Cycling: Bevin puts in another big performance on Tour of Ireland

TOP RESULT: Taupo's Patrick Bevin in action before collecting line honours in yesterday's stage four on the An Post Ras Tour of Ireland. PHOTO/SPORTSFILE 220514PAT

Taupo cyclist Patrick Bevin has recorded an impressive third place on the sixth stage of the An Post Ras Tour of Ireland today.

A depleted New Zealand team helped Bevin into third place this morning.

Having lost Marc Ryan after three stages, they also lost young Southland rider Liam Aitcheson also to illness, leaving Cameron Karwowski and Hamish Schreurs to ride in support of protecting Bevin's lead in the sprint points' green jersey.

Bevin pushed himself strongly up the category one climb of Seskin Hill for the hilltop finish in Carrick-on-Sur to finish seven seconds behind winner Markus Eibegger (Austria) and just behind his main rival for the points jersey, Owain Doul (An Post Cain Reaction).

Today's 163 km stage from Clonakilty in to Carrick-on-Suir was doubly challenging with wet and windy conditions throughout.

The peloton including all the key players pulled back a break with an elite group of seven riders together at the base of Seskin Hill.

Bevin made the big push up to the leaders before Eibegger made the final run for the win.

An exhausted Eibegger was thrilled to secure his team a second stage win on this year's race after riding out in front for the majority of the race.

Clemens Fankhauser (Austria), who finished 33 seconds back in the peloton, retains the tour leader's yellow jersey with Bevin holding a 10-point advantage in the green points jersey battle with two stages remaining.

Tomorrow's penultimate stage to Baltinglass, on the edge of the Wicklow mountains near Dublin, features seven categorised climbs including two category one ascents ahead of the final flattish stage to the finish in Skerries north of Dublin.