21-05-2025
Tim Shoreman takes victory on first day of Rás Tailteann
Irish riders got off to an encouraging start on day one of the Rás Tailteann on Wednesday, but it was the Briton Tim Shoreman who triumphed into Boyle and took the first leader's yellow jersey.
The UK Wheelbase/Cabtech/Castelli rider displayed the same sprinting power that earned him the final stage last year plus the points jersey, blasting home first on the uphill gallop to the line.
He beat Irishman Niall McLoughlin (Connacht Cycling) and Will Tidball (Great Britain CT), with the first 12 opening a gap of several seconds over the rest of the bunch.
Another Irish rider Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster) was seventh and, thanks to two bonus sprints he won while involved in the day's most significant breakaway, he ended the day third overall.
He and second-placed McLoughlin are both five seconds behind Shoreman, who has that buffer thanks to the time bonus for the stage win.
"The finish was really technical. We kind of knew what we needed to do," Shoreman told RTÉ Sport. "We had looked at in advance. I just fully trusted my teammates and they put me in the right place. Then I finished it off.
"We do a lot of criteriums in the UK, so this kind of finish is perfect for me."
The 155.5km stage started in Drogheda and featured numerous breakaways, with the key move going at the halfway point in Ballinagh.
Doogan was present along with fellow Irishmen Conn McDunphy and Ronan O'Connor (both USA Team Skyline), as well as Britons Peter Cocker (DAS Richardsons), Danylo Riwnyi (Foran CT) and Aaron King (Wheelbase/Cabtech/Castelli).
Also present were the American Owen Wright (Canel's Java), plus the German Robin Fischer (Team Storck-Metropol Cycling).
Doogan picked up three seconds in time bonuses at both Crossdoney and Mohill, while McDunphy also boosted his campaign with second and third respectively.
However the latter was hit by bad luck after the break was caught inside 25km. McDunphy came down in a crash inside the final two kilometres and while he was given the same time as the main bunch, as per international rules, a split in that group on the uphill rise to the line saw him lose a handful of seconds.
McLoughlin is the best placed Irishman in second overall, and was psyched by his runner-up slot.
"The streets were really, really tight, really technical," he said. "A lot of left and right handers, so you had to be right at the front right to the finish.
"It was a really cool finish, it suited me, especially just the twisting and turning."
He is hoping to shine in any of the upcoming stages which finish in a sprint. Doogan expressed the same sentiment, saying he was encouraged to still be feeling strong at the end despite being clear for such a long time in the day's breakaway.
"I still had good legs for the finish, but just positioning wise I got caught out in the last corner. That cost me a bit. I'm definitely happy with the form. I can't complain."
While he and McLaughlin are focussing their attention on chasing a stage win, Belfast rider Dean Harvey is pinpointing a strong general classification campaign.
He was ninth on the stage and is ninth overall, 11 seconds behind Shoreman.
"This year I want to go for GC," the double king of the mountains winner said. "There is point in hiding it, that's why I am here."
He identified Thursday's stage two as likely one of the most important days for the general classification. It is the longest stage, covering 170.9km from Charlestown to Clifden.
The riders will face five categorised climbs, including the category one Windy Gap in the first half of the stage.
