Tommy Evans yesterday finished an excellent fourth on the third stage of the pro-am Herald Sun Tour in Australia.

Evans was part of a breakaway group which went clear during the tough, 130km stage and by the finish had established a massive lead over most of the other riders.

The stage was won by former Tour de France stage winner Robbie McEwen, with Evans four seconds behind.

Mark Scanlon was next best of the Irish, 13th on the stage, but over 10 minutes in arrears. Aidan Duff finished 15th, while both David McCann and Paul Griffin crossed the line in the main pack.

Evans is seventh behind Lithuania's Remigius Lupeikis, with Scanlon in 19th.

The Ireland-Latrobe city squad is third in the team classification.

Former women's world road race champion Zinaida Stahurskaia (30), of Belarus, has been handed a four-month ban from the UCI after failing a dope test in the Tour of Italy in June.

Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP