Newton nicks yellow on the line

CHRIS NEWTON, the 2003 winner, took custody of the race leader’s yellow jersey at the end of yesterday’s second stage of the FBD Insurance RAS.

He took the jersey following a ferocious sprint with Malcolm Elliott into Tubbercurry and he vowed to defend it to the bitter end.

The 32-year-old Middlesbrough man has all the qualities needed to claim a second RAS victory.