A deposed race leader, a new yellow jersey in the form of Irishman David O'Loughlin, the collapse of the challenge of a number of highly placed favourites and shattered, glassy-eyed, sweat-soaked riders trailing in up to an hour after stage winner Kristoffer Ingeby of Sweden.
Yesterday's fourth stage was billed as one of the most crucial of this year's FBD Milk Ras, and the marathon, 120-mile slog from Oughterard to Listowel proved to be just that.
A sedate start to yesterday's action could have been excused. But instead, 30 riders capitalised on the fears of the bunch by jumping clear just five miles into the stage and speeding to a quick advantage. For those left behind, it was a moment to weigh up percentages, calculate gambles. Go with the break, and risk blowing up before the finish, or stay in the bunch and hope that the leaders would run out of steam on the undulating roads near Listowel. Ultimately, the more conservative approach proved costly.
Little surprise, really, considering the composition of the leading break and the identity of those stranded behind. So much to gain: eight of the top 20 riders were up front, including O'Loughlin, Ingeby, Eugene Moriarty, Julian Winn and Aidan Duff (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th overall) and these were committed to improving their overall standings and distancing both the yellow jersey, Mark Lovatt, and other contenders such as Patrick Moriarty (second overall), Stephen O'Sullivan (third) and fourth-placed Gethin Butler.
It made for terrific racing. Aided partly by a tailwind, but owing mainly to the unselfish commitment exhibited by Eugene Moriarty's Ireland teammates Tommy Evans and Philip Cassidy - who was particularly impressive - the gap grew quickly as the escapees averaged 31 miles in the first hour. By the second category climb of Gortnamearcaun the main field languished over four minutes behind, with 22-year-old O'Loughlin becoming yellow jersey on the road.
And so it continued. Various groups forged clear of the bunch attempting to get back on terms. The breakaways' unity was disrupted by a number of temporary splits, but the advantage remained. With 20 miles to go O'Loughlin and Monday's stage victor, Winn, raced ahead, and looked to have the stage between them when their advantage grew to 50 seconds.
But once again Cassidy and Evans hooked up and rode themselves into the ground in attempting to pave the way for Moriarty to win into his home town.
It would have been a popular result, but the droves of supporters were left disappointed when Ingeby jumped clear in the streets of Listowel and crossed the line alone, arms aloft. Moriarty, though, has the considerable consolation of jumping from seventh to third overall, now only one minute and 32 seconds in arrears and with a realistic chance of winning.
The day, the accolades and now the yellow jersey belonged, however, to Italy-based O'Loughlin, who improved four places to the top of the leaderboard.
Stage Four (Oughterard-Listowel, 120 miles) - 1, K Ingeby (Sweden Malarenergi) 4 hrs 33 mins 17 secs; 2, J Winn (Wales) at 9 secs; 3, M Salumets (Estonia); 4, W Randle (England ProVision); 5, E Moriarty (International Cargo Services Ireland); 6, R Riddle (Scotland Union Transport); 7, A Duff (Carlow Dan Morrissey); 8, J Wright (GB Prickett); 9, D O'Louglin (Mayo NCF); 10, T Evans (International Cargo Services Ireland) all same time.
General classification - 1, D O'Loughlin 15 hrs 17 mins 34 secs; 2, K Ingeby at 1 min 17 secs; 3, E Moriarty at 1 min 32; 4, J Winn at 2:07; 5, A Duff at 2:19; 6, W Randle at 3:21; 7, M Lovatt (England Pro-Vision) at 3:55; 8, P Moriarty (Dublin Skip Hire) at 4:08; 9, S Faruhn (Germany Telecom) at 4:37; 10, G Butler (England Surrey Racing) at 4:38.
Ben McKenna Memorial Competition (best under-23 rider) - 1, D O'Louglin 15 hrs 17 mins 57 secs; 2, J McCarthy (Kerry) at 15:57 secs; 3, S Prendergast (Dublin Usher) at 30:06..
Category 2 overall - 1, T Barry (Cork Triton Ventilux) 15 hrs 36 mins 25 secs; 2, A Donnellan (UCD) same time; 3, P Nolan (Meath Avonmore) at 11:58.
National Teams, stage: 1, Ireland International Cargo Services; 2, Sweden Malarenergi; 3, Estonia; overall: 1, Sweden; 2, England ProVision; 3, Ireland. County Teams, stage: 1, Kildare Cahill Cycles; 2, Meath East; 3, Dublin Skip Hire; overall: 1, Kildare; 2, Meath East; 3, Derry Clarke Contracts.
KOM Category 2 (at Gortnamearacaun): 1, T Vleugels (Belgium DCM); 2, J Winn; 3, S Faruhn; KOM Category 3 (at Ardagh): 1, J Winn; 2, D O'Loughlin; 3, S Faruhn. KOM Cate- gory 3 (at Athea): 1, J Winn; 2, D O'Loughlin; 3, J Wright. Mountains Overall: 1, S Faruhn; 2, J Winn; 3, B Kenneally (Tipperary Kieran Bourke)
Points competition: 1, J Winn; 2, W Randle; 3, D McCann (Derry Clarke Contracts)
