Dutch courage prevails but Irish rivals stay in hot pursuit

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.

After the bonuses were distributed yesterday a mere four seconds separates the first three riders on general classification, followed by five more at 1min 21secs but apparently out of sight of the main field going into today’s difficult Conor Pass Stage.

The top three are the surviving members of a 16-man leading group that cut the peloton open in yesterday’s stage which was short at 45 miles and relatively flat but shattered the hopes of some of the other leading contenders.