Breakaway

How do you judge a successful break? When it helps you to win the day? When it helps to put time into your competitors? How about when it wins you a 5 Stage road race?

This may be the circumstance at the Inaugural [I guess 15 years is a sufficient amount of time between races to consider the next the first] Tour of Ireland.

During Stage 1 from Kilkenny to Cork, a group of nine escaped early on. The remainder of the peloton was content to just sit in and lost over 13 minutes to eventual winner, Belgian Stijn Vandenbergh (Unibet.com). Vandenbergh's late attack may have won him the day, but his breakaway compatriots had to be all smiles as well.

Image: Stephen McMahon

With such a short stage race, one that doesn't feature any other road disciplines like a time trial, the winner should surely come from one of these nine. Stage 2, which featured 5 categorized climbs was won by CSC's Matti Breschel, but he still sits 13:15 back!

On the likelihood of his winning the Tour of Ireland, Vandenberg had this to say to Velonews' Andrew Hood:

"These were the two hardest stages, so now I am more confident I can make it to Dublin," Vandenbergh said. "My legs actually felt better today than they did on Wednesday. I'm feeling good about my chances."

No pints until Dublin, though Vandenbergh admitted he did treat himself to one glass of the "black stuff" after his win in Cork.

"If I make it to Dublin in the yellow jersey, I will drink a few Guinness to celebrate," he said.

A wee nip of the mother's milk? Guinness for strength, laddie. BRILLIANT!