CYCKING/Rás:For one, it was confirmation of a long-existing talent, for the other a sign of the promising future. Irishman Brian Kenneally and Dutch rider Ricardo Van der Velde were celebrating yesterday evening at the end of FBD Insurance Rás stage two in Loughrea, taking the stage win and yellow jersey respectively.

Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC rider Kenneally first won a stage in the race seven years ago. He was tipped for a pro career then, but the pieces never really fell into place. He spent some time away from the sport, gradually got back into top shape and earlier this year dominated the Irish domestic scene.

The 32-year-old was targeting a strong ride in the Rás and bounced back from a bad crash in last month's Shay Elliott memorial to realise that goal yesterday, jumping clear from a 13-man breakaway to finish two seconds clear of his fellow escapees.

"I felt a bit blocked early on but then felt much stronger later in the stage," he said. "I did two attacks - one to bridge up to the break, and then one to win the stage. A Dutch rider attacked near the end, I got on to his wheel and when he saw me there he just pulled over. As soon as I saw that, I went and was 100 per cent committed."

Tony Martin (Germany Thuringer Energy) placed second on the stage, with Paul Griffin (Ireland Subway) and Mark Cassidy (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M Donnelly Seán Kelly) making it three Irish in the top 10 when they took sixth and eighth respectively.

Overnight leader Mart Ojavee finished back in the main bunch, losing over a minute and conceding the yellow jersey to the promising Van der Velde.

The latter had started the day second overall thanks to the time bonuses gained in three of Sunday's hot spot sprints, and is now three seconds clear of Jesse Anthony (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada) in the general classification.

Kenneally is third overall, five seconds back. "A stage was the goal in the race," said the Irishman. "I would love to stay up on the overall, but in the Rás, it is easy to miss a move. We will see."

Van der Velde is on top of the pile and, at 20 years of age, also heads the best young rider classification. He and his brother are competing with a Dutch national under-23 team in the race and have clearly inherited some of their father's natural talent. Back in 1982, Johan Van der Velde finished third in the Tour de France; two-and-a-half decades on, one of his sons is in yellow and showing signs a promising pro career could be in store.

"I had the opportunity to get the yellow, but I was actually thinking more of the mountains jersey," he said. "I attacked for that and later on a group came up to us.

"We were working very hard, doing 50 to 55 kilometres per hour, and managed to stay away from the peloton. It is great to have the lead."

Van der Velde is riding only his second stage race, and so he said he will play things by ear. "If I have the lead after stage five, maybe it is possible to win," he stated.

The crucial break started approximately 50 kilometres from the finish and, by the end of the stage, all but 12 riders finished a minute or more back. Among those to concede time are former race winners David McCann (Ireland Subway Eat Fresh) and Chris Newton (Stena Line Recycling.co.uk).

The Irish national team is now likely to concentrate its efforts on the in-form Griffin, now seven seconds off yellow, while compatriots Kenneally and Cassidy are third and seventh overall and also in the hunt.

The eight-day race continues today with a mainly flat, 171km leg to Sligo.

Stage 2 (Templemore - Loughrea): 1, Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) 147km in 3 hours 22 mins 21 secs; 2, T Martin (Ger Thuringer Energy) at 2 secs; 3, R Roth (US Kelly Benefit Strategies); 4, D Rollin (US Kodak Gallery Sierra Nevada); 5, R Birkenfeld (Ger - Stevens Von Hacht); 6, P Griffin (Ireland Subway); 7, P McDonald (Aus FRF Couriers); 8, M Cassidy (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/M Donnelly Sean Kelly); 9, Y Kusters (Neth); 10, R Van der Velde (Neth).

General classification: 1, Ricardo Van der Velde (Neth) 7 hours 15 mins; 2, J Anthony (US Kodak Gallery) at 3 secs; 3, B Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) at 5 secs; 4, D Rollin (US Kodak Gallery) at 7 secs; 5, R Birkenfeld (Ger); 6, Y Kusters (Neth); 7, M Cassidy (Ireland Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group/ M Donnelly Sean Kelly); 8, P McDonald (Aus); 9, T Martin (Ger); 10, P Griffin (Ireland Subway) all same time.

Points: 1, D Rollin (US Kodak Gallery) 24; 2, R. Birkenfeld (Ger) 18; 6, Y. Kusters (Neth) 17.

Mountains: 1, J Anthony (US Kodak Gallery) 27; 2, R. Van der Velde (Neth) 23; 3, R. Birkenfeld (Ger) 9.

Under-23: 1, R Van der Velde (Neth) 7 hours 15 mins; 2, J. Anthony (US Kodak Gallery) at 3 secs; 3, Y. Kusters (Neth) at 7 secs.

County rider: 1, Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie/BDBC) 7 hours 15 mins 5 secs; 2, S. Lacey (Dublin Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group), at 1 min 6 secs; 3, B. Ahern (Dublin Dundrum Town Centre Orwell) same time.