RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF IRELAND STAGE 3: DOWNING DEFENDS, TAKES OVERALL

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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF IRELAND STAGE 3: DOWNING DEFENDS, TAKES OVERALL
Road Bike Action
August 23, 2009

Nordhaug, shown here at the 2006 world champions, won the final stage in Cork
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Long time British professional Russell Downing, (Candi TV) surprised the big teams by making the day's race winning break on the shortened circuits of Cork to finish second on the stage and defend his overall lead. Downing finished second to Norway’s Lars Petter Nordhaug (Joker-Bianchi).

Downing's victory came at the expense of the Saxo Bank team who tried in vain to shake him from the top spot. Going into the stage Saxo Bank had five riders within reach of Downing and in turn rode aggressively throughout the day. It was on a small hill coming into the finishing circuits that Saxo Bank finally blew the race apart with a ten man group going clear. In the group were three Saxo Bank riders, Two Columbia-HTC riders, Downing and Nordhaug.

It was then a late move with 7-kilometers remaining that saw Nordhaug, with Downing on his wheel, go clear and take the stage. Lordhaug and Downing finished 33-seconds clear of the rest of the break, allowing Lordhaug to move up to second overall.

Lance Armstrong (Astana) dropped out before the first hill of the race, ending his season with the Astana team.

Tour of Ireland Stage 3
1. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor/Joker Bianchi) 4:00:10
2. Russell Downing (GBr/Candi TV) @ s.t.
3. Matti Breschel (Den/Saxo Bank) @ .33
4. Craig Lewis (USA/Columbia-HTC) @ s.t.
5. Alexander Kolobnev (Rus/Saxo Bank)
6. Mathias Frank (Swi/BMC)
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Rabobank Continental)
8. Marco Pinotti (Ita/Columbia-HTC)
9. Karsten Kroon (Ned/Saxo Bank)
10. Denys Kostyuk (Ukr/ISD)

Final Overall Classification
1. Russell Downing (GBr/Candi TV) 14:18:03
2. Lars Nordhaug (Nor/Joker Bianchi @ .23
3. Matti Breschel (Den/Team Saxo Bank @ .43
4. Alexander Kolobnev (Rus/Saxo Bank) @ .45
5. Marco Pinotti (Ita/ Columbia-HTC @ .49
6. Mathias Frank (Swi/BMC) 1.03
7. Craig Lewis (USA/Columbia-HTC @1.05
8. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Rabobank Continental 1.06
9. Denys Kostyuk (Ukr/ISD) @ s.t.
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Saxo Bank)

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