CYCLING

Gate remains in touch in An Post RAS Tour of Ireland

By Sports Media NZ

New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate remains in contention midway through the An Post RAS Tour of Ireland.
Gate is part of the Cycling New Zealand endurance track squad who are using the tour as part of their preparations towards the Rio Olympics, with the Aucklander competing for his An Post Chain Reaction professional team.

He finished third just behind the winner in the 163km fourth stage to Sneem on the south west coast of Ireland, and remains five second behind tour leader Clemens Fankhouser (AUT) on general classification.

There were several breakaways but none seriously threatened survival despite the testing terrain that included five categorised climbs.

Unexpectedly it became a bunch sprint with Denmark’s Nicolai Brochner prevailing in the uphill sprint ahead of Belgium’s Emiel Wastyn and Gate, who recorded the same time as the winner.


Hayden Roulston in action while riders pass along the south west coast on stage four of the An Post RAS Tour of Ireland. Photo © Inpho Photography

Track endurance squad riders Dylan Kennett and Regan Gough along with fellow Kiwi Taylor Gunman (Madison Genesis) finished safely in the peloton while Hayden Roulston was 54 seconds back after again riding prominently with Piet Bulling and Nick Kergozou further back.

Gate is third on general classification five seconds behind the leader with Gunman at 19 seconds in 11^th, Gough at 1:11 in 19^th and Kennett at 1:45 behind the leader in 23^rd.

Gough is fifth and Kennett sixth overall in the young rider classification.

Tomorrow’s fifth of eight stages is 148kms along the southern coast of Ireland to Clonakilty, featuring five categorised.

Results: An Post RAS, stage 3 (Dingle to Sneem, 163km): Nicolai Brochner (DEN) 3:52:54, 1; Emiel Wastyn (BEL) same time, 2; Aaron Gate (NZL) st, 3.
Other New Zealand riders: Dylan Kennett same time, 27; Taylor Gunman (Madison Genesis) st, 30; Regan Gough st, 42; Hayden Roulston @ 54s, 46; Piet Bulling @ 4:46, 83; Nick Kergozou at 17:11, 108.
General classification after 3 stages: Clemens Fankhouser (AUT) 1; Jai Hindley (AUS) at 3s, 2; Aaron Gate (NZL) at 5s, 3. Also: Gunman at 19s, 11; Gough at 1:11, 19; Kennett at 1:45, 23; Roulston at 3:06, 343; Bulling at 29:2741, 92; Kergozou at 30:58, 95;

Website: www.cyclingnewzealand.nz