O’Loughlin hits top gear to close the gap on Bonca

DAVID O’LOUGHLIN produced a sensational performance to claim victory at the top of Seskin Hill but the yellow jersey of the FBD Milk Ras remains, and only just, with Slovenian Valter Bonca.

The crowds lining the hill to the finish were treated to some exciting riding as O'Loughlin, who went into the 94-mile stage from Millstreet with a deficit of 22 seconds on the Eastern European is now just three seconds off the leader.

The 26-year-old Mayo man had been away for all of 80 miles in a three-man group that was completed by the Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn riders Mark Lovett and John Tanner.