Boyle rolls out red carpet for Stage One finish of Rás Tailteann
GOOD TO SEE YOU DADDY: Daire Feeley pictured with Olivia and Liam Feeley in Boyle following the opening stage of the Rás Tailteann, which finished in the North Roscommon Town this afternoon (Wednesday). Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
The uninterrupted sunshine radiated Boyle in all its beauty as the North Roscommon town rolled out the red carpet for the opening stage of the Rás Tailteann, which finished on The Crescent in the town on Wednesday afternoon.
Hundreds of people lined the streets to welcome the 70th edition of the prestigious bike race to a town steeped in cycling history — a wonderful occasion made possible by local volunteers and Gardai who made sure that the staging of the finish went off without a hitch.
Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli) was the first rider across the line outside An Craoibhín after a mass bunch sprint, winning the 155.5km stage that commenced in Drogheda earlier this afternoon.
An eight-man breakaway looked like they might decide the stage among them but they were swallowed up by the peloton, which saw County Roscommon native Daire Feeley riding hard at the front, with 10km remaining.
Niall McLoughlin (Connacht) was second, Will Tidball (Great Britain) was third, with Sebastian Brenes (Canel’s Java) in fourth and Charles Page (Foran CT) in fifth.
Feeley crossed the line in 14th place and is 17th on General Classification, 15 seconds behind race leader Shoreman.
Thursday's second stage gets underway in Charlestown, County Mayo, and finishes in Clifden, County Galway.
