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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
FRUSTRATION FOR STRONG DEIGNAN, TOP FIFTEEN FOR POWER AND CASSIDY
By Shane Stokes
3 Sep 2004,
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| Philip Deignan |
Promising young Irish rider Philip Deignan had another good showing on today’s third stage of the world-ranked Tour of Britain, becoming race leader on the road when he gained thirteen minutes on the main field with two breakaway companions.
Deignan was forced to drop back to the main field when the two riders – US Postal’s Benjamin Noval and Navigator Insurance’s Victor Rapinski – indicated they were not willing to work with him in the break due to his high overall position, and the related likelihood that the peloton would work to bring them back.
A frustrated Deignan sat up and returned to the main field, but did take a two second time bonus which ensured he would move from twentieth to fifteenth in the overall standings by the end of the day. He is hoping to move into the top ten with a strong ride on tomorrow’s tough penultimate stage in South Wales.
Fellow Irish riders Ciarán Power (Navigators Insurance) and Tim Cassidy (Grant Thornton Team Ireland) finished strongly in the bunch sprint, despite both riders nearly coming down inside the final few kilometres. Today’s 192.1 kilometre race to Nottingham was won by double Tour de France stage winner Tom Boonen, who sprinted in ahead of Paride Grillo (Ceramiche Panaria) and Julian Dean (Credit Agricole) in the mass burst for the line. Race leader Mauricio Ardila (Chocolade Jacques) successfully defended his overall lead.
(for Shane Stokes’ complete report on the Tour of Britain go to www.cyclingnews.com)
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