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Team Ireland’s Dylan Corkery with his grandfather Denis Kelleher before the start. Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan Dillon Corkery's celebrates his Rás victory last year. Stage 1 – Tullamore to Kilmallock My first day back on the Rás Tailteann since winning it last year was a bit more hectic than I anticipated.

As defending champion, I had an interview with FBD, local radio, the Rás press and several papers before I even sat on my bike this morning. While this kind of attention is something I’ve seen with big riders like Sam Bennett or even my own team leaders in France, I’ve never had it before. Even on the continent, where fans collect team cards and try to get all the riders to sign them at every race, I can hide away and nobody notices.



I didn’t have that luxury on the Rás this morning but I may not have this opportunity ever again so I’ll bask in it while I can. While the welcome was warm in Tullamore this morning, the start was cold and damp. By the end of the 6km neutralised section, however, I had taken off the extra gilet, overshoes and leg and arm warmers I had grabbed at the start and was ready for action.

After a lot of pot shots off the front early on, three riders got up the road sometime around 30km in today. To be honest, I couldn’t tell you exactly when because, unlike the bigger pro races, we’re not allowed race radios in the Rás. This means that it takes a while to find out who exactly is up the road and how much of a gap they have.

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