Tour of Ireland 2008 - 5

The fifth and final stage of the Tour of Ireland 2008 took the riders from Killarney to Cork and was won Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia). Team Columbia attacked race leader Russell Downing (Pinarello) and did enough to push him into second on GC and place Marco Pinotti top.

Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia) and Fredrik Ericsson (Pezula) rode clear almost all stage long and the two split on the difficult circuits of Cork, featuring St Patrick Hill. Rabon attacked and went away to win whilst Ericsson stayed clear of the pack.

As Rabon went about winning the stage his Columbia team mate Marco Pinotti attacked and went away. There was a limit on just how many times race leader Russell Downing could respond, but each time he did until he was finally unable to make up the gap to the race winner, Pinotti.

It was great stuff from Downing and we applaud him greatly. He won the Points competition and so he got that splendid reward for his efforts.

Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia), Magnus Backstedt and David Millar (Garmin), all pulled out.

Winner on GC Marco Pinotti said - "I had to play a very strategic game." "As soon as team-mate Michael Barry was caught I went. By attacking on the flat I could open up a bigger advantage than if I had done so on the climbs." "I'd planned to come good in this last part of the season, but you never know if it will actually happen."

"This is the best year of my career by far, I've finished third in Romandie before, but this is the first stage race of my career." "Cycling is changing, and that's meant I have more opportunities to win."
"I just wish I had been in this team when I was a younger rider - they're really good for me. Still, better late than never."

Stage winner Rabon said - "I was really pleased to be able to get this win, I went away in the break but then I wanted to be sure my team-mates didn't need my help, either." "But when I heard that Marco had attacked and had got 40 seconds on the main group, I thought he would be all right because he's one of the best time triallists in the world."

"It was not easy doing what I had to do, each time I went up Saint Patrick's I felt different. The first time I was going great, the next time I felt terrible, it wasn't at all clear what was going to happen from one lap to the next. But then I just went for it, and it worked out fine."

Stage 5 Killarney to Cork, 155km - Sunday 31st August
1 6 Rabon, Frantisek THR Team Columbia 3h27'04"
2 156 Ericsson, Fredrik PZR Pezula 3h27'19" @15"
3 4 Pinotti, Marco THR Team Columbia 3h28'08" @01'04"
4 131 Downing, Russell POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h28'41" @01'37"
5 142 Nordhaug, Lars Petter TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h28'41" @ s/t
6 15 Dean, Julian TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h28'41" @ s/t
7 7 Barry, Michael THR Team Columbia 3h28'41" @ s/t
8 91 Clarke, Simon SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 3h28'44" @01'40"
9 27 Graziato, Massimo TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h28'44" @ s/t
10 46 Wilson, Matt TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h28'44" @ s/t
11 82 Rabunal, Gonzalo KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h28'48"
12 54 Maes, Nikolas TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h28'48" @ s/t
13 116 Evans, Kevin MTN MTN Energade 3h28'48" @ s/t
14 25 Mazzanti, Luca TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h28'50" @01'46"
15 106 Rabou, Thomas RB3 Rabobank 3h28'50" @ s/t
16 23 Gottfried, Alexander TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h28'55"
17 65 Fleeman, Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h28'56" @01'52"
18 103 Berkhout, Thomas RB3 Rabobank 3h29'03" @01'59"
19 53 Hovelijnck, Kurt TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h29'03" @ s/t
20 74 Aiken, Roger IRL Irish National Team 3h29'03" @ s/t
21 101 Aernouts, Bart RB3 Rabobank 3h29'03" @ s/t
22 83 Mouron, Juan Francisco KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h29'03"
23 51 Coenen, Johan TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h29'03" @ s/t
24 45 Kobzarenko, Valeriy TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h29'03"
25 122 House, Kristian RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 3h29'03"
26 64 Lloyd, Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h29'03" @ s/t
27 22 Klimov, Serguei TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h29'03" @ s/t
28 154 Jennings, Cameron PZR Pezula 3h29'21" @02'17"
29 112 George, David MTN MTN Energade 3h29'24" @02'20"
30 55 Neyens, Maarten TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h30'09" @03'05"
31 94 Walker, Johnnie SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 3h30'12" @03'08"
32 95 Semple, Adam SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 3h30'12" @ s/t
33 92 Sulzberger, Wesley SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 3h30'15" @03'11"
34 93 Meyer, Travis SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 3h30'15" @ s/t
35 17 Lowe, Trent TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h30'15" @ s/t
36 125 Briggs, Graham RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 3h31'59"
37 57 Renders, Sven TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h31'59" @ s/t
38 32 Priamo, Matteo CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h31'59" @ s/t
39 104 Van Poppel, Boy RB3 Rabobank 3h31'59" @ s/t
40 42 Surutkovych, Alex, TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h32'33"
41 102 Adams, Joeri RB3 Rabobank 3h34'48" @07'44"
42 81 Troncoso, Ramon KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h34'48"
43 152 Power, Ciaran PZR Pezula 3h36'11" @09'07"
44 61 O'Brien, Paidi SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h36'11" @ s/t
45 67 De Schrooder, Benny SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h36'11"
46 141 Kristoff, Alexander TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h39'15" @12'11"
47 56 Nolf, Frederiek TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h39'15" @ s/t
48 111 MacDonald, Neil MTN MTN Energade 3h39'15" @ s/t
49 105 Sinkeldam, Ramon RB3 Rabobank 3h39'29" @12'25"
50 132 Elliott, Malcom POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h39'29" @ s/t
51 62 Cassidy, Mark SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h39'29" @ s/t
52 145 Vold, Svein Erik TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h39'29" @ s/t
53 87 Paleo, Alejandro KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h42'00"
54 76 Concannon, Miceal IRL Irish National Team 3h43'47" @16'43"
55 72 Griffin, Paul IRL Irish National Team 3h43'47" @ s/t
56 77 O'Sullivan, Stephen IRL Irish National Team 3h43'47" @ s/t
57 121 Downing, Dean RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 3h43'47"

