CYCLING/Junior Tour: The French-based Stephen Roche team yesterday took their third stage win in four days in the M. Donnelly-sponsored Junior Tour. First-year junior Anthony Esposito outsprinted 10 others in a twisting, technical dash to the finish in Carrick-on-Suir, while his team-mate Nicolas Roche rode strongly during the stage and finished sixth across the line, comfortably retaining his overall advantage over all his chief rivals.

By Shane Stokes

Esposito's impressive win came after a day spent out front with Stena Ireland rider Páidí O'Brien, the two going clear eight miles after the start in Carrick and joining forces to open up a lead of 50 seconds over the chasing peloton. Two laps later, a small chasing group succeeded in catching them, and from this quintet the Dutchman Rudi Van Houts forged clear on the steep ascent of Seskin Hill and raced for home.

But Roche powered clear of the main bunch on the same climb and provided much of the impetus behind a regrouping close to the finish. His effort paved the way for Esposito's winning surge inside the final 500 metres, with the Frenchman outpacing compatriot Julien Elfares of the VC La Pomme team and the Tempo BMV Dutchman Joost Van Leijen, who moves back to second overall. O'Brien finished fourth on the stage and has inched closer to Roche in the King of the Mountains classification.

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