Stage 5 of Rás Tailteann took the riders from Kildare Town to Bective over a distance of 142.8kms.
The stage was won by Josh Charlton (Great Britain CT), while CC Isle of Man’s George Kimber secured yellow having successfully defended his lead since Stage 4.
Jamie Meehan from Team Ireland finished 2nd on GC 5 seconds back with Odhran Doogan from Cycling Ulster completing the podium 22 seconds off the 70th edition winner's time.
All eyes on were on the battle for yellow as the race headed to the finish in Bective!
How Stage 5 unfolded...
The riders rolled out from Kildare Town for the final day of this year’s epic race.
With George Kimber (CC Isle of Man) leading the general classification by just five seconds over Jamie Meehan (Team Ireland), and Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster) 22 seconds back, the stage promised fireworks.
10kms raced and the pace was ferocious! The peloton has just passed through Kilmeague and Daire Feeley (Burren CC) was lighting it up at the front with an early attack.
Racing was in full swing, and a breakaway of four riders formed around the 15km mark: Cameron McLaren (TAAP Kalas), Dean Harvey (Team Ireland), Daire Feeley (Burren CC), and Patrick O’Loughlin (Pinergy–Orwell Wheelers).
10kms raced and the pace was ferocious!
The gap grew to 30 seconds, with Feeley, the 2022 Rás winner, posing a GC threat at under a minute down overall.
The peloton, driven by Kimber’s CC Isle of Man remaining 2 teammates and Great Britain CT, were keeping a tight leash on the breakaway.
As the race passed through Allenwood after about 30kms of racing the breakaway’s lead had grown to about a minute. Dean Harvey’s aggressive pace was testing the peloton’s resolve.
Crosswinds near Derrinturn caused minor splits, but Kimber’s team quickly reorganized to protect the yellow jersey along with their allies of circumstance Great Britain CT, eyeing the flat finish in Bective for Josh Charlton.
Nearing Johnstown Bridge after approximately 50 kms, the gap had stabilized at 1 minute 20 seconds with Feeley and Harvey driving hard, with Mc Laren and O’Loughlin struggling to match their tempo.
Behind, Team Ireland’s Meehan, chasing GC gains, contributed to the chase, narrowing the lead slightly.
Local rider Adam Gilsenan (Bohermeen CC) took maximum points on Quarry Hill KOM, the stage’s only categorized climb, with Feeley second.
The peloton, now 50 seconds back, was led by Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, setting up for a potential bunch sprint.
Tim Shorman having already won 2 stages this year was looking to replicate his 2024 final stage victory on the same circuit.
The breakaway’s lead began to erode as the race the finishing circuit approached.
With 30 km to go near Trim, the breakaway swelled to 14 riders as opportunists like European pursuit champion Josh Charlton (Great Britain CT), Mark Downey Banbridge CC Specsavers, and Ruairí Byrne Team Ireland bridged across.
Kimber’s team and Team Ireland driving the pace to protect their respective GC positions. The gap dropped to 25 seconds, setting up a tense finale on Bective’s four-lap, 12 km finishing circuit.
Charlton launched his decisive solo attack from the breakaway just before entering the final Bective circuit with approximately 12kms to go.
His gap quickly grew to 15 seconds, with the peloton reeling in the remaining breakaway riders.
Kimber, Meehan, and Doogan safe in the bunch, setting the stage for Charlton’s eventual 58-second stage win and Kimber to be crowned the 70th edition’s champion.
In the general classification, George Kimber CC Isle of Man took the biggest win of his career, holding on to the Bective Stud Yellow Jersey that he’d so valiantly defended. A landmark win for the 25-year-old Brit.
Odhran Doogan's 3rd place secured him the City Break Apartments Green Points Jersey.
Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) claimed the Irish Independent Mountains Jersey that he made his own since Stage 1.
Odhran Doogan (Cycling Ulster) took the Sport Ireland County Rider Jersey.
Jamie Meehan (Team Ireland) won the Spin 11 U23 Jersey Classification.
Josh Chrlton (Great Britain CT) Stage 5 winner.
John Buller's 2nd place in the srpint earned him the Festina County Stage prize winner.
Full Stage 1 Results and Classifications.
Full Stage 2 Results and Classifications.
Full Stage 3 Results and Classifications.
Full Stage 4 Results and Classifications.
Full Stage 5 Results and Classifications.
Charlton launched his decisive solo attack from the breakaway just before entering the final Bective circuit with approximately 12kms to go.
