De Batt battles in Cycle Tour

de Batt from Holland has taken over as race leader in the M Donnelly Junior Cycle Tour after a tough second stage, which included the climb up the Vee in Co Tipperary yesterday.

The climb certainly opened up proceedings with the majority of the bunch losing out when a group of nine edged ahead. In the beginning the break was of no real concern to the top 10 overnight, but it quickly established itself.

At the finish line in Clonmel, it was Ian Standard from the Britain team who won a very tight sprint from de Batt and Peter Williams of the BC West Midlands team.

Best of the home teams was Martin Munroe of the Ireland Stena Line in fifth place.

Today's stage has a start and finish in Waterford and heads out for the 57 miles of racing from the W.I.T. Centre on the Cork Road at mid-day.