Bagdonas wins brutal battle to stay in yellow

LITHUANIAN rider Gediminas Bagdonas of the An Post Sean Kelly team holds a one minute and 16 second lead at the halfway point of the Rás after he defended the yellow jersey by winning the fourth stage into Castletownbere in miserable conditions yesterday.

The 25-year-old all-rounder out sprinted former leader, New Zealand’s Shane Archbold, and Stuart Shaw of the Australia Drapac Cycling team to the line after a brutally difficult day.

A driving headwind and sheeting rain for much of the 142km trek from Castleisland ensured it was a war of attrition, and when it came down to it, Bagdonas, who only signed for the Belgian-based Irish team at the start of the year, trumped everyone else. Little wonder manager Kurt Bogaerts wore a broad grin at the finish line.