CYCLING/GIRO d'ITALIA: PHILIP DEIGNAN placed a solid 59th on yesterday's second stage of the Giro d'Italia, a tough hilly leg from Cefalù to Agrigento. The stage finished with a hard climb to the line, where Deignan came in 54 seconds after the stage winner Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval - Scott).
Another Italian, Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), was fourth and took over the pink jersey from American rider Christian Vande Velde. Deignan is 70th overall heading into today's third stage, a mainly flat 221km stage to Milazzo.
"It was real hard all day, constantly up and down," Deignan said after the finish. "Slipstream rode a good tempo all day, then it got a bit crazy coming in toward the line. I got into a good position on the last lap, but I didn't have the legs at the very end."
Deignan is riding the second Grand Tour of his career and is hoping to ride into top condition during the race. "I will take things day by day, but so far so good."
Meanwhile, Pezula professional Ciarán Power continued his good run of form yesterday when he took seventh behind Dutchman Job Vissers in the 1.1 ranked Omloop de Kempen in Holland.
The Waterford pro consolidated his favourite tag for the upcoming Irish Rás, which begins next Sunday in Navan.
"I'm aiming to win it," said double Rás winner Power yesterday, "or at least help a Pezula rider win it. It should be good fun."
In Dungarvan, Seán Lacey defeated no less than four Dan Morrissey riders to take the Dungarvan Credit Union GP.
Lacey escaped alongside Rory Wyley in the closing miles and outsprinted the veteran on the climb to the finish.
Martin O'Loughlin, Joe Fenlon and Sam Bennett rounded out the top five for Dan Morrissey 15 seconds later, with Keith Gator of Comeragh sixth.
