The stage was set for a final attempt to break the stranglehold that
Bonca’s Slovenia Perutnina team had put on the Ras with a hilly 149km
final road stage from Carrick-on-Suir to Tallow. If anyone was going to
threaten for the lead it would be over the nine categorised climbs
before Sunday’s critirium in Dublin’s Phoneix Park.

The day got off to a blistering start with the peleton clocking
40-45mph on the flat at times and riders were soon being dropped on the
first category three climb. At the front, the Slovenian team, tiring
from a week of protecting yellow jersey Valter Bonca were soon under
attack from Ireland’s McCann and O’Loughlin along with Nally (Galway).

On the last category one climb of Mount Leinster, Bonca found it hard
to keep in contact with O’Loughlin who started the day just three
seconds down on the leader but it was McCann’s descent that finally
broke Bonca and at one point McCann went clear by over a minute. With 20k left to go that lead was down to just 26 seconds but now
O’Loughlin now making life difficult for Bonca. The yellow jersey’s support had run out and he dropped back into one of the three chasing groups
a minute down.

At the line, Anthony Malarczyk (Wales Stena Line) and Dermot Nally were
27 seconds back with Kimmo Kananen (Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic) and
Kevin Dawson (Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn) coming in at 36 seconds. Bonca
then arrived in a group led by Malcolm Elliott (Yorkshire Murphy &
Gunn) some 59 seconds off the pace. That was more than enough to give
the yellow jersey to McCann and almost guarantee him a Ras win in the
final critirium stage on Sunday.

Saturday’s result:

1. McCann,David (Ireland Thorntons Recycling) 3h30’29”
2. Malarczyk,Anthony (Wales Stena Line) +27″
3. Nally,Dermot (Galway) s/t
4. Kananen,Kimmo (Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic) +36″
5. Dawson,Kevin (Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn) s/t
6. Elliott,Malcolm (Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn) 59″
7. Oliphant,Evan (Great Britain U23) s/t
8. O’Brien,Paidi (Cork Kanturk Credit Union) s/t
9. O’Loughlin,David (Ireland Thorntons Recycling) s/t
10. Pritchard,Huw (Wales Stena Line) s/t

1. McCann,David (Ireland Thorntons Recycling) 25h58’41”
2. Bonca,Valter (Slovenia Perutnina) +36″
3. O’Loughlin,David (Ireland Thorntons Recycling) +39″
4. Nally,Dermot (Galway) +01’03”
5. Elliott,Malcolm (Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn) +01’44”
6. Lynch,Denis (Ireland Thorntons Recycling) +01’46”
7. Malarczyk,Anthony (Wales Stena Line) +02’18”
8. Cohnen,Stefan (Germany ComNet Senges) +02’54”
9. Lergard,Tobias (Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic) +02’55”
10 . Lovatt,Mark (Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn) +03’04”

Points Competition

1. McCann,D 72
2. Elliott,M 66
3. Nally,D 64

Team General Classification

1. Ireland Thorntons Recycling 77h57’19”
2. Yorkshire Murphy & Gunn @ 04’29”
3. Scandinavia Bianchi Nordic @ 09’02”