Stage 4 - Ballina - Letterkenny 172.50 kms     <Previous Stage>     <Next Stage>

DAWSON’S DAY IN THE RAIN -- STAGE 4
Stage four of the FBD Milk Ras in Ireland produced the first English stage winner in Life Repair’s Kevin Dawson, who rode into the finish almost a minute clear of the remnants of a small break he escaped with in the second half of the stage. Yet another day of awful weather once again taxed the riders to the full. Heavy rain throughout the 172 kilometres of racing didn’t prevent some aggressive racing.

An early break of 13 riders looked promising and included John Tanner, Steve Cummings, Paul Manning and David O'Loughlin of Ireland. Interestingly, the Irish team decided to chase the break down despite O’Loughlin’s presence and although the 13 had two minutes on the field at one point, it was gradually whittled down over 40 miles and they were finally caught.

Further attacks which then followed were largely nullified, until eight riders went clear with about 30 miles to go. In the break was Kevin Dawson, who had unexpectedly lost time on the second stage. His earlier misfortune now worked to his advantage as with no threats to the overall standings in the group, the chase wasn’t totally committed.

Dawson helped to drive the break along at a high pace – the stage average speed was over 25mph – and he gradually shed four of his companions, before riding clear to claim the stage win with almost a minute to spare. Back in the main bunch the GB team were getting that Groundhog feeling as Chris Newton fell victim to a wayward Team Down Under rider who brought him off in the closing seconds, in almost identical circumstances to Bryan Steel 24 hours earlier. Newton was checked over by the race doctor and passed fit to race again, despite some nasty cuts to his arm.

Steel has not been so lucky – he banged his head in his crash and travelled home today having been withdrawn from the race as a precaution. The remaining four GB riders remain in the leading group of 17 riders who are still within touch of the race leader, Tommy Evans, along with Tanner and Lovatt. Tomorrow (Thursday) sees a more undulating profile to the stage, including some short stretches requiring an exceptional 39 by 25 tooth gearing combination. We’ll bring you news of what promises to be a critical stage as soon as we get it.

