Crash ends Cassidy’s Rás hopes

JOY can quickly turn to disappointment for any cyclist but for Mark Cassidy it was heart rending yesterday when a crash on the outskirts of Limerick City stripped him of the yellow jersey and put his FBD Insurance Rás hopes on hold for another year.

The previous day the 23-year-old An Post/Sean Kelly rider had emulated his father, Philip, when he donned the race leader’s jersey for the very first time but yesterday he was in hospital in Limerick when former race winner, David McCann of the Irish national team, took charge of it although he shares equal time at the top of the general classification sheet with the two-time winner, Chris Newton (Stena Rapha).

There was a double celebration for McCann who turned the tables on Newton by winning the 97-mile stage from Corofin to Tralee 24 hours after the former world track champion and winner Olympic silver and bronze medals had outfoxed the Belfast man to claim his 10th stage victory in Lisdoonvarna.