Irish riders Paídi O'Brien and Paul Griffin went close to a stage victory on today's third stage of the FBD Insurance Rás, being beaten in a 34-man sprint by Canadian rider Dominique Rollin of the US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada team.
The stage was marked by a large breakaway which went clear after approximately 50 of the day’s 171 kilometres had elapsed.
Most of the major contenders were present, but the race leader Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands) missed the move and ended up coming in with the main bunch which finished a massive 19 minutes and 55 seconds back.
Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) and Irish rider Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC), who started the day second and third overall, consequently moved up a place in the general classification.
Anthony is the new race leader while Kenneally will start tomorrow’s 137 kilometres to Dungloe in second place overall, two seconds back.
Mark Cassidy (5th, Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) and Paul Griffin (8th, Ireland Subway) are both just four seconds off yellow and are perfectly poised to strike later in the week.
Other Irish riders also rode strongly today. Former stage winner Roger Aiken (Armagh Big Picture Developments) attacked with four others inside the final 80 kilometres, and was only caught with about eight kilometres remaining.
2004 race winner David McCann then attacked inside the final kilometre but he was hauled back just before the line, paving the way for the big sprint.
O'Brien and Griffin were best of the Irish there, while Brian Ahern (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre Orwell) surprised himself by placing 6th on the stage and taking the Cuchulainn award for the best county rider.
In addition to leading the race, Anthony is top of the standings in the competitions for best young rider and best climber.
The race continues tomorrow with a 138 kilometre stage from Sligo to Dungloe.