Results
1 Dawson,Kevin Lancaster Life Repair Group 4h09'12"
2 Kohler,Patrick Germany Rg Gutersloh/Neheim 49"
3 Medyannikov,Andrey Kazakhstan 50"
4 Moriaty,Eugene Meath Lee Strand Cycleways 59"
5 Ahern,Brian Kildare HirEquip 02'21"
6 Holmkvist,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia 02'30"
7 Iglinskiv,Maxim Kazakhstan 02'30"
8 Bazayev,Assan Kazakhstan 02'30"
9 Finnegan,Derek Meath Donnelly Avonmore 02'30"
10 Biermann,Sven Germany Rg Gutersloh/Neheim 02'30"
11 Evans,Thomas Ireland - Irish Sports Council 02'30"
12 Worthington,Dave Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk 02'30"
13 Larsen,Michael Denmark Jylland-Fyn 02'30"
14 Griffin,Paul Dublin Iarnród Eireann 02'30"
15 Lergard,Tobias Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia 02'30"
16 O'Loughlin,David Ireland - Irish Sports Council 02'30"
17 Hillard,John Paul Dublin Skip 02'30"
18 Haynes,Hamish England North West Division 02'30"
19 Belsham,Christopher England primera-bournemouth 02'30"
20 McLeod,Ian South Africa Team HSBC 02'30"
21 Segarsall,Mikael Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia 02'30"
22 Tanner,John Lancaster Life Repair Group 02'30"
23 Lovkvist,Thomas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia 02'30"
24 Ljungblad,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia 02'30"
25 Peppard,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann 02'30"
26 Barras,Tom Australia Team Down Under 02'30"
27 Roche,Greg Wales Energy Cycles Principia 02'30"
28 McMahon,Kieran Dublin Iarnród Eireann 02'30"
29 Page,Kieran Great Britain 02'30"
30 Charlesworth,John England primera-bournemouth 02'30"
31 Morgan,Roger Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk 02'30"
32 Gallagher,Keith Kildare North 02'30"
33 Fenlon,Joe Tipperary Dan Morrissey 02'30"
34 Smith,Neil Lincoln 02'30"
35 Hojgaard,Ari Denmark Jylland-Fyn 02'30"
36 Clarke,Raymond Meath Lee Strand Cycleways 02'30"
37 Stewart,Brian Dublin Usher Insulations 02'30"
38 Melville,Matt Cambridge Team Dataphonics 02'30"
39 Svatek,Matt USA Team Sportsbook.com 02'30"
40 Moriaty,Patrick Dublin Skip 02'30"
41 Manning,Paul Great Britain 02'30"
42 Lovatt,Mark Lancaster Life Repair Group 02'30"
43 Kelly,Feargal Wicklow Sahara 02'30"
44 Horgan,John Dublin Skip 02'30"
45 Howes,Jeff South Africa Team HSBC 02'30"
46 Mulcahy,Michael Dublin Usher Insulations 02'30"
47 Norfolk,Jamie Wales Stena Line 02'30"
48 Eastham,Richard England primera-bournemouth 02'30"
49 Harris,Brian Wicklow Sahara 02'30"
50 Finegan,Philip Meath Lee Strand Cycleways 02'30"
51 Berkeley,David Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk 02'30"
52 Brady,Tony Meath Donnelly Avonmore 02'30"
53 Sweetman,Craig Meath Donnelly Avonmore 02'30"
54 Perera,Lawrence USA Team Sportsbook.com 02'30"
55 O'Sullivan,Stephen Meath Lee Strand Cycleways 02'30"
56 Dodd,Gary Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk 02'30"
57 Hooker,Ross Kildare HirEquip 02'30"
58 Jones,Gareth Wales Energy Cycles Principia 02'30"
59 Greenwood,Ben Lancaster Life Repair Group 02'30"
60 Bracken,Colm Dublin Iarnród Eireann 02'30"
61 Barry,Tim Tipperary Dan Morrissey 02'30"
