Ryan best of BikeNZ team in Irish Tour

Timaru’s Marc Ryan is the best of the New Zealand team after three stages of the eight-day RAS cycle tour in Ireland.

Ryan is 3m 53s behind the leader Namibia’s Dan Craven (Rapha Condor Sharp) following the 171km stage from Carrick on Shannon to Oughterard.

This follows the problems yesterday when stage two was neutralised following a serious accident when a vehicle collided with a number of cyclists which blocked the road and required medical assistance for several riders.

None of the New Zealand team was involved, with Wes Gough away in the break at the head of the field at the time.

Ireland’s David O’Loughlin (An Post Sean Kelly) won today’s stage in the sprint with four riders just clear of the peloton that included Ryan, Tom Scully and Aaron Gate, with Gough and Shane Archbold in the next pack 2m35s down on the winner.

The New Zealand team, consisting of riders in BikeNZ’s endurance track programme, are using their European Tour as a key part of their preparations for upcoming Commonwealth Games.

Tomorrow is the halfway point in the tour, with the fourth stage 169kms from Oughterard to Tipperary.