WIN FOR CANADIAN ROLLIN IN RAS

SPRINTING to victory ahead of his 33 breakaway companions, Canada?s Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery) won the third stage of the FBD Insurance Ras in Sligo on Tuesday.

With about a third of the day?s 171 kilometres covered, a break of 34 riders went clear of the bunch and, with many of the leading contenders from the overall present, headed off at a good pace.

But absent from the break was overnight leader Ricardo Van der Velde (Netherlands), and with the group putting 20 minutes into the bunch he lost his overall lead to Jesse Anthony (Kodak Gallery).

Murphy and Gunn?s Paidi O?Brien, second on the opening stage, was just edged out once again in the sprint, while third went to Paul Griffin (Ireland-Subway).

Others to make the crucial break included Meath My Home.ie rider Brian Kenneally, who is now two seconds behind Anthony in the GC, while Rollin?s stage win leaves him third, four seconds off the pace.

Wednesday?s fourth stage takes the riders from Sligo to Dungloe. The 138-kilometre stage includes the third category climb of Mountcharles at around half distance.

FBD Insurance Ras, Stage Three (Loughrea to Sligo).-

1 Dominique Rollin (USA-Kodak Gallery) 171km in 3-55-10

2 Paidi O?Brien (Ireland-Murphy and Gunn)

3 Paul Griffin (Ireland-Subway)

4 Peter McDonald (Australia-FRF Couriers)

5 Yvo Kusters (Netherlands)

6 Brian Ahern (Dublin-Dundrum)

7 Mark Cassidy (Ireland-Murphy and Gunn)

8 Ryan Roth (USA-Kelly Benefit Strategies)

9 Dan Bowman (USA-Kelly Benefit Strategies)

10 Alain Van der Velde (Netherlands) all same time

General Classification (after stage three).-

1 Jesse Anthony (US-Kodak Gallery) 11-10-13

2 Brian Kenneally (Meath MyHome.ie) at 2 secs

3 Dominique Rollin (USA-Kodak Gallery) at 4 secs

4 Yvo Kusters (Netherlands)

5 Mark Cassidy (Ireland-Murphy and Gunn)

6 Peter McDonald (Australia-FRF Couriers)

7 Tony Martin (Germany-Thuringer Energie)

8 Paul Griffin (Ireland-Subway)

9 Ryan Roth (USA-Kelly Benefit Strategies) all same time

10 Justin Spinelli (USA-Kelly Benefit Strategies) at 57 secs