Power now closer to victory

CYCLING/FBD Milk Rás : The Team Ireland Stena Line rider Ciarán Power yesterday moved a day closer to taking victory in the FBD Milk Rás when he finished a fine third on the fifth stage of the race. Following his improvement on Wednesday, Power's main rival Chris Newton had promised to try to take more time back from the yellow jersey but he was unable to shake off the Irishman on the fast, tailwind-assisted leg to Midleton.

Despite repeated attacks, Newton's sole gain after 105 miles of effort was a few inches advantage over Power at the end of the stage, which netted him second place behind the Polish sprinter Dariusz Rudnicki but did nothing to improve his aspirations of winning overall.

The result was a disappointment for the points leader as he had hoped to chip further into Power's four minutes and four second advantage before Saturday's crucial mountain leg.

The British team started well, leaving Castletownbere with guns blazing and sending Tim Buckle up the road after 12 miles. Pushed along by a strong tailwind, Buckle rode impressively in his attempt to wear out the Irish team and eked out an advantage of over two minutes before being finally recaptured after 60 miles alone out front.

Once the former Coronation Street actor was reeled in, Newton kicked clear but Power immediately bridged the gap. He was clearly stronger than on Wednesday, and scored another psychological blow against the Englishman when he went on the attack with three others on the run-in to Midleton.

Although Newton and most of the main contenders managed to close the gap, the increase in speed fragmented the bunch and drew a group of 50 riders clear. Power's team-mate Tommy Evans kept the speed high for the last 15 miles of the stage, riding flat-out at the front to prevent further attacks and setting the scene for the first bunch finish of the race.

Power and Newton continued their psychological battle by going for the stage honours, but both had to give way to the speeding Pole Dariusz Rudnicki. Eugene Moriarty was best of the Irish county riders in sixth place.

"Yesterday was a bit disappointing but today I felt 110 per cent again", said Power afterwards."Chris Newton had a go after his team-mate was brought back but I got across to him and then attacked myself. I then got clear later on in a group and that caused the big split in the bunch."

"The team rode really well today to keep things together. Tommy Evans was very strong in the last few miles, he just sat at the front doing 30-35 miles per hour to stop anyone getting away."

FBD Milk Rás stage 5 (in memory of Joe O'Brien) Castletownbere - Midleton: 1, Dariusz Rudnicki (Poland Team Legia) 104 miles in 3 hours 37 mins 53 secs; 2, C. Newton (Great Britain); 3, C. Power (Team Ireland Stena Line); 4, H. Nowak (Poland Team Legia); 5, R. Muir (Scotland-Visit Scotland); 6, E. Moriarty (Meath Lee Strand Cycleways); 7, G. Zoledziowski (Poland Team Legia); 8, I. McLeod (South Africa HSBC); 9, A. Randell (Canada Team Sympatico); 10, S. Cummings (Great Britain) all same time KOM. Primes: Category 3, Traflask: 1, J. Winn (Wales); 2, D. Spence (South Africa); 3, J. Tanner (Lancashire Compensation Group). Cat 3, Loughavaul: 1, T. Buckle (GB); 2, A. Ross (Scotland); 3, Winn. Cat 3, Derrycreha: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Ardyhoulihane: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Caherogullane: 1, Buckle; 2, P. Healion (Dublin Usher Insullation); 3, Spence. Cat 3, Coolfada: 1, Buckle; 2, Spence; 3, Winn. Cat 3, Coolcullitha: 1, Power; 2, Newton; 3, Winn. International team: 1, Poland Team Legia; 2, Great Britain; 3, Lancaster Compensation Group County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Dublin Skip Hire; 3, Dublin Usher Insullation.

Overall classification (George Plant Trophy): 1, Power 20 hours 5 mins 38 secs; 2, Newton at 4 mins 4 secs; 3, A. Hojgaard (Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn) at 4 mins 32 secs; 4, Nowak at 4 mins 33 secs; 5, Randell; 6, Cummings; 7, H. Menad (France VC La Pomme) all same time; 8, Tanner at 4 mins 55 secs; 9, K. Dawson (Lancaster Compensation Group) at 5 mins 4 secs; 10, B. Brooks (NW England Cycle Centre RT) at 5 mins 10 secs. Points: 1, Newton 63; 2, Power 49; 3, Rudnicki 39; 4, Nowak 37; 5, Pritchard 32 Mountains: 1, Winn 63; 2, D. Spence (South Africa HSBC) 50; 3, T. Buckle (Great Britain) 45; 4, P. Griffin (Team Ireland Stena Line) 27; 5, Hojgaard 18. International team: 1, Great Britain; 2, Lancaster Compensation Group; 3, Denmark Distrikt Jylland Fyn. County team: 1, Meath Lee Strand Cycleways; 2, Tipperary Dan Morrisey; 3, Dublin Skip Hire. Best under 23 (Ben McKenna Trophy); 1, Nowak; 2, Cummings; 3, McLeod. Best 2nd category rider: 1, Frank O'Leary (Dublin Usher Insulations); 2, M. Power (Tipperary Dan Morrissey); 3, Simon Kelly (Cork Stafford Fuels).