In a mountain race, Martin is the obvious favorite. McKenna, Dunne, McConvey, and Lavery will be looking to surprise.
To no one's shock, Glanbia control the race early. They are the only team with significant manpower here.
Lavery makes the first attack with 5 km to go!
No one immediately responds. A lot of riders are scrambling to make an effort, but there's not much cohesion.
Finally we get a real counter attack. Clarke goes, followed by Martin, Mullen, and Potts. The gradient isn't high, and it seems like the rouleurs are still in contention right now, with the second tier climbers sitting back.
After a tough effort, the four chasers are finally just about making contact under the red kite, as the gradient starts to go up again.
They launch the sprint, and unsurprisingly it's Martin who hits the front with the most power.
And Dan Martin is the Irish champion! He'll be wearing national colors for his age 35 season!
Lavery holds on for second, Potts in third.
1
Daniel Martin
Aramco DP
2h11'14
2
Philip Lavery
Team Europcar
+ 11
3
Marc Potts
Gazelle
s.t.
4
Paddy Clarke
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 21
5
Ryan Mullen
Polar
+ 30
6
Connor McConvey
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 35
7
Conor Dunne
Desigual
s.t.
8
William Connolly
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
s.t.
9
Eoin McCarthy
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 46
10
Sean Downey
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 57
11
Sean Hahessy
Glanbia 2
s.t.
12
Michael O'Loughlin
Aegon - Peroni
s.t.
13
Felix English
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 1'08
14
Sean McKenna
Moser - Sygic
+ 1'36
15
Mark Downey
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 2'05
16
Isaac Speirs
Indosat Ooredoo
+ 2'18
17
Adam Petrie-Armstrong
Glanbia 2
+ 3'02
18
Ian Richardson
Glanbia Foods Cycling Project
+ 4'03
Mullen is the clear favorite for the TT, with Downey and Richardson as outsiders.
Richardson is setting a very good pace at the first two time checks, let's see where his competitors stack up.
He has the upper hand on teammate Downey in a bit of an upset! He's +14 seconds off at the first check, and then +21 at the second!
Mullen slightly off too, and this is gonna be close! He's 6 seconds back at the first checkpoint, but reduces it to less than a second at the next point. it should be touch and go.
Richardson finishes and sets the benchmark.
But he must have faded terribly in the final third, because Downey, who was over 20 seconds back at last reference, finishes 1 minute and 59 seconds quicker. What the hell? Terrible pacing I suppose.
Mullen continues his steady pace and will take the jersey by 35 seconds!
