Second stage win in Rás Tailteann for Tim Shoreman; Odhrán Doogan retains yellow jersey
Rás Tailteann race leader Odhrán Doogan moved one step closer to success in the event on Friday, but he and his Cycling Ulster team were under real threat for approximately 100km of the 164km third leg to Miltown-Malbay.
The Irishman started the day with a narrow lead in the general classification and experienced real danger when a 15-rider group went clear about 20km after the start in Cong.
Racing through rain and on slippery roads, the breakaway move contained many strong riders, including 2022 Rás winner Daire Feeley (Burren CC), last year's runner-up Conn McDunphy (Team Skyline) and George Kimber (Cycling Club Isle of Man).
The latter had started the day fourth overall, just six seconds behind Doogan, and became virtual race leader when the group built and maintained an advantage of around a minute.
Doogan and others finally returned to the front approximately 40km from the finish, with stage one victor Tim Shoreman (UK: Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) best in a 60 rider sprint to the line.
He beat Matteo Cigala (Carlow Dan Morrissey Pissei), Sebastian Brenes (Mexico: Canel's Java) and Matthew Teggart (Down Banbridge CC Specsavers), the first Irish rider home.
Irish-based Italian Cigala remains second overall, just three seconds behind Doogan.
Shoreman was well ahead at the end, taking advantage of his sprinting speed and also the skill honed by years of criterium racing in Britain.
Full Stage 3 results from Rás Tailteann are now available.
A huge day on the road into Miltown Malbay — check out the full classification sheet below. #RásTailteann #Rás70 #Rás2025 pic.twitter.com/HyajkH8M2N
— Rás Tailteann (@rastailteann) May 23, 2025
"When I saw that we were finishing around a corner, I just knew I had to be first around that," he told RTE Online. "So that's what I did."
Doogan took six seconds in time bonuses on the opening day and while he said he didn't expect to contend for the overall classification, he jumped to the top of the leaderboard on Thursday.
Key rivals did what they could to depose him Friday, but he and his team rose to the challenge.
"I was definitely nervous," he admitted. "But I knew the guys up the road had a big, hard day ahead of them. I knew I just couldn't let them get a big gap. So me and my team were able to control it."
Team Ireland rider Dean Harvey was also in that big break. He crashed 85km into the stage and had to chase for several kilometers, but he was strong enough to go clear on the Corkscrew Hill climb approximately 35km later.
However while he opened a lead of almost 30 seconds over eight other riders, a headwind made things too difficult and he was caught with approximately 40km to go.
Doogan and others had bridged across to the chasers by that point and, following the climbs of Doonagore Cross and the category two Cliffs of Moher, the race leader himself showed defiance to attack alone with 11km to go.
He didn't get far and came under threat again when George Peden (Team PB Performance) countered. The Team PB Performance rider had started the day just 11 seconds behind Doogan and became race leader on the road when he was 13 seconds in front with 9km to go.
However he was caught inside the final 5km, with Shoreman winning the bunch sprint.
Doogan was tenth and remains in the lead with two stages remaining. His rivals vow to keep attacking, but he's gaining confidence and will do what he can to win overall on Sunday.
"There another big day tomorrow but I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to try to keep yellow for as long as I can," he vowed.
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