Cavendish wraps up third stage win

Mark Cavendish made it a superb three-in-a-row of stage wins at this year's Tour of Ireland after sprinting home in a thrilling bunch gallop into Galway city.

Thousands lined the streets to witness the Isle of Man competitor, and four-time Tour de France stage-winner rocket past his rivals with 200m to go and claim stage win number three on the gruelling 201km circuit from Ballinrobe to Galway.

Cavendish, by his own admission is not a climbing specialist and with four categorised climbs on today’s route, it had been thought that the Team Columbia rider would struggle.

However, with the help of his team-mates Bernard Eisel and Michael Barry, the incessant attacks early in the stage were never allowed to get clear.

Second place went to Bernardo Riccio of Tinkoff Credit Systems, with Julian Dean (Garmin Chipotle) and Alexander Kristoff (Joker Bianchi) next over the line.

Ciaran Power (Pezula Racing) was best of the Irish in seventh place.

Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders from Limerick to Dingle and with two category climbs of the Conor Pass and Mount Eagle nearing the finish, it could be the most decisive stage in this year's Tour.