Fireworks all day, then a bombshell for the race leader. Yesterday's stage of the FBD Milk Ras was steeped in action, with repeated breakaway attempts and one final, successful group foray resulting in a stage win for South African professional Jeremy Maartens.

But the biggest story of the day concerned race leader Paul Manning who lost the yellow jersey to Christian Knees of the German Deutsche Telecom team.

The GB national rider, assisted by his GB national team-mates, resisted all assaults on his yellow jersey but was docked time by the race commissaries after receiving a hand sling (a form of towing) from team-mate Philip West 20 miles from the finish in Dungarvan.

After just five miles Mark Scanlon threw down the gauntlet when he went clear with seven others. Although the move was countered, the former world junior champion forged ahead once more at the 26-mile mark and was the driving force behind a large breakaway group which established a lead of over one minute.

Backed by Mark Lovatt, Huw Pritchard and Brian Ahern, and later another group of riders, the breakaway was ultimately reeled in by the GB and Telecom teams who also negated a subsequent move featuring several dangermen. Covering 59 miles in two hours, many of the field were jettisoned out the back of the speeding peloton.

However, a moment's lapse of concentration enabled David O'Loughlin, Lovatt, plus professionals Maartens, David McKenzie and Dominique Perras to go clear after Youghal. Maartens profited from his infrequent contributions to jump clear in the final kilometre.

Manning came home 10 seconds later as part of the main bunch, only to see the jersey pass to rival Knees despite an appeal. Another rider upset at the finish was Ireland Shannon Oak's Morgan Fox who had been forced to retire early in the stage with tendonitis, while lying second overall in the points classification.

The battle continues without him today on what is regarded as the toughest stage, 106 cruel mountainous miles from Dungarvan to Bunclody.