May 24, 2007 (Bauncrana, Ireland) – On an epic day in the FBD Insurance Ras, the Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team weathered steady rain, howling winds and a concerted effort to unseat their hold on the front of the race. At the end of the stage, and after braving Ireland’s most difficult climb, race leader Jesse Anthony dropped to third in the general classification 36 seconds behind the new race leader. Anthony will ride in the white Best Young Rider jersey and Dominique Rollin in the green Points Leader’s jersey. With three stages remaining, the team has three riders within striking distance of the lead

In the morning when the Team arrived at the staging area in Dungloe, overlooking the rugged Atlantic coast, a heavy fog was beginning the transformation from drizzle to a steady rain. The winds coming off the ocean were so strong, two flags on display at the host hotel had torn eyelets and were blown straight out to the east. Riders from around the world milled around in winter jackets and riding gear and there was an atmosphere of both anticipation and apprehension.

After a two kilometer neutral parade out of the small village, the field hit the race start and immediately faced a blistering attack into the crosswinds by the Irish Murphy & Gunn and German Thuringer Energy teams. As the field raced toward the day’s first KOM which began at the seven kilometer mark, the field shattered under the immediate pressure. Only minutes into the race the roadway was littered with small groups of riders strung out with the stress of four consecutive days of racing on full display. Riders from the Kodak Gallery Pro Cycling Team controlled the early attacks and set up Jesse Anthony who sprinted to take the day’s first KOM.

Over the top of the climb, one man attacked and formed a small gap on the field. He was joined by two others moments later and by two more over the next few kilometers. Soon, the five men joined together and focused their efforts on escaping the grasp Kodak Gallery has had on the field for the first four stages.

For the remainder of the stage, all five Kodak Gallery riders, including two who suffered though a bout of food poisoning during the stage, drove the pace in full pursuit of the race leaders. After several intermediate climbs, the race approached the legendary Mamore Gap, Ireland’s steepest road. The roads leading to the climb were so narrow that cars in the cavalcade had to drive precariously close to the edge of the road surface to allow cyclists and support motorcycles past. After one particularly narrow section lined by tall bushes, riders emerged from a strong left-hand turn to face a series of switch-back turns that climbed violently towards a second and third pitch, each steeper than the last.

The strongest riders in race ground to a near halt as they fought to keep their bicycles moving upward into the dumping clouds. Dozens of hearty fans lined the road to witness the epic struggle and to cheer the racers. Behind, the race caravan crept upwards through the rain, fog and acrid smell of burning clutches and overheating motorcycles.

Clear of the summit, racers hurtled themselves towards the finish line at speeds approaching 60 mph. At the end of the stage, Nico Graf (Thuringer Energy) crossed the line first and was closely followed by Paidi O’Brein (Murphy & Gunn) and Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands). Anthony arrived in 10th position at 1:22 back. With his previous time advantage, Anthony dropped to 3rd place in the general classification, only 36 seconds out of yellow. Teammate Dominique Rollin rode impressively for a large sprinter, arriving at the line in 17th position 1:46 back and landing in 6th overall only 1:04 down. Mark Walters is less than three minutes back.

After the race, Rollin offered his perspective on the difficult climbing stage, “Today I felt like an elephant climbing a tree. The race is still wide open and I still have a good lead on the green jersey. Hopefully on Friday’s stage, I can increase that lead and maybe grab another stage win.”

Team director, Kurt Stockton spoke of the test the stage presented, “Today was a true ‘hard men of the Ras’ day! Anyone who even finished today was a champion. I am very proud of our guys – we defended the yellow jersey with honor. Jesse didn’t leave anything on the course – right down to taking the last corner of the race with a foot out of the pedal and sliding sideways to avoid a rider who crashed in front of him. There are a lot of tender legs in the field thanks to the efforts of our guys today. We’re excited for the next three days of racing.”

The Ras continues on Friday with Stage 6 from Buncrana to Derry.

Results

1. Nico Graf (Ger) Thuringer Energy 3.12.17 (42.25 km/h)
2. Paidi O’Brien (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 0.01
3. Ricardo Van der Velde (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 0.04
4. Chris Newton (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 0.42
5. Tony Martin (Ger) Thuringer Energy
6. David McCann (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh 1.13
7. Stephen Gallagher (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly
8. Glenn Bak (Den) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 1.21
9. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Thuringer Energy
10. Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 1.22
11. Alain Van der Velde (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23
12. Florian Frohn (Ger) Thuringer Energy
13. Peter McDonald (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
14. Jason Hegert (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
15. Peter Herzig (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
16. René Birkenfeld (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 1.46
17. Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada
18. Silvar Kibur (Est) Kalev Chocolate
19. Wayne Randle (GBr) Team Sportscover
20. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 1.47
21. Mark Cassidy (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly
22. Marcin Bialoblocki (GBr) Team Sportscover 2.19
23. Roger Aiken (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev
24. Rory Wyley (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey 2.22
25. Brian Kenneally (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
26. Yvo Kusters (Ned) Netherlands National Team 2.34
27. Mark Walters (Can) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada
28. Ben Raby (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada
29. Johannes Sickmuller (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht
30. Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
31. Marcel Barth (Ger) Thuringer Energy
32. Andrei Mustonen (Est) Kalev Chocolate
33. Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23
34. Eugene Moriarty (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
35. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
36. Paul Griffin (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh
37. Mart Ojavee (Est) Kalev Chocolate
38. Yannick Tiedt (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 2.53
39. Dennis Kreder (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 4.16
40. Michael Johansen (Den) Vision Bikes
41. Benjamin Hill (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht
42. Josh Thornton (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 9.51
43. Dominique Perras (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies 11.3
44. Thomas Bendixen (Den) Vision Bikes 13.57
45. Alo Jakin (Est) Kalev Chocolate
46. Isaac Speirs (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 14.31
47. Ryan Bonser (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling
48. Adam Armstrong (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 15.08
49. Paul Vaughan (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 15.23
50. Zdenek Krizek (Cze) Sparta Praha
51. Matthew Ward (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 16.08
52. Ciaran Cassidy (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 16.09
53. Ashley Brown (GBr) Team Sportscover
54. Sean Lacey (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn
55. Neil Delahaye (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations
56. Patrick Moriarty (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd
57. Markku Ainsalu (Est) Kalev Chocolate 16.13
58. Chris Jory (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS 16.23
59. Brendan Brooks (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
60. Petr Pucelik (Cze) Sparta Praha
61. Josef Soukup (Cze) Sparta Praha
62. Ondrej Pavek (Cze) Sparta Praha
63. Graham Briggs (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling
64. Alan Carey (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations
65. Matthew Green (GBr) Surrey
66. Simon Kelly (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly
67. Mark Lovatt (GBr) Team Sportscover
68. Benjamin Justesen (Den) Vision Bikes
69. Conor Murphy (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations
70. Mark Nestor (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 17
71. Sonke Thiel (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht
72. Brian Ahern (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers
73. Miceál Concannon (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond
74. John Charlsworth (GBr) Team Sportscover
75. Simon Jensen (Den) Vision Bikes
76. Dermot Nally (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh
77. David Brennan (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond
78. Daire McCaughley (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev 17.3
79. Tomas Hruby (Cze) Sparta Praha
80. Michael Butler (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 17.57
81. Cormac O’Shea (Irl) Kildare Newbridge ReMax 18.2
82. Michael Fitzgerald (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
83. Raymond Clarke (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
84. Martyn Irvine (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh
85. Padraig Marrey (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn
86. Simon Holt (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling
87. Derek Burke (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn
88. Tom Diggle (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling
89. Scott McDonald (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
90. Mads Bugge (Den) Vision Bikes
91. Ronan McLaughlin (Irl) Down Mar Properties 23.18
92. Kevin Donagher (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers
93. Hugh Mulhearne (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
94. Paul Wright (GBr) North England West Pennine 24.07
95. Chris Belsham (GBr) North England West Pennine
96. Mick Mulcahy (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 24.11
97. Paul Delahunty (NZl) Surrey 24.13
98. Craig Sweetman (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways
99. David Peelo (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys
100. Frank O’Leary (Irl) Kildare Newbridge ReMax
101. Robin Kelly (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 25.04
102. Toby Neave (GBr) Surrey 25.09
103. Thomas O’Flaherty (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 25.31
104. John O’Brien (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
105. Ben Pochee (GBr) Surrey
106. Brian Taaffe (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways
107. Richard Simmonds (GBr) Surrey
108. Adrian Hederman (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways
109. Nick Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies
110. Michael Hennessy (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd
111. Stephen O’Sullivan (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
112. Jonathan Gormley (Irl) Down Mar Properties
113. Aidan Crowley (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
114. Nathan Jones (Aus) Kildare Newbridge ReMax
115. Conor McGrath (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 26.49
116. Tom Fanning (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC
117. Michael O’Reilly (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd
118. Barry Mullin (Irl) Down Mar Properties
119. Frank O’Connor (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 34.36
120. Dave McLoughlin (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 36.38
121. Colm Bracken (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys
122. Peter Hey (GBr) North England West Pennine
123. Ben Lieberson (GBr) Cork Omega Designs Ltd
124. James Lattimore (Irl) Dublin Eurocycles -Eurobaby 37.16
125. John-Paul Lyons (Irl) Dublin Eurocycles -Eurobaby 40.48
126. Frank Dunne (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 41.56
127. Tony Kemp (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd 42
128. Don Feighery (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 42.59
129. Stephen Surdival (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 45.27
130. Noel McGlynn (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 46.49
131. Richard Eastham (GBr) North England West Pennine
132. Colm Ahern (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers
133. Brendan Kirk (Irl) Down Mar Properties
DNF Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh
DNF Kieran Downey (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev
DNF David Mulholland (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev
DNS Llewellyn Byrne (Irl) North England West Pennine

