Irate Italians prove a point as Matteo Malucelli takes Rás stage

Just 24 hours after An Post Rás yellow jersey wearer Francesca Reda was thrown off the race for receiving an illegal tow, his teammate Matteo Malucelli of Team IDEA 2010 ASD claimed stage 3 into Bearna yesterday.

Clearly irate over the disqualification of stage 1 winner Reda and the removal from the race of team manager Alberto Elli, the Italians raced with a point to prove yesterday.

With an early move by Daniel Stewart (Antrim Phoenix) and Robin Kelly (Mayo Coleman Electronics) mopped up, another group comprised mainly of county men went on the attack on the second half of the 156km trek from Tipperary to Bearna, Co. Galway.