Rás Tailteann 2018

Taylor Shelden | Jacob Rathe | Curtis Whgite | Ben Wolfe | Ulises Castillo

©INPHO Bryan Keane

Ben Wolfe drove a break that stayed away until the final 600 meters on Stage 1. Ben Held on for 7th on the day.

©INPHO Bryan Keane

Stage 2 from Athlone to Tipperary brought wet and wild full-gas from the gun racing through narrow country lanes. Just what The Team are at Rás Tailteann for. Ben Wolfe finished strong to move to 5th in GC. Taylor Shelden spent some time in one of the day’s many breaks

Check out team mechanic Kevin Oliveira’s view racing through narrow wet lanes near Birr on Stage 2 at Rás Tailteann. Thanks to Noel from Connacht Cycling for taking care of The Team’s driving this week!

STAGE 3

©INPHO Bryan Keane

STAGE 4

©INPHO Bryan Keane

The peloton descends Healy Pass. Seven categorized climbs reduced the field to 25 riders on Stage 4. Tito won the only Cat 1 KOM and moves to 3rd in KOM. Curtis crashed at a difficult place to swap bikes and get back in, but finished inside time cut. Kevin has built Curtis a new bike and he will start Stage 5. Jacob was 4th on the stage and Ben remains 5th in GC with four stages remaining. Glengariff, Stage 4’s finish, was the most southern point of the 2018 route.

©INPHO Bryan Keane

Stage 5 saw Taylor Shelden in a move that was caught just outside Mitchelstown and Jacob Rathe take a solo flyer that had 10 seconds’ advantage in the final kilometers. Alas, Rathe was caught inside of 100 meters to go. Ulises Castillo finished 9th on the day and Ben Wolfe retains 5th in GC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKziYXhMZO/?taken-by=jellybellycycling