Marden makes decisive dash

AUSSIE Joshua Marden (FRF Courier) claimed stage victory when the FBD Insurance RAS arrived in An Daingean yesterday after a tough 107 mile stage from Cobh.

Mike Friedman (TIAA-CREF) took custody of the yellow jersey from his American team-mate Danny Pate and two-time winner Chris Newton moved back up into contention ­ just 22 seconds off the lead ­ repairing most of the damage inflicted the previous day.

It was not as dramatic as the stage from Enniscorthy when the four-man breakaway group wrought havoc at the top of the general classification but, with Newton moving back into contention and that quartet all missing out on the action at the business end, the status quo was more or less restored.