Butler's bolt pays dividends

After talented Mayo rider David O'Loughlin had overhauled overall leader Mark Lovatt in Listowel on Tuesday, the 22 year old was regarded as possibly strong enough to win the Ras. The general consensus was that the mountainous stage to Kenmare would give a far clearer picture of his prospects.

One hundred and six miles and five categorised climbs later, little has changed. O'Loughlin continues to lead the race after the anticipated shake-up of the general classification failed to materialise yesterday. Englishman Gethin Butler may have seized a few seconds when he soloed to his second ever Ras stage win. Dubliner Aidan Duff may have temporarily assumed race leadership on the road, but ultimately the stage proved far less decisive than was anticipated.

Twenty two miles into the race, stage-two winner Brian Kenneally, David McCann and a rejuvenated Philip Cassidy established a lead of half a minute. Kenneally, hampered by a crash on Monday, punctured and lost his place at the head of the field, but the remaining two were bolstered by 17 riders who succeeded in bridging the gap.

Amongst those joining McCann and Cassidy were the latter's Ireland team-mates Fergus McCauley and Bill Moore, Dermot Finnegan, Gethin Butler and Aidan Duff.

Over the first category Coomakista pass the break established a near-three-minute lead which propelled Duff into virtual race leadership. Further down the slopes, O'Loughlin, second-placed Kristoffer Ingeby and third-placed Eugene Moriarty kept nervous tabs on each other, as Julian Winn, Roddy Riddle and previous yellow jersey Mark Lovatt slipped clear.

With 20 miles remaining, 1991 stage-winner Butler shot clear and held off the late charge of David McCann, who in turn was followed home by Lovatt at the head of the breakaway group. There were to be no celebrations for Duff, however, as O'Loughlin recovered from a punctured back wheel to cross the line as part of the fast-finishing main bunch.

The race continues today over the category one ascents of Inshee and Mushermore mountains.