MYRON SIMPSON of the New Zealand national team claimed yesterday’s sixth stage of the An Post Rás from Castletownbere to Blarney with a stunning sprint victory into one of the most storied towns in Irish cycling.

DEAN DOWNING (Britain Rapha Condor Sharp) claimed the first An Post Rás raceleader’s yellow jersey when he edged out Sam Bennett(Belgium An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly) in a ferocious bunch sprint into Portumna yesterday.