It is 12 years since a stage of the Rás finished in Charleville. The day was sunny and warm just long enough to watch Austrian rider Jan Sokol receive  the applause from the Crowd as Stage winner. He was in an eight man break away for much of the day and out sprinted  the others to claim the stage.

just as the riders left the stage the heavens opened and a 30 min lightening storm ensued.

The riders head into the hills in the next couple of days. I would love to see the finish on seskin but I gotta work