Downing wins stage four to take yellow jersey

Russell Downing of the Pinarello CandiTV team took today’s crucial stage of the Tour of Ireland when he sprinted home first of a 13-man bunch that broke clear with 20 kilometres to go.

Downing was an unlikely winner as, with little over 15 kilometres to race, his chain fell off which meant he lost considerable time and energy trying to chase back on the final climb.

However, he managed to do so and, dangling off the back approaching the finish, he launched a devastating burst of speed to pip Gonzalo Rabunal Rios of the Spanish Karpin Garcia team into second place.

Mark Cavendish, who was in the yellow jersey going into today’s stage, struggled with the steep climbs of Mount Eagle and the Conor Pass and was part of a chasing group that became detached with 50 kilometres to go.

The result means that the new race leader, Downing, who went into the stage 32 seconds down on Cavendish now holds the yellow jersey going into tomorrow’s final stage, two seconds clear of Julian Dean.

Tomorrow’s stage takes the riders 155km’s from Killarney to Cork and with four ascents of Patricks Hill - the toughest city climb on the professional circuit - there should be another shake-up in the overall General Classification.