The An Post Rás burst into life yesterday as an Irish rider landed a first stage win of the week and the race for the yellow jersey was blown wide open.

Damien Shaw has been handed the onerous task of leading the An Post Chain Reaction team into battle for this year’s An Post Rás which gets underway from, Dublin Castle on Sunday week, May 21.

History was made in Clare yesterday when, for the first time in the 38-year history of the Junior Tour, a rider successfully retained the title.

Eddie Dunbar is still in the race leader’s yellow jersey after stage three of the Stena Ireland International Junior Tour yesterday was won by Matthew Teggart of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team.

The new ‘Nicolas Roche Performance Cycling Team’ has announced its roster for the coming season with an eight-man line-up comprising some of the most talented underage riders in the country.