Non starters/finishers/eliminated Riders
Did Not Finish: 1-Cavendish, M, 2-Eisel, B, 5-Possoni, M, 11-Millar, D, 14-Backstedt, M, 16-Maaskant, M, 24-Chernetskiy, I, 26-Riccio, B, 31-Savini, F, 33-Tomei, F, 35-Richeze, M, 36-Richeze, M, 43-Calabria, F, 47-Abraham, E, 52-De Haes, K,
63-Gallagher, S, 66-Lisabett, K, 73-Healion, P, 75-Lacey, S, 96-King, M, 97-Dempster, Z, 107-Van Staeyen, M, 114-Thomson, J, 117-van Heerden, J, 124-Partridge, R, 126-Appleby, D, 127-Holt, S, 133-Roche, A, 134-Davis, L, 135-Murray, T, 136-Williams, P,
137-Kipling, M, 144-Bohler, J, 146-Wilman, F, 147-Sommerseth, S, 155-Wetterhall, A, 157-Irvine, M

Primes
KOM Cat 3: Crohane
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 106 Rabou, T RB3 6pts
2 56 Nolf, F TSV 4pts
3 24 Chernetskiy, I TCS 2pts
4 6 Rabon, F THR 1pt

An Post Sprint: Blarney
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 24 Chernetskiy, I TCS 5pts 3"
2 156 Ericsson, F PZR 3pts 2"
3 6 Rabon, F THR 2pts 1"
4 135 Murray, T POT 1pt

KOM Cat 1: St Patricks Hill 1st Passage
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 6 Rabon, F THR 15pts
2 156 Ericsson, F PZR 12pts
3 24 Chernetskiy, I TCS 10pts
4 16 Maaskant, M TSL 8pts
5 152 Power, C PZR 6pts
6 104 Van Poppel, B RB3 4pts
7 122 House, K RCR 2pts
8 111 MacDonald, N MTN 1pt

An Post Sprint: McCurtain Street 1
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 6 Rabon, F THR 5pts 3"
2 156 Ericsson, F PZR 3pts 2"
3 23 Gottfried, A TCS 2pts 1"
4 83 Mouron, J KGZ 1pt

