Tallaght provides exciting start to Stage One of Rás
Cyclists on the Tallaght Bypass after setting off from Tallaght Stadium (Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Tallaght provides exciting start to Stage One of Rás

TALLAGHT provided the backdrop to the start of the 2022 Rás Tailteann International Cycling Race, and Stage One yesterday featured no shortage of exciting battles.

In the end it was Matthew Teggart of Team Cycling Ulster who narrowly won this opening phase competition to earn the coveted yellow jersey.

He was followed home by Rory Townsend (Team Ireland) and Matteo Cigala (Team Carlow – Dan Morrissey) who also scooped the County Rider Award.

Dean Harvey (Team Ireland) emerged King of the Hills with Joseph Rees (Team Britain Embark Bikestrong) taking the lead in the Under 23 division.

Following a ceremonial start from Tallaght Stadium, the race proved unsurprisingly intense from the off with the peloton averaging 48.8 km/hr in the first hour of racing.

The race travelling up the Old Blessington Road (Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan) 

The most dangerous move of the day came at Deenside when three riders, namely Dean Watson (Embark-Bikestrong), Lindsay Watson (Cycling Ulster) and Lucan Cycling Road Club’s Ronan Killeen, who is guesting for Mayo team, Castlebar CC in this year’s Rás, gained a 55-second advantage over the main field with only 35km of racing remaining.

The peloton, led by Team Ireland and Cycling Sheffield, orchestrated the chase behind reducing the gap to 30 seconds with 20km to go.

Although Watson made one final attempt to break clear in the last 10km, the race inevitably came back together with 5km to go and it was Teggart who eventually took the win and the FBD Insurance-sponsored Stage winners jersey.

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