62 Estadieu,Laurent Cambridge Team Dataphonics 02'30"
63 McLeavey,Mark Dublin Skip 02'30"
64 Dobbin,James Lincoln 02'30"
65 Briggs,Graham Lancaster Life Repair Group 02'30"
66 McDonald,Scott Dublin Orwell 02'30"
67 Dempsey,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann 02'30"
68 O'Leary,Frank Dublin Usher Insulations 02'30"
69 Varley,Christian England North West Division 02'30"
70 Crowley,Aidan Meath Lee Strand Cycleways 02'30"
71 Greene,Tom Kildare Newbridge 02'30"
72 Brondberg,Carl Henning Denmark Jylland-Fyn 02'30"
73 Enslin,Rob Cambridge Team Dataphonics 02'30"
74 Devins,Michael Mayo Galway Bay 02'30"
75 Elliott,Malcolm London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc 02'30"
76 Peelo,David Dublin Usher Insulations 02'30"
77 Gorbachevskiy,Vadin Kazakhstan 02'30"
78 Hoy,Justin Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk 02'30"
79 Donnellan,Andrew Ireland - Irish Sports Council 02'30"
80 Larsen,Brian Denmark Jylland-Fyn 02'30"
81 Spence,Daniel South Africa Team HSBC 02'30"
82 McCormack,Fintan Kildare Newbridge 02'30"
83 Harrigan,David Australia Team Down Under 02'30"
84 Power,Ciarán Ireland - Irish Sports Council 02'30"
85 Cahill,Ritchie Tipperary Dan Morrissey 02'30"
86 Muir,Ross Lincoln 02'30"
87 Roche,Laurence Kildare North 02'30"
88 O'Donoghue,Edward Dublin Usher Insulations 02'30"
89 Barker,Yanto Wales Stena Line 02'30"
90 Cummings,Steve Great Britain 02'30"
91 Kenwright,Nick USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj 02'30"
92 Hallam,Ben Cambridge Team Dataphonics 02'30"
93 Kenneally,Brian Tipperary Dan Morrissey 02'30"
94 Hedderman,Adrian Dublin Skip 02'30"
95 Swithenbank,Neil England North West Division 02'30"
96 Kelly,Simon Mayo Galway Bay 02'30"
97 Stevenson,Cody Australia Team Down Under 02'30"
98 Yates,Matthew Australia Team Down Under 02'30"
99 Newton,Chris Great Britain 02'30"
100 Finn,Eamon Dublin Orwell 04'01"
101 Murphy,Conor Kildare HirEquip 04'22"
102 Poad,Jaaron Australia Team Down Under 05'13"
103 Lynch,Brian Dublin Orwell 11'36"
104 Leech,Ryan USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj 11'36"
105 Mulligan,Paul Kildare HirEquip 11'56"
106 Ball,James South Africa Team HSBC 11'56"
107 Caddow,Martin Dublin Orwell 13'39"
108 Hodges Myerson,Adam USA Team Sportsbook.com 24'26"
109 Howells,Stephen London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc 28'16"
110 Gibson,Stephen England primera-bournemouth 28'16"
111 Beck,Josh USA Team Sportsbook.com 32'08"
112 Sheppard,Paul Wales Stena Line 32'08"
113 McCaughley,Dara Meath Donnelly Avonmore 32'08"
114 Rose,George Wales Stena Line 38'44"
115 Reade,Aidan Mayo Galway Bay 38'44"
116 Keane,Cathal Mayo Galway Bay 38'44"
117 O'Sullivan,Keith Wicklow Sahara 38'44"
118 Kinch,Declan Wicklow Sahara 38'44"
119 Adams,Isaiah USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj 42'30"
120 Furley,Sean London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc 42'30"
121 Tansey,David Dublin Orwell 42'30"
122 Wall,John Kildare North 42'30"
123 Marrey,Padraig Mayo Galway Bay 42'30"
124 Brindley,Matt Lincoln 42'30"
125 Sheehan,Gary Kildare North 46'09"
126 Cunningham,Derek Wicklow Sahara 46'09"

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Evans,Thomas Ireland - Irish Sports Council 16h18'47
2 Hojgaard,Ari Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 04"
3 Holmkvist,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 27"
4 Lovkvist,Thomas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 29"
5 Bazayev,Assan Kazakhstan @ 30"
6 Griffin,Paul Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 30"
7 O'Loughlin,David Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 30"
8 Manning,Paul Great Britain @ 30"
9 Tanner,John Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 30"
10 Lergard,Tobias Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 30"
11 Haynes,Hamish England North West Division @ 30"
12 Page,Kieran Great Britain @ 30"
13 Power,Ciarán Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 30"
14 Newton,Chris Great Britain @ 30"
15 Moriaty,Patrick Dublin Skip @ 30"
16 Lovatt,Mark Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 30"
17 Cummings,Steve Great Britain @ 30"
18 McLeod,Ian South Africa Team HSBC @ 01'24"
19 Medyannikov,Andrey Kazakhstan @ 07'37"
20 Dodd,Gary Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 09'03"
21 Kelly,Simon Mayo Galway Bay @ 09'17"
22 Donnellan,Andrew Ireland - Irish Sports Council @ 09'44"
23 Ljungblad,Jonas Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 12'30"
24 Worthington,Dave Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 12'30"
25 Smith,Neil Lincoln @ 12'30"
26 Barker,Yanto Wales Stena Line @ 12'30"
27 Cahill,Ritchie Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 12'30"
28 Dawson,Kevin Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 12'48"
29 Kohler,Patrick Germany Rg Gutersloh/Neheim @ 13'37"
30 Moriaty,Eugene Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 13'47"
31 Ahern,Brian Kildare HirEquip @ 15'09"
32 Gallagher,Keith Kildare North @ 15'13"
33 Harrigan,David Australia Team Down Under @ 15'13"
34 Stevenson,Cody Australia Team Down Under @ 15'14"
35 Elliott,Malcolm London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc @ 15'18"
36 Mulcahy,Michael Dublin Usher Insulations @ 15'18"
37 O'Donoghue,Edward Dublin Usher Insulations @ 15'18"
38 Fenlon,Joe Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 15'18"
39 Charlesworth,John England primera-bournemouth @ 15'18"
40 Belsham,Christopher England primera-bournemouth @ 15'18"
41 Clarke,Raymond Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 15'18"
42 Segarsall,Mikael Sweden Bianchi Scandinavia @ 15'18"
43 Spence,Daniel South Africa Team HSBC @ 15'18"
44 Larsen,Brian Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 16'02"
45 Barry,Tim Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 16'28"
46 Gorbachevskiy,Vadin Kazakhstan @ 16'39"
47 Muir,Ross Lincoln @ 16'39"
48 Biermann,Sven Germany Rg Gutersloh/Neheim @ 17'50"
49 Morgan,Roger Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 21'17"
50 McMahon,Kieran Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 24'05"
51 Stewart,Brian Dublin Usher Insulations @ 24'05"
52 Eastham,Richard England primera-bournemouth @ 24'05"
53 O'Sullivan,Stephen Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 24'05"
54 Howes,Jeff South Africa Team HSBC @ 24'05"
55 Peelo,David Dublin Usher Insulations @ 24'05"
56 Dempsey,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 24'05"
57 Iglinskiv,Maxim Kazakhstan @ 24'24"
58 Jones,Gareth Wales Energy Cycles Principia @ 25'26"
59 Poad,Jaaron Australia Team Down Under @ 26'48"
60 Horgan,John Dublin Skip @ 30'01"
61 Berkeley,David Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 30'01"
62 Estadieu,Laurent Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 30'01"
63 Enslin,Rob Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 30'01"
64 Hallam,Ben Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 30'01"
65 Brondberg,Carl Henning Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 31'44"
66 Murphy,Conor Kildare HirEquip @ 31'53"
67 Kenneally,Brian Tipperary Dan Morrissey @ 32'00"
68 Peppard,John Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 32'01"
69 Svatek,Matt USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 33'15"
70 Norfolk,Jamie Wales Stena Line @ 41'34"
71 Hoy,Justin Surrey Team gbcycles.co.uk @ 42'55"
72 Barras,Tom Australia Team Down Under @ 45'15"
73 McDonald,Scott Dublin Orwell @ 45'15"
74 Swithenbank,Neil England North West Division @ 45'41"
75 Kenwright,Nick USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj @ 47'30"
76 Roche,Greg Wales Energy Cycles Principia @ 48'03"
77 Melville,Matt Cambridge Team Dataphonics @ 48'03"
78 Hooker,Ross Kildare HirEquip @ 48'03"
79 Finegan,Philip Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 48'03"
80 Perera,Lawrence USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 48'03"
81 Larsen,Michael Denmark Jylland-Fyn @ 48'03"
82 Hedderman,Adrian Dublin Skip @ 48'03"
83 Greenwood,Ben Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 48'51"
84 Briggs,Graham Lancaster Life Repair Group @ 49'24"
85 Dobbin,James Lincoln @ 49'24"
86 Sheppard,Paul Wales Stena Line @ 53'43"
87 Ball,James South Africa Team HSBC @ 57'29"
88 Bracken,Colm Dublin Iarnród Eireann @ 57'41"
89 Yates,Matthew Australia Team Down Under @ 59'23"
90 Finnegan,Derek Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h00'43"
91 Beck,Josh USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h02'53"
92 Mulligan,Paul Kildare HirEquip @ 1h04'34"
93 Varley,Christian England North West Division @ 1h05'05"
94 Crowley,Aidan Meath Lee Strand Cycleways @ 1h05'30"
95 Hillard,John Paul Dublin Skip @ 1h06'08"
96 Hodges Myerson,Adam USA Team Sportsbook.com @ 1h06'22"
97 Greene,Tom Kildare Newbridge @ 1h07'32"
98 O'Leary,Frank Dublin Usher Insulations @ 1h07'41"
99 Marrey,Padraig Mayo Galway Bay @ 1h10'01"
100 Roche,Laurence Kildare North @ 1h12'40"
101 Gibson,Stephen England primera-bournemouth @ 1h14'37"
102 Sweetman,Craig Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h15'10"
103 Brady,Tony Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h15'10"
104 Devins,Michael Mayo Galway Bay @ 1h21'35"
105 Lynch,Brian Dublin Orwell @ 1h23'13"
106 McLeavey,Mark Dublin Skip @ 1h23'37"
107 Leech,Ryan USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj @ 1h28'14"
108 Kelly,Feargal Wicklow Sahara @ 1h32'57"
109 Harris,Brian Wicklow Sahara @ 1h32'57"
110 McCaughley,Dara Meath Donnelly Avonmore @ 1h35'10"
111 Rose,George Wales Stena Line @ 1h35'38"
112 Brindley,Matt Lincoln @ 1h37'41"
113 Howells,Stephen London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc @ 1h39'44"
114 Sheehan,Gary Kildare North @ 1h41'20"
115 Finn,Eamon Dublin Orwell @ 1h45'35"
116 McCormack,Fintan Kildare Newbridge @ 1h50'45"
117 Reade,Aidan Mayo Galway Bay @ 1h51'06"
118 O'Sullivan,Keith Wicklow Sahara @ 1h51'24"
119 Adams,Isaiah USA Bici Imports-CSN-Rudy Proj @ 2h03'37"
120 Keane,Cathal Mayo Galway Bay @ 2h05'00"
121 Tansey,David Dublin Orwell @ 2h12'57"
122 Kinch,Declan Wicklow Sahara @ 2h22'34"
123 Cunningham,Derek Wicklow Sahara @ 2h30'52"
124 Wall,John Kildare North @ 2h35'10"
125 Caddow,Martin Dublin Orwell @ 2h35'59"
126 Furley,Sean London Irish Team Sdeals/Jbc @ 2h51'03"