Stradalli – Bike Aid pro team places two riders in top 10 after 162.8 kilometers of racing on stage 4 of UCI 2.2 An Post Ras.

Stage 4 of An Post Ras had 4 categorized climbs on the route for the riders to tackle, meaning defending the King of the Mountains jersey which was held by Niko Holler after Stage 3 would be difficult. The team rode strongly to protect Holler, but the team decided the general classification was more important than the mountains leaders jersey.

Holler still sits second on the mountain classification, but moved up in the general classification to 6th place, 10 seconds behind the leader’s jersey for the overall general classification of the race. Holler showed his good form again today with a 9th place finish, but the Stradalli – Bike Aid team’s depth is what is bringing the team such great success.

Stradalli – Bike Aid rider Joschka Beck has been the key domestique for the team, allowing Holler and the other riders to excel in the final. Beck has been more active than any other rider covering breakaways and ensuring Holler doesn’t miss any key moves. Out of 163 riders racing An Post Ras, only 43 finished in the front group. Great teamwork is essential in order to keep key  riders for the general classification in prime position to compete for the win.

Patrick Lechner of Stradalli – Bike Aid, who has been sprinting in fast finishes and riding in support of Holler, finished 4th on today’s stage giving the team two riders in the top 10. An Post – Chain Reaction, Ireland’s top professional team, was the only other team to place two riders in the top 10. Madison Genesis, NFTO and JLT Condor, the top UCI Continental teams from Britain, managed to take minor placings but Stradalli – Bike Aid is doing a great job of controlling the race.

An Post Ras is now halfway finished and continues tomorrow with Stage 5, a 148.3 kilometer route from Sneem to Clonakitty. The route will include 5 more categorized climbs meaning it will be another tough day of racing protecting the general classification aspirations of Niko Holler. The final 3 kilometers of the race will be predominantly flat, but the sprint will be uphill to the finish line which will give Holler and Lechner the perfect opportunity to capitalize on a great job so far at An Post Ras!