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.

Robin Kelly stormed to victory in the season-opening Ned Flanagan Memorial in Monasterevin, Kildare yesterday.

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.

Sean Lacey will be going for his fifth straight Lacey Cup title when he takes to the start-line in Tralee tomorrow for the traditional Munster season opener.

Ryan Sherlock (Cycleways CC) won the Mullingar two-day yesterday for the second year in a row after he won the 3.3-kilometre time trial by more than 20 seconds ahead of David Walsh (Slaney CC) and limited his losses in the afternoon’s third and final stage — but boy did he do it the hard way.

Scanning the final results from the overall general classification at the An Post Rás which climaxed on Sunday you’d be forgiven for thinking the days of county riders competing in Ireland’s most storied race was at an end, but route director Stephen O’Sullivan refutes such a suggestion.

Another fast and furious day on the An Post Rás saw a new rider in the yellow jersey yesterday as Swiss professional Pirmin Lang of the Atlas Personal Jackroo team outsprinted a seven-man lead group to take victory on stage two into Gort.

Iverk Produce CarrickWheelers will again host its traditional St Patrick’s Day race today with the 100km event finishing on the top of St John’s Hill on the outskirts of the town.

THE second stage of the An Post Rás from Portumna to Kilrush was just over 101 miles but a stormforce headwind turned it into a real test of endurance and if ever there was a worthy stage winner, it was Gediminas Bagdonas, a member of the An Post/Sean Kelly team while Shane Archbold of the New Zealand National Team took the race leader’s yellow jersey.

NICOLAS ROCHE (Ag2r) will wear the Irish road race champion’s jersey to the start of the Tour de France in Monaco next weekend although he was still awaiting confirmation from his team last night following his exciting victory in the Elite Road Race championship at Dunboyne yesterday.