Newton’s law on Mamore ascent as Evans loses yellow jersey

CHRIS NEWTON (Great Britain) won the first mountain stage of this year’s FBD Milk Rás and stripped Ireland’s Tommy Evans of the race leader’s yellow jersey, as hopes of retaining the title won by Ciaran Power last year faded down the general classification sheet on a day of drama and excitement on the 90 mile trip from Letterkenny to Buncrana.

Evans crossed the line more than five minutes after Newton had won the four man sprint for stage victory while a dejected Ciaran Power, after enduring a litany of disasters along the way, was over 16 minutes down.

And to add to the dismay of Ireland Team Manager, Frank Campbell, who set out on the fifth stage with three riders in winning positions, the third member of this trio, David O'Loughlin, who came down with a fever overnight, lost contact with the leading group at the foot of the Mamore Gap and finished with Ciaran Power.