Stenson takes career-best result against Britain's top riders

Adam Stenson punches the air in delight after taking a fabulous win on the penultimate stage of the Junior Tour of Wales this afternoon. The Celbridge youngster, riding for the NRPT-Magnet.ie team managed to beat his two breakaway companions and cross the line just seconds ahead of the charging peloton (Photo: Huw Fairclough)

By Brian Canty

Adam Stenson has won the fourth stage of the Junior Tour of Wales in brilliant style this afternoon.

The NRPT-Magnet.ie man outsprinted his two breakaway companions at the end of the 86 kilometre journey from Abergavenny to Hardwick.

It’s the biggest and most significant win of Stenson’s career and comes at a time when places on the national team for next month’s UCI World Road Race Championships in the US are really up for grabs.

The Celbridge youngster did his chances of selection no harm whatsoever when he attacked late on the stage and took with him Charlie Quarterman (Zappi Cycling Team) and Harrison Jones (Pedal Heaven RT).

That trio worked well together but really had to knuckle down to pull out any time on the peloton behind.

With Stenson, a first-year junior, starting the stage 11^th overall at 1:46 he was still viewed as a threat to the race lead, which is why the peloton really drove it behind.

The leading trio only had a handful of seconds in the final kilometres so had to remain honest but when the finishing line loomed, Stenson put the hammer down and easily out-kicked those with him.

He’s the best of the Irish with one stage remaining tomorrow, that being a savage 89 kilometre stage to the summit finish of the category one Tumble Mountain on Monday.

En route there, the riders will crest two category two climbs as well as three intermediate sprint points.

The 12-strong Irish representation are still are very much in the hunt for jerseys there - while Stenson is also in the mix for the best young rider classification.

It's been a good day today, Sunday, for the Irish and in this morning's stage three circuit race Stenson's teammate Jake Gray finished ninth and followed it up with 10th this afternoon.

Stage 3, Bryn Bach Park Circuit (33km)

1 Robert Scott VCUK PH-MAS Junior Cycling Team 49:19
2 Etienne Georgi Giant Cycling Club - Halo Films @s/t
3 Matthew Walls Velocity Globalbike 4 FJ2 49:24 49:24 0:05
4 Owen Dudley Manx Viking Whls CC 3 FJ2 49:25 49:25 0:06
5 Willem Bok TWC Pijnenburg 2 FJ 49:26 49:26 0:07
6 Stef de Louwere TWC Pijnenburg 1 J 49:41 49:41 0:22
7 Corentin Navarro Velo Sprint Narbonnais @s/t
8 Oliver Peckover Sherwood Pines Cycles SRAM @s/t
9 Jake Gray Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @s/t
10 Louis Modell Catford CC Equipe/Banks @s/t
39 James Curry Cycling Ulster @s/t
40 Simon Tuomey Munster Academy @s/t
41 Adam Stenson Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @s/t
59 Marc Heaney Cycling Ulster @s/t
61 Sean Yelverton Munster Academy @29secs
63 Darragh O' Mahony Munster Academy @32secs
65 Alexis Roche Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @s/t
69 Cameron McIntyre Cycling Ulster @s/t
72 Michael O' Loughlin Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @53secs
78 Robert O' Leary Munster Academy @3:11
84 Josh Lawerence Cycling Ulster @5:42

General Classification after stage 3

Stage 4: Abergavenny – Hardwick

1 Adam Stenson Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie FJ 6 30 1:56:18
2 Charlie Quarterman Zappi's Racing Team @ 0:01
3 Harrison Jones Pedal Heaven RT @ 0:02
4 Ethan Hayter VC Londres @ 0:05
5 Joe Holt Wales J1Wal @s/t
6 Stef de Louwere TWC Pijnenburg @s/t
7 Robert Hogg Corley Cycles - Drops RT @s/t
8 Alex Harvey NFTO Race Club J2Wal @s/t
9 Oliver Peckover Sherwood Pines Cycles SRAM RT @s/t
10 Jake Gray Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @s/t
49 Cameron McIntyre Cycling Ulster @s/t
57 Darragh O' Mahony Munster Academy @s/t
59 James Curry Cycling Ulster @s/t
63 Sean Yelverton Munster Academy @s/t
67 Marc Heaney Cycling Ulster @s/t
69 Alexis Roche Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @s/t
79 Josh Lawerence Cycling Ulster @s/t
87 Simon Tuomey Munster Academy @s/t
91 Robert O' Leary Munster Academy @20secs
94 Michael O' Loughlin Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @1:28

General Classification after stage 4

1 Nathan Draper RST Racing Team 4:55:34
2 Joey Walker RST Racing Team 0:15
3 Ethan Hayter VC Londres 0:36
4 Peter Kibble Wales FJ2Wal 0:51
5 Joseph Fry RST Racing Team 0:54
6 Adam Stenson Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie 1:06
7 Louis Modell Catford CC Equipe/Banks 1:27
8 Kieran Simcox Bike Box Alan/Envelopemaster 1:35
9 Max Williamson Bike Box Alan/Envelopemaster 1:38
10 Elliot Redfern Giant Cycling Club - Halo Films @s/t
15 James Curry Cycling Ulster 1:58
21 Simon Tuomey Munster Academy 2:22
30 Cameron McIntyre Cycling Ulster 3:00
48 Marc Heaney Cycling Ulster 4:31
56 Sean Yelverton Munster Academy 5:27
59 Robert O' Leary Munster Academy 5:33
63 Michael O' Loughlin Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie @6:03
64 Alexis Roche Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie 6:18
68 Jake Gray Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie 6:47
71 Darragh O' Mahony Munster Academy 7:07
81 Josh Lawerence Cycling 10:59

Best Young rider

1 Ethan Hayter VC Londres 4:56:10
2 Peter Kibble Wales FJ2Wal 0:15
3 Adam Stenson Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie 0:30

Climbers’ Classification

1 Nathan Draper RST Racing Team 9
2 Joey Walker RST Racing Team 8
3 Peter Kibble Wales 8
4 Alfie Moses HMT Academy with JLT Condor 7
5 Darragh O' Mahony Munster Academy 6
6 Ethan Hayter VC Londres 6

Points Classification

1 Joe Holt Wales 19
2 Robert Scott VCUK PH-MAS Junior Cycling Team 11
3 Etienne Georgi Giant Cycling Club - Halo Films 9
4 Adam Stenson Nicolas Roche Perf. Team - Magnet.ie 8
5 Matthew Walls Velocity Globalbike 8
6 Nathan Draper RST Racing Team 6