KOM Cat 1: St Patricks Hill 3rd Passage
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 6 Rabon, F THR 15pts
2 156 Ericsson, F PZR 12pts
3 15 Dean, J TSL 10pts
4 46 Wilson, M TT1 8pts
5 7 Barry, M THR 6pts
6 131 Downing, R POT 4pts
7 91 Clarke, S SAI 2pts
8 142 Nordhaug, L TMB 1pt

An Post Sprint: McCurtain Street 2
PL No, Name Tm Pts Sec
1 156 Ericsson, F PZR 5pts 3"
2 6 Rabon, F THR 3pts 2"
3 7 Barry, M THR 2pts 1"
4 17 Lowe, T TSL 1pt

Final General Classification
PL No, UCI Code Name TM Team GC Time @
1 4 Pinotti, Marco THR Team Columbia 21h43'16"
2 131 Downing, Russell POT Pinarello CandiTV 21h43'35" @19"
3 15 Dean, Julian TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 21h43'37" @21"
4 46 Wilson, Matt TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 21h43'49" @33"
5 7 Barry, Michael THR Team Columbia 21h43'52" @36"
6 91 Clarke, Simon SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 21h43'53" @37"
7 142 Nordhaug, Lars Petter TMB Joker Bianchi Team 21h43'53" = s/t
8 82 Rabunal, Gonzalo KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 21h43'54" @38"
9 54 Maes, Nikolas TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 21h44'00" @44"
10 116 Evans, Kevin MTN MTN Energade 21h44'00" = s/t
11 25 Mazzanti, Luca TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 21h44'02" @46"
12 23 Gottfried, Alexander TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 21h44'06" @50"
13 65 Fleeman, Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 21h44'08" @52"
14 53 Hovelijnck, Kurt TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 21h44'10" @54"
15 64 Lloyd, Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 21h44'12" @56"
16 45 Kobzarenko, Valeriy TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 21h44'15" @59"
17 22 Klimov, Serguei TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 21h44'15" = s/t
18 51 Coenen, Johan TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 21h44'15" = s/t
19 106 Rabou, Thomas RB3 Rabobank 21h44'24" @01'08"
20 92 Sulzberger, Wesley SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 21h46'25" @03'09"
21 122 House, Kristian RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 21h48'25" @05'09"
22 74 Aiken, Roger IRL Irish National Team 21h48'25" = s/t
23 95 Semple, Adam SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 21h49'34" @06'18"
24 102 Adams, Joeri RB3 Rabobank 21h50'59" @07'43"
25 27 Graziato, Massimo TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 21h52'31" @09'15"
26 83 Mouron, Juan Francisco KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 21h52'50" @09'34"
27 154 Jennings, Cameron PZR Pezula 21h53'08" @09'52"
28 103 Berkhout, Thomas RB3 Rabobank 21h53'12" @09'56"
29 17 Lowe, Trent TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 21h54'02" @10'46"
30 101 Aernouts, Bart RB3 Rabobank 21h55'23" @12'07"
31 104 Van Poppel, Boy RB3 Rabobank 21h55'46" @12'30"
32 32 Priamo, Matteo CSF CSF Group Navigare 21h55'46" = s/t
33 94 Walker, Johnnie SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 21h56'32" @13'16"
34 62 Cassidy, Mark SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 21h56'45" @13'29"
35 93 Meyer, Travis SAI SouthAustralia, com/AIS 21h57'25" @14'09"
36 57 Renders, Sven TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 21h58'50" @15'34"
37 152 Power, Ciaran PZR Pezula 22h00'18" @17'02"
38 156 Ericsson, Fredrik PZR Pezula 22h00'39" @17'23"
39 42 Surutkovych, Alex, TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 22h01'35" @18'19"
40 141 Kristoff, Alexander TMB Joker Bianchi Team 22h02'53" @19'37"
41 132 Elliott, Malcom POT Pinarello CandiTV 22h03'16" @20'00"
42 105 Sinkeldam, Ramon RB3 Rabobank 22h03'16" = s/t
43 6 Rabon, Frantisek THR Team Columbia 22h03'17" @20'01"
44 55 Neyens, Maarten TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 22h04'23" @21'07"
45 81 Troncoso, Ramon KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 22h04'35" @21'19"
46 111 MacDonald, Neil MTN MTN Energade 22h08'39" @25'23"
47 112 George, David MTN MTN Energade 22h09'28" @26'12"
48 56 Nolf, Frederiek TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 22h11'50" @28'34"
49 67 De Schrooder, Benny SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 22h12'32"
50 121 Downing, Dean RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 22h16'22" @33'06"
51 125 Briggs, Graham RCR Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk 22h17'05" @33'49"
52 61 O'Brien, Paidi SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 22h18'26" @35'10"
53 145 Vold, Svein Erik TMB Joker Bianchi Team 22h21'44" @38'28"
54 72 Griffin, Paul IRL Irish National Team 22h22'33" @39'17"
55 87 Paleo, Alejandro KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 22h23'25" @40'09"
56 76 Concannon, Miceal IRL Irish National Team 22h26'22" @43'06"
57 77 O'Sullivan, Stephen IRL Irish National Team 22h40'08" @56'52"

