Miss An Post Ras Skerries Katie Jackson, overall U23 Sport Ireland Jersey winner Michael O'Loughlin, overall winner James Gullen, overall King of the Mountain Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz, overall points classification winner Daan Meijers, overall Post Insurance County Jersey winner Daire Feeley, Cycling Ireland Category 2 overall winner Ronan Costelloe second overall Ike Groen and third overall Cameron Meyer. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

ENGLISHMAN JAMES GULLEN was named overall winner of An Post Rás 2017 today.

The 27-year-old JLT Condor rider wore the yellow jersey heading into the eighth and final stage with an advantage of 1 min 5 secs over nearest rival Ike Groen of the Netherlands.

The view of the Ras as it headed towards Naul. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Gullen (34th) and Groen (31st) completed the stage in a time of 2:47:32 meaning the Yorkshire native was crowned champion for the first time in his career.

“It’s brilliant to win a race like this,” said Gullen. “You really have to rely on your team mates to get the overall win. They kept me going so this win is all down to them.”

Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz of An Post Chain Reaction claimed the stage — which saw 171 riders travel 129km south through Navan and onto Skerries — and earned King of the Mountains.

Przemek Kasperkiewicz celebrates winning Stage 8. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

There other category winners were Michael O’Loughlin (overall U23 Sport Ireland Jersey winner), Daan Meijers (overall points classification winner) and Daire Feeley (overall Post Insurance County Jersey winner).

Damien Shaw was the highest-placed Irish rider in fifth overall.

General classification An Post Rás 2017: 

anpost.ie anpost.ie

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