Racing:Alex Wetterhall retained control of the yellow jersey but has Josef Kugler breathing down his neck after the fifth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás today.
All of the leaders avoided that incident, and despite finishing well down the field Wetterhall maintains his lead. Kugler, who came home third in Carrick-on-Suir, is now just eight seconds behind the Swede in the overall standings.
British rider Jon Tiernan-Locke of the Rapha Condor Sharp team took today’s stage, finishing nine seconds ahead of compatriot Peter Williams after attacking on the final climb of the day.
“There was seven of us together coming to the hill,” Tiernan Locke said after the race. “I neutralised a few attacks and then I got on the front. I thought it might be too early but it was so steep I thought I’d just go for it, don’t look back until I’d dropped them.
“I was feeling confident about the hill. On my day I can sprint, although I did not do it yesterday when I came in at the back of the break. I’m mainly a climber, though, so I was quite confident.”
