Tiernan-Locke tames Seskin Hill

Sean Kelly's old training climb of Seskin Hill was the venue for the only summit finish of this year's FBD Rás and, as expected, it shook up the overall standings.

Overnight race leader Alexander Wetterhall (Sweden Team Sprocket) had a real scare on Thursday's stage, losing a chunk of time, but managed to hold onto the yellow jersey by a slender eight seconds. He had started the day 1:46 clear of six rivals and lost almost all of that to Austrian rider Josef Kugler (Arbo KTM-Gebruder Weis).

British rider Jon Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp) was first to the top of the climb, springboarding from the day's big break to find stage success, finishing nine seconds clear of compatriot Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta), with Kugler a further five seconds back in third.

"There was seven of us together coming to the hill," said Tiernan-Locke. "I neutralised a few attacks and then I got on the front. I thought it might be too early but it was so steep I thought I'd just go for it... don't look back until I'd dropped them."

The stage saw a number of early attacks before the move of the day went 95km after the start as John Anderson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro) went alone then before a group of approximately 20 riders came up to him.

Those others were Kit Gilham and Stephen Gallagher (Sigmasport Specialized), Neil Delahaye (Ireland Subway National Team), Marc Ryan (New Zealand), Josef Kugler (Arbö KTM-Gebrüder Weis), Peter McDonald (Drapac Porsche), David Pell (Drapac Porsche), Mark Cassidy (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), Pieter Ghyllebert (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly), John Degenkolb (Thuringer Energie), Bastian Burgel (Thuringer Energie), Masaaki Kikuchi (Japan - Nippo), John Anderson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro), Niklas Gustavsson (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro), Tobyn Horton (Sweden - Team Sprocket Pro), Ben Greenwood (Rapha Condor Sharp), Jon Tiernan-Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp), Peter Williams (Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta), Stephen Surdival (Mayo Castlebar Western Edge) and Timothy O'Regan (Meath Engraveit.ie/Jade.ie).

Working together, they opened up a lead of almost four minutes, putting Kugler firmly in the provisional yellow jersey. Hard chasing by the An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team plus a few other riders saw the gap come back down however, prompting nine of those up front to push on ahead.

Kugler, Tiernan-Locke, Cassidy, Ghyllebert, Williams, Horton, Ryan, Pell and Brurgel put the hammer down and eked out an 18-second lead on the second group.

They raced on to the final climb where it was a complete free-for-all. The break, the bunch, the groups scattered behind all shattered on the steep slopes, with the riders concerned coming home in ones and twos, dribs and drabs. First to the top was Tiernan-Locke, who landed his third win of the season after victories in the US and Britain.

Mark Cassidy (An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) came in for fourth on the stage, being best-placed Irish rider. He was 19 seconds back, netting his best finish this year, yet said afterwards that he didn't feel great.

"I would have liked to have got the win today but I knew coming in [towards the finish] that the legs weren't that great. I tried to stay with the guy who won it but I just didn't have the legs - it was disappointing."

Wetterhall placed 20th on the stage, being fifth home of those who were behind the break. He was relieved to have been able to fight back. "I'm still in yellow but I wasn't 15km ago. But I'm back in yellow and that feels really good.

"I was worried. I thought I might lose it. I didn't know the KTM guy, Josef Kugler, was up there but we had Jack Anderson in the break as well so I was pretty satisfied with the situation.

"It's close but I think eight seconds is enough to hold on for tomorrow. I have to protect it.

"It was a really steep climb today. When it's like that you have to go flat out. But I like hills. The hilly days are coming. I'll see if the legs are with me."

Kugler is also feeling optimistic, though. He was 12th overall last year and fancies his chances of making a significant improvement on that. "It was a hard stage today because I had to work a lot. I tried to get the yellow jersey but I lost by eight seconds," he said. "But I think I can still do it... I like the mountains."

Friday's 127km journey to Gorey is potentially one of the most decisive. It's brevity will promote flat-out racing, while seven categorised climbs will assail the legs and further thin out a dwindling list of possible winners.