Bennett in the hunt as Walker wins again

SAM BENNETT (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) was back up in the thick of the action as Nicholas Walker (Australia Cinelli-Down Under) outsprinted Jaan Kirsipuu (Norway Giant-Veolia) and Monday’s stage winner, Ian Wilkinson (Britain Halfords Bike Hut) for stage glory when the FBD Insurance Rás produced another explosive finish in Scariff yesterday evening.

After what he described as a comparatively easy day for him, Simon Richardson (Britain Rapha Condor) retained the race leader’s yellow jersey with a lead of 2 mins 49 secs over Mads Christensen (Denmark Designa Kokken).

Bennett, who was seventh on Sunday and sixth on Tuesday, finished eighth on equal time when the 96-mile stage from Killorglin ended in another bunch finish.