Webster moves into pole position

CYCLING:There was a change in leadership on yesterday's third stage of the M Donnelly Junior Tour of Ireland, the stage-one winner, Sam Webster (Dave Rayner), taking over from the Tempo BMV Veldhoven rider Andreas Ponten at the end of the 110.8-kilometre race to Newport.

Van Geffen soloed in two seconds clear of a medium-sized chasing bunch, with Julien Albouy (Usher Moy/VC La Pomme), Sam Bennett (Stena Ireland) and Denis Dunworth (Stena Ireland) sprinting in at the head of the group.

Webster was fifth and ended the day five seconds ahead of Bennett. Van Geffen is third overall, 10 seconds back.

Ponten missed the move and dropped to 11th overall. He is now two minutes and 43 seconds back and appears to be out of the running for final honours. The top 10 are separated by just 39 seconds, setting things up for a compelling final three days.

In off-road news, Ben Reid finished an excellent 10th in the Austrian round of the UCI downhill world cup last Sunday.

The Australian Sam Hill was quickest with a time of three minutes and 51.44 seconds. Reid finished 10 seconds back in 4:01.82 and is now 14th in the overall world cup standings.

This weekend he will attempt to defend his Irish national downhill title at the championships in Rostrevor Forest, County Down. Timed seeding runs will be held on Saturday evening, the main racing taking place on Sunday.

Meanwhile Robin Seymour, Niall Davis and Conor McConvey will compete in the European MTB XC Championships in Turkey this weekend.

FIXTURES:Saturday-Sunday: Junior Tour (final two stages); Irish National Downhill Championships, Rostrevor, Co Down. Saturday: International Track Grand Prix, Eamonn Ceannt Park, Sundrive road. Racing starts at 12.30; Sea Breeze festival criterium, Castlepark, Arklow. Starts 7pm; Clonmel criterium, starts 7.30pm; Ballivor Festival race, starts 7.30pm. Sunday: Women's national league round 6, Stradbally. Starts 1pm; Portlaoise GP - cancelled; Border Challenge - cancelled.