Alex Pritchard wins first stage of Rás Tailteann as Dillon Corkery makes solid start to title defence

Britain's Alex Pritchard won the opening stage of this year's Rás Tailteann, while defending champion Dillon Corkery got off to a solid start, leading in the main bunch after a three-man breakaway stayed clear to the finish line in Kilmallock.

Pritchard (UK: Richardsons Trek DAS) outsprinted Paul Kennedy (USA: Skyline-Cadence) and Dom Jackson (UK: Foran CC) to the line after they were clear for much of the 147.6km stage from Tullamore to the finish line in south Limerick.

Kennedy took two of the three bonus sprints along the way but ends up one second off Pritchard's yellow jersey, with Jackson four seconds back in the overall standings.

Corkery and fellow Team Ireland rider Odhran Doogan were at the head of the peloton, netting fourth and fifth 23 seconds back.

"Honestly, I'm a little shocked," said Pritchard, who is riding the race for the first time. "I didn't expect to get in the break and for it to stick and to stay away. So to walk away with the stage win is unreal. You couldn’t make it up."

The opening stage featured two category three climbs plus twisting, undulating roads en route to a first Rás stage finish in Kilmallock.

A multitude of attacks were fired off from the start, with the day's decisive break forming inside the opening 25km and quickly gaining time.

After passing through the hot-spot sprint at Birr (28.9km), where Kennedy beat Jackson and Pritchard, they raced on to the climb at John Caulfield Memorial Bike Park (40.4km) with a lead of 52 seconds.

Jackson was best there ahead of Pritchard, and again at the climb at Birdhill (92.7km).

Two sets of chasers had set off in pursuit after approximately 60km of racing. Lindsay Watson (Cork: All Human VeloRevolution) and Britain's Jacob Smith (UK: