Liam O'Brien makes his move after early set-back at Ronde de l'Isard | Video

Liam O'Brien has gone on the attack at Ronde de l'Isard (2.2U), making a calculated attack over about 20km to move up the general classification

Liam O'Brien (Lidl Trek Future Racing) has gone on the attack on stage 3 at Ronde de l'Isard (2.2U) in France and made a very promising move up the general classification in what is one of cycling's hardest and most prestigious U23 races.

The 20-year-old from Cork started today's 143km stage from Aspet to Salies-du-Salat, in southwestern France, 10th overall. He was one of six riders all on equal time, some 18 seconds down on race leader, and stage 2 winner, Jarno Widar (Lotto Development Team).

And though O'Brien built that general classification position with his climbing abilities, he used his aggression today to move into the top five overall. In the process he demonstrated he has clearly found his feet, and his confidence, riding against the best U23s in Europe.

He took flight from the bunch in a four-man group during the stage before pressing on alone to lead the race through one of the hot spot sprints of the day, where he picked up a time bonus of three seconds.

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That put him ahead of the other five riders he had started the day equal on time with, pushing him up to 5th overall with two stages remaining, including Saturday's big summit finish showdown.

However, despite Friday's stage 3 very much going his way, and according to his and his team's plan, it started out with a set-back. The Irish rider was involved in an early crash and was delayed after he needed a change of bike, though he quickly overcame that hurdle.

He was later among the strongest over the biggest climb of the day, the cat 1 Col de Menté crested with 43km completed; going over the top fourth wheel. On the cat 2 Col des Ares, crested with 91km completed, O'Brien went on the attack with three others around 2km from the summit.

He was 2nd at the KOM point before pushing on alone and holding a gap of about 30 seconds on the remains of the peloton. O'Brien then raced ahead to the intermediate sprint, arriving there solo. He took the three seconds on offer before easing back and being caught after about 20km off the front.

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Some 50km later, the stage came down to a sprint from a reduced bunch, won by Ludovico Maria Mellano (XDS Astana Development Team). O'Brien finished in that bunch, in 22nd place. Irish first-year U23 Killian O'Brien (Petrolike) was also in the 77-strong bunch, of 130 starters, in 30th position.

With the summit finish atop the cat 1 Pla de Soulcem to come tomorrow, Saturday, the two young Irish riders - both noted climbers - will face a stern test. However, it should also prove an opportunity for them to showcase their talents.

Liam O'Brien is now 5th overall, some 16 seconds off the race lead and just three seconds off a place on the GC podium. Killian O'Brien is 36th at 2:25.

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