Dowling’s late break delivers knockout blow to Clarke hopes

Mark Dowling claimed the biggest win of his career at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan in Killorglin yesterday when he wrestled the yellow jersey from overnight leader Paddy Clarke by 12 seconds.

Dowling (DID Dunboyne) started the day equal on time with Clarke, knowing he would have to shake off the Liquidworx-Fitscience man on a notoriously fast and dangerous circuit around the town.

Dowling, who won a stage of the race back in 2012 and briefly held the yellow jersey, did just that with 25 of the 115km stage remaining when he clipped off the front with a group of seven and maintained a lead of around a dozen seconds over the peloton (containing Clarke) for the remainder of the race.