Deignan up to 20th in Tour of Britain

Philip Deignan, one of Ireland's young cycling talents, moved up to 20th overall in the Tour of Britain this evening, after a bunch finish in the 379.3km stage two ride from Leeds to Sheffield.

The Letterkenny 21-year-old is just 20 seconds off lead rider Mauricio Ardila, after the Colombian out-sprinted Quick Step-Davitamon's Nik Nuyens for the stage win, ending a gruelling four and a half hours in the saddle.

Deignan is currently ranked fifth in the UCI U23 world rankings, and signed with Mark Scanlon's French-based Ag2R team in June, for the 2005/2006 season.

Next-best classified of the Irish is another U23, Tim Cassidy, who ranks 42nd, 13 minutes and 40 seconds down on Ardila, after four hill climbs through scenic Yorkshire split today's riders.

Navigators' Irish Olympian Ciarán Power is two places further back, with FBD Milk Rás champions David McCann (50th) and David O'Loughlin (63rd), all on Cassidy's time.

Thirty-one-year-old Tommy Evans is bringing up the rear of Grant Thornton Team Ireland, trailing on classification by 26:35, and ranked 84th of the tour's 89 riders.