Fraser Duncan does it again; blasts home for opening stage and yellow at Tour of North

Fraser Duncan makes his way across to the lead break on stage one of the Tour of the North today. (Photo: Marian Lamb )

Fraser Duncan of the Dave Kane Cycles-Northern CC team continued his rich vein of form today when he outsprinted British rider James Cullen of the Velosure Giordana team to take stage one of the Tour of the North.

This duo were part of a very early group of escapees which also contained Cullen's Velosure Giordana teammates Richard Hepworth and Brad Morgan, Chris Dredge (Spirit Bikes), Sebastian Baylis of the Champion Systems squad and young Cork sensation Eddie Dunbar of the Ireland Junior team.

The only other Irishman in the lead group, Dunbar was active throughout the stage, cresting both second category climbs of the day, at Shane's Hill and Munie Road at the head of the race.

Although he didn't score points on the third category Garron Tower, second place across the summit of the first category Glengarrif was enough to give the Cork youngster the lead in the King of the Mountains competition after day one.

It was Duncan however who stole the top honours on the day, slipping clear with British pro Cullen on the run in and taking the victory to earn himself the first yellow jersey of this year's race.

Hepworth led home teammate Morgan in the sprint for third, 29 seconds later, with Bayliss edging out Dunbar for fifth place on the stage.

Dredge, who had been dropped on the run in, held off the peloton for hung with Brian Stewart of Phoenix winning the bunch sprint for seventh, two minutes and 23 seconds ibehind the winner.