Junior Tour of Ireland rider competing solo wins stage 4 | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Nick Makin and Michael Collins out front just before the finish line at the end of stage 4 of the Junior Tour of Ireland in Ennis today (Photo: Sean Rowe)*

He may be competing at the Junior Tour of Ireland as a solo rider, with no team, but that didn't stop Nick Makin of Mid Devon CC winning today's stage 4 into Ennis after 103km of racing.

Makin attacked with about 5km to go and was joined by yesterday's stage winner Michael Collins (Tarrants Skoda Cycling Munster), who claimed his victory 24 hours earlier with a similar late attack.

The two breakaway men were dangling off the front as the finish line approached and though Collins was swallowed up by the charging peloton, Makin hung on for a fantastic stage win. He was very nearly caught on the line, though still had time for a victory celebration.

Makin finished just ahead of Eoghan Lattimore (Tarrants Skoda Cycling Munster), who took a fine second place from Enzo Edmonds (Hot Tubes Cycling). After Lattimore, Charlie Kelly of Orwell Wheelers was next best Irish rider, taking 14th.

There was no change at the top of the general classification, with Brendan Luongo (Hot Tubes) still in yellow by four seconds from team mate Caden Budd. Caden Freyre (Kelly Benefits Cycling) is 3rd at six seconds.

Luongo was active on the front from the start today, taking it upon himself to chase down early attacks, including Jake Speed (O'Leary Stone Kanturk), who tried several times.

The first climb of the day, the cat 3 of Bawnslieve after 15km of racing, was won by Max Fitzgerald (Team Ireland) from Adian Classen (South Africa on Track) and Paul Opie (Lee Valley).

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

Classen's team was especially aggressive around the midway point of the race today, with Rhys Burrell spending a period leading solo, chased by Killian O'Brien (Cycling Leinster).

However, those attackers had been reabsorbed by the time the race reached the cat 2 climb of Cliffs of Moher, crested at the 58km marker. Maximum points there were taken by Josh Callaly of Team Ireland from Cameron Henry (Cycling Ulster) and Thomas Mead (Lee Valley).

On the approach to Kilfenora, with about 27km completed and after dozens of riders had been shelled out the back, Callaly went on the attack but was soon recaptured.

As the stage dipped inside the 20km to go marker, Cal Tutty (Team Ireland) and Willem O'Connor (Tarrants Skoda Cycling Munster) were on the attack. After they were recaptured, it was then the turn of Aidan Sebel (Ignite Canada) to go clear solo.

And once Sebel was scooped up, Makin made his move with about 5km to go. He was later joined by Collins. However, the Irish rider was eventually relegated taking the wrong route at a roundabout, but not before he had made a very strong go of it off the front, for the second day in succession.