FBD Insurance Rás - Stage 8

FBD Insurance Rás - Stage 8.

British rider Simon Richardson took his biggest professional victory today when he won the FBD Insurance Rás in Skerries. The Rapha Condor rider was delayed due to a crash inside the final three kilometres but, as per UCI rules, all the riders affected were given the same time as the stage winner.Regardless of that, Richardson had a very comfortable cushion over runner-up Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken), starting the day two minutes and 49 seconds clear of him and a further thirteen seconds up on Jan Barta (Austria Arbo KTM Junkers). Richardson's Rapha Condor team controlled things and no breakaway group succeeded in gaining significant time during the 150 kilometre race from Clara. In the stage itself, quadruple Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant Veolia) took his second stage victory of the race when he won the big gallop to the line.He beat Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) and Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) into second and third. Russell Downing (Britain Candi TV Marshall's Pasta), Eeckhout's closest rival in the points classification, finished fourth meaning the former Belgian champion ended up winning that prize. Team-mate David O'Loughlin had a crash early on but recovered and successfully retained the pink jersey of the King of the Mountains. The Mayo rider finished tenth overall, two places behind the best-placed Irish competitor David McCann.The home riders had an aggressive showing on the stage, with both Brian Kenneally (Meath Engraveit.ie) and Mark Cassidy (Ireland An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) going on the attack in separate groups. While they were unable to stay clear, Kenneally had the consolation of winning the best county rider classification.