Fox takes second Rás win, Corkery and Maes fly Irish flag | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Matthew Fox takes his second stage win at Rás Tailteann, just ahead of Team Ireland's Dillon Corkery (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

Just 24 hours after claiming his first victory on Rás Tailteann, Australian rider Matthew Fox (UK Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) has done it again. He was best in the final dash to the line at the end of 149.3km from Ennis to Castlebar.

Fox, who narrow edged out young Patrick O'Loughlin (Team Ireland) yesterday, crossed the line today ahead one of the other national team riders, Dillon Corkery, one of the favourites for the overall. Finn Crockett, the British rider who won Rás Mumhan at Easter and is riding the Rás with Irish club Foyle CC, completed the podium today.

Aside from Corkery today, there were two other Irish riders in the top 10. Richard Maes (Cork All human-VeloRevolution) placed 7th and took the county award today - not his first on Rás Tailteann - while road and track international JB Murphy (Cycling Leinster) placed 10th.

There was no change at the top of the overall, with stage 1 winner Conor McGoldrick finishing safely in the reduced peloton sprinting for victory today, indeed placing 8th, and retaining the yellow jersey. He leads by four seconds from Dan Gardner (UK Embark Spirit BSS), with Joseph Laverick (Derry Foyle CC) 3rd at six seconds.

However, one significant change in the general standings is that of Daire Feeley, last year's race winner. He was a crash victim today and is now out of the top 10 overall; a major blow for the All human-VeloRevolution rider. He had started the stage in 9th, just 20 seconds down on the race leader and with designs on retaining his title.

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While McGoldrick is still in yellow, he was required to waste a few bullets today when a dangerous 14-man breakaway group got up the road and threatened to make it all the way. In that group, among others, were Gardner and Laverick, the 2nd and 3rd placed riders overall. Their group went clear with about 70km remaining on the stage after a crash coming into Tuam caused some gaps in the bunch.

They went clear for about 30km of racing as McGoldrick stepped up and contributed significantly to the chase on the front of the peloton. Those efforts controlled the breakaway and the reeled it in; the capture made with about 40km still to race. Over the remainder of the stage, the main bit of drama was a crash about 4km from the finish, which only served to thin out the bunch even further.

However, the fight for stage honours came down to a sprint, with Fox making no mistake and forcing Corkery to wait for another day to get a coveted Rás stage win.

Aside from McGoldrick retaining the yellow jersey, sponsored by Bective Stud, he also holds the climbers' classification, which is sponsored by Cycling Ireland. The City Break Apartments points classification is led by double stage winner Matthew Fox.

Richard Maes claimed the Festina County Rider award. Conn McDunphy of Cycling Leinster is in the Sport Ireland county rider jersey while Aaron Wade of Team Ireland leads the Spin 11 U23 classification.

More to come.