Track specialist proves king of the road

Paul Manning yesterday made history when he became the first ever English winner in the 49 years of the FBD Milk Ras. The 26year-old track specialist, who last year won Olympic bronze and world championship silver in the team pursuit, came out top after an uncharacteristically controlled and tactical race which only blew apart on Saturday's penultimate mountain stage. Until that point, an unprecedented 48 riders were still within one and a half minutes of German race leader Christian Knees, who had inherited the yellow jersey from Manning when he was handed a ten-second fine on Friday.

Although Knee's tenure in yellow ended 24 hours later, the Deutsche Telecom team had reason to celebrate yesterday when they took their third stage win of the race, plus the under-23 and points classifications.

Indeed the latter competition was won in style, with green jersey holder David Kopp benefitting from a sleek lead out by his team-mates to storm to a convincing sprint victory, one length clear of Sweden's Niclas Ekstrom and former South African national champion Malcolm Lange. Meath Cycleway's Eugene Moriarty capped off a good week by placing fifth in the hectic dash for the line.

As much as yesterday's O'Connell street criterium was a great spectacle and one watched by the largest crowd of recent years, the final outcome of this suspense-loaded race was essentially decided on Saturday's tough 106 mile leg from Dungarvan to Bunclody. Up to that point the week's action had been defined by cool, calculating team work which saw the GB and German teams keep a tight hold on the race.

But in the final 30 miles the peloton finally blew apart as the riders crossed the leg-breaking first category ascents of The Heights, Corrabut Gap and Mount Leinster, a daunting, devastating battleground which saw many fancied contenders falter and Manning prove that he was the strongest rider in the race.

Passing early leader Ray Clarke, who had broken clear in an ultimately foiled effort to retain the lead in the mountains classification, Manning bridged powerfully up to the Derry rider's former breakaway companion Nicholas White and rode strongly from there to the finish to reclaim the lead.

David McCann of the Irish team was third, outsprinting Pole Jaroslaw Welniak and finishing 13 seconds clear of the yellow jersey group which also contained Irishmen David O'Loughlin, Keith Gallagher and the ever-consistent Paul Griffin, who has been one of the surprises of the race.

Indeed O'Loughlin (8th) and Griffin (9th), plus 14th placed Paddy Moriarty were the best of the home riders, an unforeseen outcome given the expectations surrounding the Ireland Shannon Oaks team before the race. Their challenge proved somewhat unconvincing over the eight days, although the stage wins of McCann and Mark Scanlon, plus Morgan Fox's temporary hold of the green jersey are some consolation.

The net result is the second overseas winner in two years. Manning was understandably jubilant about his win. "It is great to come out on top, and being the first Englishman to do so really makes me feel I have done something special. The race worked out exactly as we planned on Saturday - it was just a waiting game until the climbs at the end and then I gave it everything."

STAGE EIGHT: (Dublin city centre criterium): 1, D Kopp (Germany Deutsche Telecom) 57 mins 17 seconds; 2, N Ekstrom (Sweden Malerengi); 3, M Lange (South Africa HSBC); 4, A Greipel (Germany Deutsche Telecom); 5, E Moriarty (Meath Cycleways); 6, H Oldin (Sweden Malerengi); 7, F De Jager (Holland BRC Kennemerland); 8, P West (Great Britain); 9, T Evans (Ireland); 10, E O'Donoghue (Carlow Dan Morrissey) all same time.

Cycleways Primes: 1: P Wedge (Canada Jet Fuel Coffee); 2: K Zasada (Poland Legia); 3: McCann; 4: A Malarczyk (Wales).

International team, stage: Germany Deutsche Telecom. County team, stage: Carlow Dan Morrissey.

Final overall standings: 1, P Manning (Great Britain) 25 hours 52 mins 31 secs; 2, N White (South Africa HSBC) at 41 secs; 3, C Knees (Germany Deutsche Telecom) at 1 min 8 secs; 4, D Chassot (Switzerland GS Ficonseils) at 1 min 15 secs; 5, J Crookham (Canada Jet Fuel Coffee) same time; 6, J. Welniak (Poland Legia) at 1 min 36; 7, D McKenzie (Switzerland GS Ficonseils) at 1 min 41 secs; 8, D. O'Loughlin (Mayo Connacht Gold) at 1 min 44 secs; 9, P Griffin (Dublin Iarnrod Eireann) at 1 min 49 secs; 10, P. Wedge (Canada Jet Fuel coffee) same time.

Points: 1, Kopp, 74 pts; 2, McKenzie, 50; 3, Moriarty, 46 pts.

Mountains: 1, White, 130 pts; 2, Clarke, 108 pts; 3, Moriarty, 68.