Teggart sprints to victory on first Ras Tailteann stage

Ireland's Matt Teggart has taken a brilliant bunch sprint victory on the opening stage of Ras Tailteann which got underway in Tallaght today.

The 26-year-old Banbridge man, riding for the five-man Cycling Ulster team, blasted to victory at the end of a frenetic 140-kilometre stage which was characterised by a stiff tailwind, a number of threatening and futile breakaways, and a thrilling finale.

Teggart is well-known for his sprinting prowess and doubled his Ras stage win tally today, adding to his maiden victory back in 2017 when he rode for the An Post Chain Reaction team.

He got the better of runner-up Rory Townsend - another of the pre-race favourites - while Italian-born Irishman Matteo Cigala (Carlow Dan Morrissey) rounded out the podium in third.

"In the sprint I was on Townsend’s wheel in the last couple of kilometres," explained Morrissey.

"It was kind of a headwind coming into the finish so I wanted to wait a little bit before getting out to launch my sprint.

"I had to brake with about 350m to go and I lost a bit of momentum but then I was coming really, really fast in the last 50 metres but not enough for the win," he added ruefully.

Cigala was clearly up for it today and knowing there were time bonuses awarded for the first three riders over the line at Hot Spot sprints in Dunlavin after 33km, Athy after 60km, Urlingford (122km) as well as the finish in Horse and Jockey, he was a man on a mission in the opening hour of racing, claiming the first of these intermediate sprints.

In contrast, Teggart played it more cagey, opting to let his teammates Lindsay Watson and Gareth O´Neill get up the road, try and mop up the other time bonuses, and allow their fast man more of an armchair ride behind, knowing the race would