Stage 2 - August 28: Thurles - Loughrea, 158km

Cavendish does the double

Mark Cavendish (Team Columbia) took his second successive victory in the Tour of Ireland, in association with Failte Ireland, when he won the bunch sprint in the Galway town of Loughrea today Thursday 28th August.

The 23-year-old from the Isle of Man was safely ahead of a crash in the last kilometre which took out a number of competitors when two riders hit the barriers and careered back into the bunch. Cavendish now leads the race by 13 seconds over New Zealand sprinter Julian Dean (Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30). Michael Van Staeyen (Rabobank) finished second on the stage with Argentinean Max Richeze (CSF Group Navigare) taking third.

Fredrick Ericsson (Pezula Racing) had attacked early in the stage and the current Swedish time trial champion used his specialist skills to build up a lead of six minutes as the riders left County Tipperary heading towards Loughrea.

Ericcson's lead was gradually whittled back as the Columbia team hit the front of the peloton with Cavendish safely tucked in behind. The lone leader was caught with 10km to go and Kristian House (Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk) was the next to mount a serious attempt to ride away from the sprinters. The Anglo/Texan managed to stay clear for 3km but the sprinters teams were determined it would end in a bunch gallop for the line.

The Team Columbia train lined out on the front in the last kilometre. Michael Barry was the final Columbia rider on the front leading the whole field into the finish as the sprinters jostled for position ready to unleash their explosive efforts. Cavendish timed his move to perfection and had time to spare as he crossed the line by the waters edge of Lough Rea Lake.

Cavendish, Dean and Alexander Kristoff (Joker-Bianchi) fought it out on the intermediate sprints in the An Post sponsored Green Jersey competition. Kristoff is in second place with 32 points and Cavendish leads with 37. With Cavendish in yellow it will be Kristoff who wears the green jersey when race leaves Ballinrobe tomorrow (Friday 29th August)

Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) was the first of the bunch over the summits of Mauherslieve and Tountinna and extended his lead in the King of the Mountains competition with a massive 18 points lead over Travis Meyer (SouthAustralia.com/AIS) with South Africa's David George (MTN Energade) in third with 13.

