ALEXANDER WETTERHALL (Sweden Team Sprocket Pro) hung on to the race leader’s yellow jersey by six seconds as Jon Tiernan-Locke (Britian Rapha Condor Sharp) powered his way to victory at the top of Seskin Hill where a huge crowd gathered to welcome yesterday’s fifth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás.

Today’s second stage of the FBD Insurance RAS from Dundalk to Carrick-on-Shannon was declared void following a serious collision involving eight riders.

DAN CRAVEN (Rapha Condor Sharp) started cycling in a tiny town in an outback of Namibia before joining a cycling club when he went to University near Cape Town and yesterday he conducted his own master class when he won the opening stage of the FBD Insurance Rás in Dundalk.

Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) won today’s opening stage of the FBD Insurance Rás from Dunboyne to Dundalk after he bested Mark McNally of the An Post Sean Kelly team to the line in glorious sunshine.