GC after Stage 5

1. Tony Martin (Ger) Thuringer Energy 17.37.20
2. Paidi O’Brien (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 0.17
3. Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 0.36
4. Peter McDonald (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS 0.4
5. Chris Newton (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 1.02
6. Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 1.04
7. Mark Cassidy (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 1.05
8. David McCann (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh 1.35
9. Stephen Gallagher (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly
10. Brian Kenneally (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC 1.38
11. Patrick Gretsch (Ger) Thuringer Energy 1.43
12. Alain Van der Velde (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 1.44
13. Jason Hegert (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
14. Peter Herzig (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS
15. Yvo Kusters (Ned) Netherlands National Team 1.52
16. Paul Griffin (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh
17. Ryan Roth (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast
18. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 2.09
19. Rory Wyley (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey 2.44
20. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 2.45
21. Florian Frohn (Ger) Thuringer Energy 2.52
22. Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 2.56
23. Mark Walters (Can) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada
24. Roger Aiken (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev 3.31
25. Glenn Bak (Den) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 3.45
26. Michael Johansen (Den) Vision Bikes 4.37
27. Benjamin Hill (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 4.38
28. Josh Thornton (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 10.31
29. Marcel Barth (Ger) Thuringer Energy 12.54
30. Johannes Sickmuller (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 13.07
31. Dominique Perras (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast 13.37
32. Thomas Bendixen (Den) Vision Bikes 14.19
33. Zdenek Krizek (Cze) Sparta Praha 15.45
34. Neil Delahaye (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 16.31
35. Ondrej Pavek (Cze) Sparta Praha 16.43
36. Chris Jory (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS 16.45
37. Josef Soukup (Cze) Sparta Praha
38. Markku Ainsalu (Est) Kalev Chocolate
39. Yannick Tiedt (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 16.49
40. Petr Pucelik (Cze) Sparta Praha 17.01
41. Sean Lacey (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 17.25
42. Graham Briggs (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 18.3
43. Brian Ahern (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 18.39
44. Ricardo Van der Velde (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 19.1
45. Patrick Moriarty (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd 19.33
46. Nico Graf (Ger) Thuringer Energy 20.17
47. René Birkenfeld (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 21.24
48. Wayne Randle (GBr) Team Sportscover 22.03
49. Silvar Kibur (Est) Kalev Chocolate
50. Marcin Bialoblocki (GBr) Team Sportscover 22.36
51. Alo Jakin (Est) Kalev Chocolate
52. Mart Ojavee (Est) Kalev Chocolate 22.41
53. Ben Raby (USA) Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada 22.51
54. Eugene Moriarty (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC
55. Andrei Mustonen (Est) Kalev Chocolate 23.3
56. Dennis Kreder (Ned) Netherlands National Team U23 23.39
57. Simon Jensen (Den) Vision Bikes 27.2
58. Ryan Bonser (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 27.26
59. Stephen O’Sullivan (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC 27.38
60. Tomas Hruby (Cze) Sparta Praha 27.5
61. Ashley Brown (GBr) Team Sportscover 28.28
62. Tom Diggle (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 30.39
63. Adam Armstrong (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 35.25
64. Mick Mulcahy (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 35.41
65. Isaac Speirs (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 36.05
66. David Peelo (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 36.32