PL No. Nat Name TM Team Time @
1 1 GBR Cavendish,Mark THR Team Columbia 3h57'55"  
2 107 BEL Van Staeyen,Michael RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
3 36 ARG Richeze,Max CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h57'55"  
4 52 BEL De Haes,Kenny TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
5 131 GBR Downing,Russell POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h57'55"  
6 141 NOR Kristoff,Alexander TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h57'55"  
7 97 AUS Dempster,Zakkari SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
8 152 IRL Power,Ciaran PZR Pezula 3h57'55"  
9 104 NED Van Poppel,Boy RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
10 54 BEL Maes,Nikolas TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
11 132 GBR Elliott,Malcom POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h57'55"  
12 35 ARG Richeze,Mauro CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h57'55"  
13 47 TRI Abraham,Emile TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
14 121 GBR Downing,Dean RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
15 144 NOR Bohler,Joachim TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h57'55"  
16 117 RSA van Heerden,Juan MTN MTN Energade 3h57'55"  
17 83 ESP Mouron,Juan Francisco KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
18 45 UKR Kobzarenko,Valeriy TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
19 15 NZL Dean,Julian TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h57'55"  
20 64 GBR Lloyd,Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
21 34 ARG Bongiorno,Ruben CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h57'55"  
22 41 MEX Aldape,Moises TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
23 7 CAN Barry,Michael THR Team Columbia 3h57'55"  
24 14 SWE Backstedt,Magnus TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h57'55"  
25 33 ITA Tomei,Francesco CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h57'55"  
26 27 ITA Graziato,Massimo TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h57'55"  
27 16 NED Maaskant,Martijn TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h57'55"  
28 135 GBR Murray,Tom POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h57'55"  
29 91 AUS Clarke,Simon SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
30 25 ITA Mazzanti,Luca TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h57'55"  
31 82 ESP Rabunal,Gonzalo KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
32 84 ESP Fernandez,Delio KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
33 92 AUS Sulzberger,Wesley SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
34 71 IRL McCann,David IRL Irish National Team 3h57'55"  
35 62 IRL Cassidy,Mark SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
36 142 NOR Nordhaug,Lars Petter TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h57'55"  
37 42 UKR Surutkovych,Alex. TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
38 22 RUS Klimov,Serguei TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h57'55"  
39 116 RSA Evans,Kevin MTN MTN Energade 3h57'55"  
40 63 IRL Gallagher,Stephen SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
41 23 GER Gottfried,Alexander TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h57'55"  
42 106 NED Rabou,Thomas RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
43 53 BEL Hovelijnck,Kurt TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
44 24 RUS Chernetskiy,Ilya TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 3h57'55"  
45 65 GBR Fleeman,Daniel SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
46 112 RSA George,David MTN MTN Energade 3h57'55"  
47 105 NED Sinkeldam,Ramon RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
48 55 BEL Neyens,Maarten TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
49 102 BEL Adams,Joeri RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
50 101 BEL Aernouts,Bart RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
51 66 BEL Lisabett,Kenny SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
52 46 AUS Wilson,Matt TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
53 94 AUS Walker,Johnnie SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
54 74 IRL Aiken,Roger IRL Irish National Team 3h57'55"  
55 95 AUS Semple,Adam SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
56 81 ESP Troncoso,Ramon KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
57 3 AUS Hansen,Adam THR Team Columbia 3h57'55"  
58 103 NED Berkhout,Thomas RB3 Rabobank 3h57'55"  
59 4 ITA Pinotti,Marco THR Team Columbia 3h57'55"  
60 123 GBR Greenwood,Ben RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
61 122 GBR House,Kristian RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
62 124 GBR Partridge,Rob RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
63 93 AUS Meyer,Travis SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 3h57'55"  
64 137 GBR Kipling,Mathew POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h57'55"  
65 77 IRL O'Sullivan,Stephen IRL Irish National Team 3h57'55"  
66 153 GBR Page,Kieran PZR Pezula 3h57'55"  
67 151 IRL O'Loughlin,David PZR Pezula 3h57'55"  
68 43 AUS Calabria,Fabio TT1 Team Type 1 Cycling Team 3h57'55"  
69 61 IRL O'Brien,Paidi SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 3h57'55"  
70 32 ITA Priamo,Matteo CSF CSF Group Navigare 3h57'55"  
71 125 GBR Briggs,Graham RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
72 56 BEL Nolf,Frederiek TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
73 145 NOR Vold,Svein Erik TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h57'55"  
74 2 AUT Eisel,Bernard THR Team Columbia 3h59'15" @01'20"
75 146 NOR Wilman,Frederik TMB Joker Bianchi Team 3h59'31" @01'36"
76 154 AUS Jennings,Cameron PZR Pezula 3h57'55"  
77 51 BEL Coenen,Johan TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 3h57'55"  
78 11 GBR Millar,David TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h57'55"  
79 136 GBR Williams,Peter POT Pinarello CandiTV 3h57'55"  
80 73 IRL Healion,Paul IRL Irish National Team 3h57'55"  
81 127 GBR Holt,Simon RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
82 155 SWE Wetterhall,Alex PZR Pezula 4h00'59" @03'04"
83 31 ITA Savini,Filippo CSF CSF Group Navigare 4h00'59" @ s/t
84 157 IRL Irvine,Martyn PZR Pezula 4h00'59" @ s/t
85 76 IRL Concannon,Miceal IRL Irish National Team 4h00'59" @ s/t
86 87 ESP Paleo,Alejandro KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 4h00'59" @ s/t
87 57 BEL Renders,Sven TSV Topsport Vlaanderen 4h00'59" @ s/t
88 75 IRL Lacey,Sean IRL Irish National Team 3h57'55"  
89 17 AUS Lowe,Trent TSL Garmin Chipotle H30 3h57'55"  
90 67 BEL De Schrooder,Benny SKT An Post Sean Kelly Team 4h00'59" @03'04"
91 133 IRL Roche,Andy POT Pinarello CandiTV 4h00'59" @ s/t
92 134 GBR Davis,Lee POT Pinarello CandiTV 4h00'59" @ s/t
93 114 RSA Thomson,Jay MTN MTN Energade 4h00'59" @ s/t
94 111 RSA MacDonald,Neil MTN MTN Energade 4h00'59" @ s/t
95 147 NOR Sommerseth,Stian TMB Joker Bianchi Team 4h00'59" @ s/t
96 126 GBR Appleby,Dale RCR Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk 3h57'55"  
97 5 ITA Possoni,Morris THR Team Columbia 4h02'10" @04'15"
98 72 IRL Griffen,Paul IRL Irish National Team 4h03'14" @05'19"
99 26 ITA Riccio,Bernardo TCS Tinkoff - Credit Systems 4h03'14" @ s/t
100 86 ESP Abal,David KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 4h06'45" @08'50"
101 85 ESP Fernandez,Alberto KGZ Karpin Galicia Cycling Team 4h06'45" @ s/t
102 96 AUS King,Matt SAI SouthAustralia.com/AIS 4h06'45" @ s/t
103 156 SWE Ericsson,Fredrik PZR Pezula 4h06'45" @ s/t
104 6 CZE Rabon,Frantisek THR Team Columbia 4h08'23" @10'28"
105 143 NOR Stokstad,Ingar TMB Joker Bianchi Team 4h09'13" @11'18"

Did Not Finish: 12-Martin.D, 18-Sutton.C, 113-Woolcock.W