Newton gravitates towards victory

CHRIS NEWTON (Recycling.co.uk) faces the most crucial and difficult stage of the FBD Insurance Ras tomorrow when the survivors head for the Wicklow Mountains, but the talented English cyclist is already poised to lift the George Plant Trophy for a second time.

Newton, who has Olympic silver and bronze pursuit medals as well as world championship gold medals from both the points race and this year’s pursuit championships, may only enjoy a lead of eight seconds ahead but it should be enough.

Malcolm Elliott, who lies second overall, admitted after yesterday’s stage from Templemore to Abbeyleix that Newton is the strongest man in the race and only misfortune can deprive him of victory.

The fifth stage was won in another sprint finish by Norwegian Morten Christikansen, from Galway man Simon Kelly who is riding for the Cork Nucleus team, and Roger Aiken, who won Sunday’s opening stage into Emyvale.

The sprint into Abbeyleix came after 89 miles of racing that took the remaining 175 riders over first category climbs at The Cragg en route to Kilkenny and The Butts outside Carlow Town, surrounded by second and third category climbs. Philip Cassidy, despite his fall on Wednesday, produced another gallant performance in defence of the Polka Dot jersey worn by his Cycleways team-mate, Eugene Moriarty.

But it all came to nothing for, while the Listowel man is still up there in contention, Welshman Julian Winn, a former winner of both the General and Mountains classifications, will wear the Polka Dot jersey into today’s sixth stage.

The Cassidy group, which enjoyed a lead of 2 mins 25secs, fragmented and was finally absorbed by the main bunch in Castlecomer. Another group of 45 riders assembled at the front and included both Newton and Elliott and the riders who contested the finish came out of this.

Denis Lynch, riding for the other Cork team, Cork Kanturk Credit Union, finished seventh with Eugene Moriarty ninth, ahead of Newton with Elliott 11th.

There were no major developments on the general classification sheet yesterday. Newton still leads by eight seconds from Elliott with the Norwegian, Morten Hegreberg third at 2 mins 16 secs.

Corkman Timmy Barry (Tipperary Dan Morrissey) is fourth at 2:32 and still leading the County classification after a great defence by his team mates, Vincent Gleeson and John O’Shea.

Moriarty is still in contention for the Mountains Jersey, lying joint second with Mark Lovatt and Stephen Gallagher from the Irish Grant Thornton team just four points behind Julian Winn.

Today’s stage is relatively flat ­ the calm before the storm ­ and will take the riders to Rathdrum, where they will assemble for tomorrow’s mountain stage.