Ward takes stage, Feeley grabs lead as Irish hit back

The Irish struck back with a vengeance at Rás Tailteann this afternoon as Daire Feeley and Adam Ward ripped the race to shreds on a savage afternoon on the west coast of Ireland.

21-year old Ward took stage honours and Feeley is the new race leader after a brutally tough 172-kilometre trek from Newcastle West, Co. Limerick to Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare.

Both had been part of the day's only break that escaped early on and stayed clear all the way to the finish line.

In the nine-man move were the aforementioned Ward (Team Ireland) and Feeley (Cork All Human- Velo Revolution), James McKay (Cycling Sheffield), Josh Housley (Spirit BSS), Joseph Rees (Spirit BSS), Darnell Moore (Cycling Ulster), Conor Hennebry (Carlow Dan Morrissey), Devin Shortt (Carlow Dan Morrissey) and Luke Smith (Moynalty CC).

Ward and Feeley struck out in the final 30km as the race hit two steep climbs in quick succession and they were not seen again before the finish, with Ward taking the stage honours for the biggest win of his career.

"I´m happy and relieved," exhaled an exhausted Ward after.

"Sometimes during the winter when you’re putting in the hours out training in the cold and the wet and the rain and you’re wondering ´is this really worth it?´ It's days like this when you realise those long hacks are worth it."

Riding for the National Team this week under the guidance of former World Track champion Martyn Irvine, Ward sensed today was his day early on.

"There were a lot of tired legs in the beginning," he reflected.

"You could see it in comparison to stages one and two when everyone was fresh. The break went quite early, a few guys just rolled off the front and I think a lot of the bigger teams were happy with it and we were happy with it too.

"But I knew as