The Final Stage

By Gerard Cromwell

As is customary with final stages, today's eighth stage of the FBD MILK RAS saw little change in the overall standings.Paul Manning was optimistic about his chances of retaining yellow at the start. "I think this stage should suit us really, " he said, "The guys should be able to keep it together, but I won't be celebrating until I cross the line."

With the German Telekom team, Polish Legia team and the Great Britain squad keeping the speed high at the front of the race there was no chance to escape. Peter Wedges of Canada Jet Fuel Coffee took the first prime of the day, with Tommy Evans (Ireland Shannon Oaks Hotel) in second. Julian Winn last year's victor had a ten second gap at one stage, but with the sprinters massing at the front, stayed away for just two laps. Former yellow jersey Dirk Reichl (Telekom), Aiden Duff (Ireland) and David MCann (Ireland) were all reeeled in in turn, by the fast moving peleton.Coming down the finishing straight the pink cald Telekom team were at full stretch leading out sprinter and points leader David Kopp. Kopp took hie second stage win of the Ras, with Nicklas Ekstrom of Sweden Malarenergi 2nd and Malcolm Lange of South Africa 3rd .

Kopp held onto his green points jersey, while 19-year-old teammate Christian Knees took home the Irish Sports Council white jersey of best under 23 rider.

Nicholas White of South africa HSBC won the King of the Mountains competition, while the international team competition was won by the Polish Legia Baszylisek squad.

The Carlow quintet of Eddie O'Donoghue, Martin O'loughlin, Michael Mulcahy, Andy Roche and Joe Fenlon won the county team prize, while Matt Slattery from Kerry took the prize for first second category rider. "At the start of the race we didn't know what we were capable of." said Nick White of the South African team, who have won two stages, hte King of the Mountains competition and took second overall. "Towards the end of the week we started to find our legs and came good. I'm really happy. We are a professional team and from here we go to the Tour of Bose in Canada and after that we have some good races back home."

Olympic bronze medallist and world track chmpionship silver medallist, Paul Manning crossed the line in the main field to win the FBD MILK RAS outright. John Herety manager of the Great Britain team and former professional rider was happy to have finally broken the British curse on the Ras. "It took a long time to get an English winner, but this time around we had a pretty stylish guy to do it with."

Results

Dermot Dignam, Race Organiser,
receives a souvenir jersey from the manager
of the German Telekom Team.

There are also great pictures and more stories on IrishCycling.com.

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