Cycling:British rider Russell Downing came out tops in the sprint finished to take the opening stage of the Tour of Ireland in Waterford this afternoon. The Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta rider took the 196km opening leg from Enniskerry in a time of 5:10.37, just one second ahead of a seven-strong group that included Ireland's Philip Deignan, who placed fourth.
Defending champion Marco Pinotti was also in the group, coming sixth, with the Italian taking the lead in the King of the mountains standings.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong came home in 23rd spot, 16 seconds behind Downing, but there was to be no repeat of his Tour heroics for sprinter Mark Cavendish, who came home over two minutes behind the winner in 58th place.
