Odhran Doogan drops back as George Kimber wins stage to take yellow jersey at Rás Tailteann
Isle of Man CC rider George Kimber leaped from fourth to first overall on the short 128.1km stage from Ennis to Mountrath, deposing overnight race leader Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster) inside the final 20km of racing.
Kimber had started the day six seconds back but Doogan was unable to remain in contact when Team Ireland duo Dean Harvey and Jamie Meehan floored the pace on the first category climb of Wolftrap. This topped out just 14km from the end of the stage and with only Kimber and Adam Lewis (USA Team Skyline) able to hold the two climbing specialists, Doogan was in trouble.
Lewis was dropped on the run in to the line and while Doogan attacked the chasing bunch behind, he was unable to make any inroads into the leading trio's advantage. He finished in the bunch 28 seconds back, dropping to third overall.
"I'm just so happy," Kimber told RTE Online. "It felt amazing, and also to repay the team. They have been very supportive, so to be able to give something back is great."
Taller and heavier than Harvey and Meehan, he said that he struggled at times to hold the Team Ireland riders on the final climb. However he clung on and then provided important horsepower on the downhill and flat run in to the finish.
"He stuck with us," Meehan told RTE Online. "He didn't help us too much on the steep bits, but he was quite strong in the flat. He was obviously going quite well to get over the climb with us.
"We had a plan to go on the climb with me and Dean. We did what we were supposed to do, so we can be happy with that. And tomorrow's another day."
Indeed it is, with the concluding stage taking the riders from Kildare Town to Bective. It is 155.7km in length and mainly flat, but Meehan will do what he can to try to overcome his slender five second deficit.
Doogan too said he will keep fighting. He is now 22 seconds back and while he knows retaking yellow will be difficult, he will give it a shot.
"There's still a day to go. It's not over yet. It's not a massive gap, but it's bigger than I had in any stage so far. It'll definitely be a challenge, but it's definitely not over."
Meehan said the same. "This is the Rás. It is all to play for."
With a total of 13 riders within a minute of Kimber, he knows that a lot of work still needs to be done.
"It would be huge to do it," he said. "It's nice having the stage win, though, because whatever happens tomorrow, we have still got that to take home."
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