Finnal U25 Rider Overall
PL No, Name TM Time
1 91 Clarke, S SAI = 21h43'53"
2 142 Nordhaug, L TMB @
3 82 Rabunal, G KGZ @ 01"
4 54 Maes, N TSV @ 07"
5 23 Gottfried, A TCS @ 13"
6 106 Rabou, T RB3 @ 31"
7 92 Sulzberger, W SAI @ 02'32"
8 95 Semple, A SAI @ 05'41"
9 102 Adams, J RB3 @ 07'06"
10 27 Graziato, M TCS @ 08'38"
11 83 Mouron, J KGZ @ 08'57"
12 103 Berkhout, T RB3 @ 09'19"
13 17 Lowe, T TSL @ 10'09"
14 104 Van Poppel, B RB3 @ 11'53"
15 94 Walker, J SAI @ 12'39"
16 62 Cassidy, M SKT @ 12'52"
17 93 Meyer, T SAI @ 13'32"
18 42 Surutkovych, A TT1 @ 17'42"
19 141 Kristoff, A TMB @ 19'00"
20 105 Sinkeldam, R RB3 @ 19'23"
21 6 Rabon, F THR @ 19'24"
22 55 Neyens, M TSV @ 20'30"
23 56 Nolf, F TSV @ 27'57"
24 61 O'Brien, P SKT @ 34'33"
25 145 Vold, S TMB @ 37'51"
26 76 Concannon, M IRL @ 42'29"

Final Team General Classification
PL Name Time
1 Team Columbia 65h09'29"
2 Tinkoff - Credit Systems @ 02'36"
3 Topsport Vlaanderen @ 03'01"
4 SouthAustralia, com/AIS @ 10'24"
5 Team Type 1 Cycling Team @ 10'37"
6 An Post Sean Kelly Team @ 12'21"
7 Rabobank @ 12'37"
8 Karpin Galicia Cycling Team @ 19'25"
9 MTN Energade @ 24'47"
10 Joker Bianchi Team @ 32'07"
11 Pezula @ 35'48"
12 Rapha Condor Recycling, co, uk @ 42'16"
13 Irish National Team @ 1h07'50"

Final An Post Points Competition
PL No, Name TM Pts
1 131 Downing, R POT 64
2 15 Dean, J TSL 54
3 141 Kristoff, A TMB 45
4 156 Ericsson, F PZR 40
5 54 Maes, N TSV 26
6 104 Van Poppel, B RB3 26

Final Mountains Competition
PL No, Name TM Pts
1 46 Wilson, M TT1 87
2 112 George, D MTN 37
3 156 Ericsson, F PZR 36
4 6 Rabon, F THR 32
5 93 Meyer, T SAI 21

Stages
Stage 1: Dublin to Waterford, 192km - Wednesday 27th August
Stage 2: Thurles to Loughrea, 158km – Thursday 28th August
Stage 3: Ballinrobe – Galway, 201km – Friday 29th August
Stage 4: Limerick to Dingle, 186km – Saturday 30th August
Stage 5: Killarney to Cork, 155km - Sunday 31st August

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