Damien Shaw just fails to land home blow in Rás

Irish domestic amateur Damien Shaw came within a whisker of landing a stage win at the An Post Rás yesterday, emerging just metres short following a thrilling 160km of racing from Ballina to Ballinamore.

The Team ASEA man was edged out of victory by UK rider Ian Bibby (NFTO), while his fellow countryman Ed Laverack (Condor JLT) rounded out the podium for third.

That trio had been part of the day’s 13-man escape that broke clear inside 15 kilometres yesterday and built a maximum advantage of over five minutes on the peloton, although none of them threatened the yellow jersey of overnight race leader Lukas Postlberger (Tirol Cycling team).