Riddle the new leader but Irish fear Butler

RODDY RIDDLE of Scotland is the new leader of the FBD Milk Ra's following yesterday's third stage, which produced some big changes in the overall classification.

The stage, over 94 miles in the rain from Mill street to Nenagh was really miserable with the temperature as low as seven degrees.

Setting out this morning for 102 miles to Castlebar, Riddle has a lead of a minute and 42 seconds over Ciaran Power who is riding for Galway, with Gethin Butler of the British North East team now up to third at 2:19.

German Marcus Lenn is next at 3:19. Peter Daly of the Ireland team, who was in the leader's yellow jersey, has dropped to fifth, 3:42 in arrears.

This is the result of a long break by a group led by Riddle. The main pack, including Daly, came in six minutes and 11 seconds down. At one time the Daly group's deficit was almost eight minutes and it was only on the run in to Nenagh that they reduced the huge gap.

Butler and Power succeeded in breaking clear of the pack and, with Butler doing most of the work, they came in fifth and sixth, 3:43 behind Ben Luckwell, who won the stage from Lenn.

Thirty year old Luckwell from Bristol is riding as an individual and although he contributed to the pace setting until the breakaway got established he sat in behind for most of the way until the hill at Portroe nine miles from the finish.

At that point Luckwell surged ahead after Lenn led over the top and as Riddle was left behind only Lenn could go with the big Englishman. In the sprint to the line at Pearse Street, Nenagh, Luckwell beat Lenn by a couple of lengths.

Luckwell has an agreement with the Derry team that he will receive help in return for whatever way he can assist them but he said. "After losing over 10 minutes on the second stage there, is nothing left for me only to go for stages. There was no reason for me to, ride, being, 11 minutes down. This was the first opportunity got so I took it."

Irish team manager Alasdair MacLennan was not too unhappy about Daly losing the lead. "I'm not bothered about Riddle, he'll struggle in Donegal but I am concerned about losing so much time to Butler. Nobody else would ride so we wouldn't either. That's the way it goes."

Micheal Fitzgerald had another bad day, although he said before leaving Millstreet he felt much better after Sunday's stomach upset. He finished 120th on the stage, 18 minutes down, and is 115th overall of the 127 still in, 26:34 in arrears. Mark Hutton is 33rd at 6:46 with Leslie McKay 38th at 7:48.

After an early spate of attacking, with Luckwell prominent on several occasions at the front, the decisive break formed when Riddle, Lenn, Luckwell, one of Riddle's Scotland team mates Richard Power, and Christopher Kimmage (Carlow) pulled away.

At the first prime point at Freemount, 26 miles, where Lenn led the way, they were 30 seconds ahead but from then on the gap widened. Two trios went in pursuit Barry Monaghan, Stephen Byrne and one of the Japanese, Tomoya Kanoh, followed by Mark Lyttle, Nick Giles and Paul Doyle.

These six chasers joined up but the leaders pressed on and at 70 miles they were over six minutes ahead. The group of six split up and as Butler and Power came up none of them could stay with them as Butler and Power cut into the big lead.

Richard Power could not hold his place at the front tackling the hill at Portroe and Kimmage also dropped back there as Luckwell and Lenn went away from Riddle.

Power stayed with Butler to the end and improved from third to second overall.