The American visitors showed their class on the Junior Tour today, with a clean sweep on stage 4 led by Jack Maddux (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
Jack Maddux of the US-based Hot Tubes Team won today’s fourth stage of the International Junior Tour of Ireland.
Defending champion Eddie Dunbar survived another day of relentless attacks.
Maddux was part of a select group of riders that contested the finish in the town of Whitegate in the east of Co Clare.
It was a memorable day for the Americans - who have won the race outright on four occasions - as they scored a fabulous 1-2-3 for the day but were still unable to dislodge any of the jersey wearers.
Chief among those is the yellow jersey of Corkman Dunbar, who took control of the race on Wednesday with a stunning solo victory.
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Since then he has looked unshakable, though his three Irish teammates can take a lot of the credit for that as the race heads into the penultimate day tomorrow.
Michael O’Loughlin, Stephen Shanahan and Daire Feeley were visible at the front all day today as they chased down attack after attack.
And they were still there at the finish to compete for the win. But the efforts of a stage spent chasing, took the edge off their gallops.
Today’s stage took the riders 118 kilometres from Mountshannon over some very challenging roads. And with three category two climbs, it was a real war of attrition on a wet and windy day for racing.
Despite an aggressive start to the day, with many riders gunning to get up the road, no attack gained any meaningful advantage.
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Looking Good: Michael O’Loughlin held his white jersey for leader of the first-year junior category after four stages of six on the Junior Tour (Photo: Stephen McMahon – Sportsfile)
The field gradually became whittled down and by the start of the second climb of the day at Maghera at least a quarter of the bunch were dumped out the back door.
The Irish team maintained a steady tempo while also reeling in the Hot Tubes men who did their best to unsettle Dunbar.
The final climb of the day after Ogonnelloe saw a showdown of sorts, with riders from the Nicolas Roche Performance team all tried their luck, while again, Hot Tubes went again and again in a bid to shake the Irish team.
But the men in green were equal to the challenge and even managed to scoop up many of the KOH points on offer throughout the day.
Simon Tuomey, who started the day fifth on GC, was one rider in particular who never seemed content in the bunch.
The Iverk produce Carrick Wheelers man took a flier inside the final 10 kilometres but O’Loughlin summoned the strength to pull him back. And that paved the way for the sprint, with around 30 riders coming to the line together.
Tuomey and Daire Feeley both tried once more for stage glory but the Hot Tubes train proved too strong and they took their first win of the week.
So it’s as you were for tomorrow’s crucial stage which finishes on Gallows Hill. Michael O’Loughlin is in the white young rider jersey. Craig McAuley will wear the polka dot mountains’ jersey.
Matt Teggart is in the green points jersey while the irrepressible Eddie Dunbar holds yellow by over two and a half minutes.
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