A fascinating race is developing in Ireland. Overnight yellow jersey holder Chris Newton lost over three minutes on GC in the second stage. Home grown rider Tommy Evans lost a similar ammount of time as Danny Pate took the stage win and the overall lead after a stage that smashed the whole GC to pieces. The 180km stage had riders drifting over the line in ones and twos, so you know it was a tough day.
Well one thing is for sure it must have been a race for hardmen, and they don't come much harder than the third placed rider Wayne Randle, who made an Elliott-esque comeback ride that will have a few pints of Guiness raised in the bars of Cobh last night. The former pro rider, who is now of a similar vintage to Malcolm Elliott, showed how a long tough stage should be ridden. Don't write him off for the overall either, the tougher it gets the deeper he'll dig. Glad I'm not chasing after him - some riders lost over 45 minutes on the stage today - it must have been horrendous.
Rutland-Melton Classic winner Robin Sharman also profitted from Newton's and Evans' loss, as he finished strongly and now only has 41 seconds to make up on the stage winner Danny Pate. With recycling.co.uk having a strong team and work ethic he could be a pretty good bet.
Stage 2 - May 22: Enniscorthy to Cobh - 180 km - Results
1. Danny Pate (USA) TIAA-CREF 4.31.15 (41.07 km/h)
2. Martin Prazdnovsky (Svk) Sparebanken Vest 0.27
3. Wayne Randle (GBr) Doncaster Stena Line 0.34
4. Robin Sharman (GBr) Recycling.co.uk 0.41
5. Mike Friedman (USA) TIAA-CREF 3.10
6. Chris Newton (GBr) Recycling.co.uk 3.41
7. Morten Hegreberg (Nor) Sparebanken Vest
8. Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Legia Bazylisek
9. Tommy Evans (Irl) IRC Usher Insuls. 3.45
10. Jehudi Schoonacker (Bel) M.Donnelly Sean Kelly
General classification after stage 2
1. Danny Pate (USA) TIAA-CREF 7.19.54
2. Martin Prazdnovsky (Svk) Sparebanken Vest 0.27
3. Wayne Randle (GBr) Doncaster Stena Line
4. Robin Sharman (GBr) Recycling.co.uk 0.41
5. Mike Friedman (USA) TIAA-CREF 3.07
6. Chris Newton (GBr) Recycling.co.uk 3.29
7. Tommy Evans (Irl) IRC Usher Insuls. 3.37
8. Morten Hegreberg (Nor) Sparebanken Vest
9. Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Legia Bazylisek 3.41
10. Joe McDonnell (Aus) FRF Couriers
More results info and stage profiles at: www.fbdinsuranceras.com
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