Nicolas Roche got Ireland’s UCI World Championships campaign underway in Ponferrada, Spain yesterday with a fifth-place finish in the Elite men’s team time-trial.

Former An Post Sean Kelly rider Páidí O’Brien claimed a brilliant win in the inaugural Kieran MacMahon Memorial Classic in Co Clare yesterday.

Mark Dowling claimed the biggest win of his career at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in Killorglin yesterday when he wrestled the yellow jersey from overnight leader Paddy Clarke by 12 seconds.

In one of the most dramatic finales to the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, Damian Shaw of the Aquablue team held onto the race leader’s yellow jersey, but only by a mere four seconds after second placed Harry Sweering (West Frisia) looked destined to take it.

DUTCH rider, Dion Beukeboom (Midi Center Ruiter Wielerteam), claimed stage victory in an exciting three-man sprint up the hill in Killorglin but all attention was focused on Paul Griffin (Team Earl of Desmond) and Brian Kenneally (Engraveit.ie/Cycleways/BDBC), who filled the minor placings as the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan got underway yesterday.