Hard work pays as Eoin Morton pulls off shock victory in Charleville

Eoin Morton claimed one of the most remarkable stages of the An Post Rás for many a year yesterday when he edged erstwhile breakaway man and fellow county rider Bryan McCrystal (Louth ASEA/Wheelkworx) at the end of a nail-biting journey from Multyfarnham to Charleville.

The 27-year old UCD-Fitzcycles.ie man came into the 183-kilometre stage as leader of the King of the Mountains classification and though his stated aim was to preserve his advantage in that, he got a lot more than he bargained for.

The pair attacked the peloton with 100 kilometres still to race and immediately pulled out a gap on the field as they buried their heads and got down to work.