Tipperary, it was a stage set up for the big teams and they didn’t disappoint on another glorious day.

Wetterhall took the first KOM points ahead of Irishman Conor McConvey while McConvey exacted some revenge when he claimed the next KOM-ahead of Wetterhall. David O’Loughlin, who won yesterday’s stage, continues to wear the pink jersey as King of the Mountains leader.

It has been a highly satisfactory first half to the race by the An Post team with O’Loughlin leading the KOM as well as his stage win while they’ve produced second and third place finishes in the opening four stages and will be hoping to push up higher on GC tomorrow when the stage goes from Tipperary to Seskin Hill just outside Carrick-on-Suir.