RÁS stage declared void after rider collides with jeep

Today’s second stage of the FBD Insurance RAS from Dundalk to Carrick-on-Shannon was declared void following a serious collision involving eight riders.

With 40kms left to race, a Spanish rider riding for the Castilla y Lyon team collided head-on with a jeep and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance, as did a number of other riders.

One rider was admitted to hospital, where his condition was described as "stable and satisfactory".

Two doctors attend every race, but both had to accompany the injured riders to hospital. The race was therefore declared void and the remaining riders all rolled safely home.

Today’s was the second stage of the race. The results from stage one (below) will now carry into stage three of the eight-stage race.

Tomorrow’s stage is from Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim to Oughterard in Co Galway, with Dan Craven in the yellow jersey.

Overall standings after stage one:

1, Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) 3 hours 28 mins 12 secs

2, Mark McNally (Belgium An Post Grant Thornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly) at 7 secs

3, Kit Gilham (Britain Sigmasport Specialized) at 11 secs

4, Masakki Kikuchi (Japan – Nippo) at 12 secs

5, David Pell (Australia Drapac Porsche) same time

6, Andrew Roche (Motorpoint Marshall’s Pasta) at 16 secs