67. Brendan Brooks (Aus) FRF Couriers NSWIS 36.4
68. Conor Murphy (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations
69. Mark Lovatt (GBr) Team Sportscover
70. Benjamin Justesen (Den) Vision Bikes 36.59
71. Dermot Nally (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh 37.17
72. Ben Pochee (GBr) Surrey 37
73. John O’Brien (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
74. Sonke Thiel (Ger) Stevens-Von Hacht 38.27
75. David Brennan (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 38.34
76. John Charlsworth (GBr) Team Sportscover
77. Simon Holt (GBr) Stena Line / Recycling 38
78. Michael Fitzgerald (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey
79. Simon Kelly (Irl) Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M. Donnelly-Sean Kelly 38.38
80. Alan Carey (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 38.39
81. Mads Bugge (Den) Vision Bikes 38.54
82. Tom Fanning (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 39.55
83. Michael Butler (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 40.13
84. Scott McDonald (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC 40.36
85. Matthew Ward (Irl) Dublin Usher Insulations 40.56
86. Derek Burke (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 42.42
87. Martyn Irvine (Irl) Ireland Subway Eat Fresh 43.52
88. Hugh Mulhearne (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey 45.06
89. Craig Sweetman (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 46.29
90. Nathan Jones (Aus) Kildare Newbridge ReMax 46.46
91. Matthew Green (GBr) Surrey 47.16
92. Nick Waite (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies 47.47
93. Conor McGrath (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 49
94. Michael O’Reilly (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd
95. Paul Wright (GBr) North England West Pennine 50.07
96. Daire McCaughley (Irl) Armagh Big Picture Dev 51.32
97. Mark Nestor (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 53.02
98. Padraig Marrey (Irl) Dublin Murphy & Gunn Newlyn 55.04
99. Richard Simmonds (GBr) Surrey 55.36
100. Paul Vaughan (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 56.31
101. Ciaran Cassidy (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 57.17
102. Miceál Concannon (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 58.08
103. Raymond Clarke (Irl) Tipperary Dan Morrissey 59.24
104. Ronan McLaughlin (Irl) Down Mar Properties 1.04.24
105. Cormac O’Shea (Irl) Kildare Newbridge ReMax 1.15.16
106. Aidan Crowley (Irl) Meath Myhome.ie/BDBC 1.17.39
107. Kevin Donagher (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 1.19.33
108. Chris Belsham (GBr) North England West Pennine 1.19.40
109. Paul Delahunty (NZl) Surrey 1.24.58
110. Richard Eastham (GBr) North England West Pennine 1.27.39
111. Michael Hennessy (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd 1.36.13
112. Brian Taaffe (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 1.36.47
113. Toby Neave (GBr) Surrey 1.47.17
114. Colm Bracken (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 1.47.20
115. Robin Kelly (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 1.52.04
116. Adrian Hederman (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 1.54.24
117. Stephen Surdival (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 1.56.20
118. James Lattimore (Irl) Dublin Eurocycles -Eurobaby 1.56.29
119. Noel McGlynn (Irl) Kildare Murphy Surveys 2.07.26
120. Barry Mullin (Irl) Down Mar Properties 2.14.30
121. Don Feighery (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 2.14.36
122. Ben Lieberson (GBr) Cork Omega Designs Ltd 2.15.53
123. Frank O’Connor (Irl) Meath M.Donnelly Cycleways 2.16.32
124. Thomas O’Flaherty (Irl) Kerry Earl Of Desmond 2.20.17
125. Peter Hey (GBr) North England West Pennine 2.32.53
126. Dave McLoughlin (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 2.33.12
127. Frank O’Leary (Irl) Kildare Newbridge ReMax 2.38.36
128. Jonathan Gormley (Irl) Down Mar Properties 2.39.54
129. Colm Ahern (Irl) Dublin DTC Orwell Wheelers 2.44.19
130. Tony Kemp (Irl) Cork Omega Designs Ltd 2.49.35
131. John-Paul Lyons (Irl) Dublin Eurocycles -Eurobaby 2.55.11
132. Frank Dunne (Irl) Waterford Comeragh CC 2.56.19
133. Brendan Kirk (Irl) Down Mar Properties 3.01.12