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Last Updated: Feb 2nd, 2010 - 19:01:59 |
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| Local politician Enda Kenny, Leader of the Fine Gael party presents Charles Prendergast and his Stena Ireland team with the race leaders jersey before the stage start. |
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| Enda Kenny does the honours to drop the flag to start the 115km stage in Castlebar |
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| Similar to the last couple of days, lots of attacks going off the front from the start |
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| At Newport the race is all together |
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| A few riders are just off the front of the bunch as they go into Mulranney |
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| We turn north for Bangor Erris and the scenery again is stunning today |
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| Strong north westerly crosswinds cause the riders accross the road |
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| Once we hit the long straights, the lineouts start |
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| Two riders clip away and open a gap of 45 seconds |
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| Race leader Charles Prendergast who was inactive early on goes to the front |
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| The two leaders are now joined by two more |
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| A short distance later, one rider goes ahead on his own |
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| It is the young South African rider, Louis Meintjes who won stage three |
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| The bunch is holding Meintjes at around 40 seconds |
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| The leader Meintjes passing an old man with his donkey and cart, a sight that brings one back to the old days in rural Ireland |
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| Meintjes powers on in windy conditions still holding a sizable gap |
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| As we pass the Shell Gas pipeline terminal three more riders have joined the leader |
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| Another 4 riders are about 50 meters behind, but instead of riding across the gap as a group they attach one another and only two of them make it into the leading group |
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| The leaders with 15 km to go have opened the gap to around 2 minutes |
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| Prendergast has taken matters into his own hands and sets chase to hold onto his yellow jersey |
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| The leaders are all riding through along the coast road to Ballycastle |
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| The other riders in the chase group can not stay with Prendergast over the two KOM primes before the finish |
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| 3km to go and the leading group is still together |
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| At the finish Matt Bailey who had the leaders jersey on Wednesday, won the stage into Ballycastle and goes back into the Yellow jersey |
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| The podium after stage 4 from Castlebar to Ballycastle |
M. Donnelly Junior Tour, stage four, Castlebar/Ballycastle 113kms.
Details:
1 M. Bailey (BCF West Midlands), 3hrs.10mins.38secs;
2 P. Wiliams (Stena Ireland), same time;
3 L. Meinjtes (South Africa), st;
4 L. Brooking (North of England), @3secs;
5 A. van Wachtendonk (WV Eemland/Holland), @8secs;
6 M. Gregg (North of England), @22secs;
7 J. Segers (Hand in Hand Baal), @1.24secs;
8 C. Prendergast (Stena Ireland), st.
Overall after four stages:
1 Bailey, 9.02.25;
2 Meintjes, @7 secs;
3 Prendergast, @50;
4 Brooking, @52;
5 D. Schils (Lotto Olympia Interbike), @1.39;
6 JC Nell (South Africa), @1.41:
7 P Bowater (BCF West Midlands), @1.47;
8 R. de Greef (Tempo BMV), @1.51.
Points: Bailey.
Mountains: Meinjtes.
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