NEWTON’S RAS
Great
Britain's Chris Newton won the FBD Irish Milk Ras after finishing comfortably
in the leading group at the end of Sunday’s circuit race in Dublin’s
famous Phoenix Park.
Newton had led the race since Thursday night and two outstanding performances by his team helped him to protect a slander advantage of 5 seconds through mountainous stages on Friday and Saturday. The final 40km stage presented relatively few problems as the GB Team kept tabs on all the major threats and shepherded Newton safely to the finish.
For Newton and the GB team, the win marks the end of a deliberately low-key start to the season. With the Olympics next year, they have long-term goals on their minds and it is not surprising that they have taken their time to get into their stride in 2003. For the record, this was the teams second win in the race in three years, following Paul Manning’s win in 2001. It also maintains their excellent recent record of winning stage races at this level.
GB Team Manager John Herety spoke to us after the race:
"We got the job done today without any problems. Given the current fitness levels of the team it was a really good result. Tactically it was one of our best wins. I think the team rode astutely in the opening days and we seemed to get most of the important choices right. It was also a strong team performance with Paul, Steve and Kieran all making important contributions."
The GB Team now have a week of rest followed by a training camp in Switzerland, where they will mix road work and some track time.
Stage 2 - Roscrea - Clifden 188.1km
Stage 4 - Ballina - Letterkenny 172.50 kms
Stage 5 - Letterkenny – Buncrana, 146km
Stage 6 - Buncrana – Donegal, 167km
Stage 7 - Donegal - Oldcastle 180.40 kms
Stage 8 - Phoenix Park Circuit 40.00 kms
FBD MILK RAS 2003 Final General Classification
1. Newton,Chris Great Britain 29h10'10
2. Lergard,Tobias Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 05"
3. Hojgaard,Ari Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 12"
4. Lovatt,Mark Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 34"
5. Tanner,John Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 01'15"
6. Haynes,Hamish England North West Division @ 01'15"
7. McLeod,Ian South Africa Team HSBC @ 02'09"
8. Evans,Thomas Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 05'05"
9. Lovkvist,Thomas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 05'35"
10. Moriaty,Patrick Dublin Skip @ 06'03"
11. Holmkvist,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 06'59"
12. Medyannikov,Andrey Kazakhstan @ 07'12"
13. Griffin,Paul Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 07'24"
14. Manning,Paul Great Britain @ 07'49"
15. Power,Ciarán Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 12'39"
16. Moriaty,Eugene Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 14'32"
17. Donnellan,Andrew Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 17'22"
18. Worthington,Dave Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 18'03"
19. Spence,Daniel South Africa Team HSBC @ 20'22"
20. Elliott,Malcolm London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc @ 20'51"
21. Smith,Neil Lincoln @ 21'54"
22. Morgan,Roger Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 22'02"
23. Ahern,Brian Kildare HirEquip @ 22'47"
24. Iglinskiv,Maxim Kazakhstan @ 23'55"
25. Kohler,Patrick Germany Rg Gutersloh/Neheim @ 23'56"
26. Gorbachevskiy,Vadin Kazakhstan @ 24'46"
27. Charlesworth,John England primera-bournemouth @ 25'04"
28. Clarke,Raymond Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 25'20"
29. Cahill,Ritchie Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 26'42"
30. Fenlon,Joe Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 29'30"
31. Page,Kieran Great Britain @ 31'18"
32. Eastham,Richard England primera-bournemouth @ 32'11"
33. Peelo,David Dublin Usher Insulations @ 32'12"
34. Mulcahy,Michael Dublin Usher Insulations @ 32'53"
35. Cummings,Steve Great Britain @ 35'12"
36. Berkeley,David Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 36'57"
37. Segarsall,Mikael Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 37'22"
38. Estadieu,Laurent Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 37'36"
39. Brondberg,Carl Henning Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 37'40"
40. Howes,Jeff South Africa Team HSBC @ 38'17"
41. Ljungblad,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 39'25"
42. Larsen,Brian Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 40'50"
43. Dodd,Gary Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 44'14"
44. Jones,Gareth Wales Energy Cycles Principia @ 45'41"
45. Stevenson,Cody Australia Team Down Under @ 54'03"
46. Norfolk,Jamie Wales Stena Line @ 54'23"
47. Finegan,Philip Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 55'41"
48. Dempsey,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 56'15"
49. Enslin,Rob Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 59'09"
50. Larsen,Michael Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 59'36"
51. Barry,Tim Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 59'49"
52. O'Sullivan,Stephen Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 1h00'21"
53. Bazayev,Assan Kazakhstan @ 1h00'28"
54. Horgan,John Dublin Skip @ 1h02'25"
55. O'Donoghue,Edward Dublin Usher Insulations @ 1h04'05"
56. Belsham,Christopher England primera-bournemouth @ 1h06'25"
57. Peppard,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 1h08'17"
58. Beck,Josh USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h13'42"
59. Kenneally,Brian Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 1h14'47"
60. Svatek,Matt USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h18'39"
61. Poad,Jaaron Australia Team Down Under @ 1h19'34"
62. Perera,Lawrence USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h19'36"
63. McDonald,Scott Dublin Orwell @ 1h24'04"
64. McMahon,Kieran Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 1h27'21"
65. Kelly,Simon Mayo Galway Bay @ 1h27'38"
66. Melville,Matt Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 1h28'11"
67. Barras,Tom Australia Team Down Under @ 1h31'29"
68. Kenwright,Nick USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj @ 1h33'44"
69. Stewart,Brian Dublin Usher Insulations @ 1h33'46"
70. Sheppard,Paul Wales Stena Line @ 1h39'57"
71. Briggs,Graham Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 1h43'04"
72. Gleeson,Vincent Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 1h48'28"
73. Roche,Laurence Kildare North @ 1h48'56"
74. Finnegan,Derek Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h49'30"
75. Brady,Tony Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h51'30"
76. Hoy,Justin Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 1h53'41"
77. Crowley,Aidan Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 1h55'03"
78. Hodges Myerson,Adam USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h56'54"
79. Hedderman,Adrian Dublin Skip @ 1h57'59"
80. Greenwood,Ben Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 1h58'32"
81. McLeavey,Mark Dublin Skip @ 1h59'44"
82. Sweetman,Craig Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 2h00'34"
83. Yates,Matthew Australia Team Down Under @ 2h00'35"
84. Kelly,Feargal Wicklow Sahara @ 2h08'08"
85. O'Leary,Frank Dublin Usher Insulations @ 2h09'05"
86. Bracken,Colm Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 2h11'43"
87. Hillard,John Paul Dublin Skip @ 2h23'37"
88. Marrey,Padraig Mayo Galway Bay @ 2h26'37"
89. Devins,Michael Mayo Galway Bay @ 2h32'21"
90. Sheehan,Gary Kildare North @ 2h58'36"
91. McCormack,Fintan Kildare Newbridge @ 3h07'23"
92. Lynch,Brian Dublin Orwell @ 3h11'19"
93. Harris,Brian Wicklow Sahara @ 3h11'50"
94. Tansey,David Dublin Orwell @ 3h16'18"
95. Reade,Aidan Mayo Galway Bay @ 3h19'19"
96. O'Sullivan,Keith Wicklow Sahara @ 3h35'17"
97. Finn,Eamon Dublin Orwell @ 3h47'02"
98. Adams,Isaiah USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj @ 4h31'45"
99. Wall,John Kildare North @ 4h40'54"
100. Caddow,Martin Dublin Orwell @ 4h54'14"
101. Keane,Cathal Mayo Galway Bay @ 4h56'52"
102. Furley,Sean London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc @ 5h35'32"