Incredible Fraser Duncan makes it three road stages from three at the Tour of the North

Fraser Duncan taking his third stage victory at the Tour of the North today for his Dave Kane-Northern CC squad, ahead of Richard Hepworth of Giordana in 2nd and Phoenix CC's Brian Stewart in 3rd. (Photo Marian Lamb - Cycling Ulster)

By Gerard Cromwell

With two stage wins under his belt already in the race, Fraser Duncan has proved unstoppable at this year's Tour of the North in Ballymena and took a third victory on today's final leg in a mass bunch sprint to the line.

Having begun today in second place overall, just 11 seconds behind British race leader James Gullen, the Belfast man tried his best to dislodge the Velosure Giordana pro with plenty of aggressive riding.

Ronan McLaughlin went clear early on with North Pole teammates Marcus Christie and Rory Devlin, Conor McAllister of Cookstown, East Antrim’s Gary Cranston and British pro Tom Bustard of Velosure Giordana.

Although McLoughlin crested both of the day’s climbs at Cam Forest and Springwell at the head of the group, the Donegal man would finish two points short of the King of the Mountains jersey at the end of the stage; the polka dot jersey going home to Cork with teenager Eddie Dunbar, riding for the Ireland junior team.

Duncan and teammates Adam Armstrong and Connor Murphy launched numerous attacks in an effort to overthrow race leader Gullen.

But when his attempts to get clear and open a sufficient gap to take the yellow jersey were foiled, Duncan did the next best thing and won his third straight road stage, this time in another bunch gallop to the line.

Despite admitting to never having won a bunch sprint until yesterday, Duncan stormed home at the head of a heaving peloton for the second day running, out-sprinting Englishman Richard Hepworth of the Velosure Giordana team and Brian Stewart of Phoenix for his eighth victory of the season.

Peter Hawkins of Slane Cycles Cycling Ulster took fourth, with Stamullen M. Donnelly veteran Craig Sweetman earning his second consecutive fifth place in the gallop to the line

With no time gaps on the stage however, James Gullen retained his yellow jersey to take overall victory in this year's Tour of the North from Duncan.

Irish junior Eddie Dunbar had a very impressive ride with the seniors this weekend, winning the King of the Mountains title and finishing fifth overall after making the only successful breakaway of the weekend on Saturday's opening stage.

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Duncan took his first win of the weekend on that opening stage when he pounced from the peloton and closed up to a seven man breakaway, eventually riding clear with Gullen of the visiting UK pro team Velosure Giordana and getting the better of him in the two-up sprint to the line.

The duo's 29 seconds time gain on the rest of the escape group and their 2:03 gained on the field was to form the basis of the final general standings, despite an intervening time trial and two tough and aggressive road stages.

In the morning time trial on Sunday, while Duncan went in as leader and rode very well his 6^th place was 11 seconds off Gullen’s third spot in the test, with the visitor taking control of the yellow jersey as a result.

The Velosure Giordana outfit kept a tight rein on proceedings the past two days, controlling all of the moves, especially as sparks flew in the closing miles today, though nothing could stop Duncan taking another stage win.