Cycling: Ryan shines in Irish cycle tour

New Zealand track specialist Marc Ryan pulled out a strong performance to claim sixth in the fifth stage of the Ras cycling tour in Ireland yesterday.

Ryan bided his time and came home strongly despite the tough uphill finish on Seskin Hill after the 157km stage from Tipperary. His finish, 25 seconds down on stage winner Jon Tiernan-Locke, moved the Timaru rider up 10 places to 22nd overall, 4m 28s behind the leader, Sweden's Alexander Wetterhall.