Day: Saturday
Date: 23/05/98
Weather: Sunny intervals 20oC
Subject: Stage 8 New Ross to Ballymore Eustace 93.03 miles @ avg. 24.49mph
GC & Stage Details:
| Number | Name | Position | GC Time | Deficit | Stage Time |
| 57 | Wayne Randle | 4 | 28:47:58 | 1:19 | 3:48:50 @ 0:56 |
| 56 | Robin Numan | 65 | 29:12:46 | 26:07 | 4:04:20 @16:26 |
| 59 | Will Sanderson | 78 | 29:19:37 | 32:58 | 4:05:27 @17:33 |
| 58 | Duncan Hewitt | 107 | 29:50:50 | 1:04:11 | 4:01:51 @13:01 |
| 60 | Julian Mortel | 116 | 30:08:33 | 1:21:54 | 4:05:27 @17:33 |
From the gun a group of 20 riders broke away. They included the yellow jersey & 3 of his teammates, 3 French, 2 Dutch & 2 Belgians. The main bunch chased them for 25 miles & caught them. After many other attacks at 30 miles Rob got away in a group with Jeroen Slaghter (Dutch), 2 Japs, Cairon Power, Jim Eyre & Jeff Wright, 7 men in total. Rob lost touch on the ascent of the 2nd cat climb Ballygannon Hill. Tommy Evans took chase on the next climb Drumgoff (1st cat) with Wayne & Stephane Rifflet. By the finish Wayne had caught what was left of the group except Jeff who won the stage (an uphill finish), Michael Smith, Jerome Desjardins, Dermot Finnegan & Cairan Power, who all finished 50" ahead
I lost touch at 30 miles when Rob made his move and managed to get back on again. It was the same story at Ballygannon Hill sliding back through the field & convoy. I chased back on the descent & caught the main group again. On the climb of Drumgoff the bunch split into many groups. Dunc left me there with Will & we caught Rob coming backwards talking gibberish after his earlier efforts. At the bottom of Drumgoff a respectable group (16 riders) formed which stuck together for the rest of the stage. With 5 miles to go Rob made off like Popeye after receiving some glucose drink to finish a minute up on us.
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 Stage 7 Stage 8 Stage 9 Back to Ras Page