Dunbar still the man to beat in Junior Tour

Jack Maddux of the US-based Hot Tubes Team won yesterday’s fourth stage of the International Junior Tour of Ireland as defending champion Eddie Dunbar survived another day of relentless attacks.

Maddux was part of a select group of riders who contested the finish in Whitegate, Co Clare.

It was a memorable day for the Americans, who have won the race outright on four occasions, as they scored a fabulous 1-2-3 for the day but were still unable to dislodge any of the jersey wearers.

Chief among those is the yellow jersey of Corkman Dunbar, who took control of the race on Wednesday with a stunning solo victory.

Since then he has looked unshakable, though his three Irish teammates can take a lot of the credit for that as the race heads into the penultimate day today.

Michael O’Loughlin, Stephen Shanahan and Daire Feeley were visible at the front all day as they chased down attack after attack.

And they were still there at the finish to compete for the win. But the efforts of a stage spent chasing, took the edge off their gallops.

The stage took the riders 118 kilometres from Mountshannon over some very challenging roads and with three category two climbs on a wet and windy day for racing.

Despite an aggressive start to the day, no attack gained any meaningful advantage.

The field gradually became whittled down and by the start of the second climb of the day at Maghera at least a quarter of the bunch lost contact with the main field.

The Irish team maintained a steady tempo while also reeling in the Hot Tubes men who did their best to unsettle Dunbar.

The final climb of the day after Ogonnelloe saw a showdown of sorts, with riders from the Nicolas Roche Performance team all trying their luck. Hot Tubes went again and again in a bid to shake the Irish team but the men in green were equal to the challenge and even managed to scoop up many of the KOH points .

Simon Tuomey (Iverk produce Carrick Wheelers) made a brave bid for glory with a late attack but he too was reeled back in.

So it’s as you were for today’s crucial stage which finishes on Gallows Hill. Michael O’Loughlin is in the white young rider jersey. Craig McAuley will wear the polka dot mountains’ jersey.

Matt Teggart is in the green points jersey while Dunbar holds yellow by over two and a half minutes.