BIG-TIME cycling returned to Irish streets and byways yesterday — and the public came out in their thousands to lap it up.

CHRIS NEWTON, the 2003 winner, took custody of the race leader’s yellow jersey at the end of yesterday’s second stage of the FBD Insurance RAS.

CHRIS NEWTON (Great Britain), runner-up to Ciaran Power 12 months earlier, may not have been in race-winning form coming into this year’s FBD Milk Rás, but the world points champion could not hide his excitement as he left Dublin with the overall title last evening after a dramatic week.