Newton sitting pretty

CHRIS Newton (Recycling.uk.co) tightened his grip on the FBD Insurance Rás leadership when he won the Stage 6 from Abbeyleix to Rathdrum yesterday to defend the yellow jersey in the best possible fashion.

It was a storming uphill finish in Rathdrum and Newton made the most of it, taking five seconds out of his closest rival, Malcolm Elliott (Yorkshire Trinity Capital) who had to settle for sixth place. That leaves Newton with a 13 second advantage going into today’s mountain stage to Wicklow.

“Taking time out of him was more important than winning the stage,” insisted Newton after his third stage victory this week. “In a race like this you have to take every little opportunity.”