Yesterday's fifth and longest stage of the FBD Milk Ras over 107 miles from Ballinrobe to Sligo resulted in a second win for Harm Jansen of the Netherlands, although the overall positions are unchanged with Estonian Erki Putsep still leading. However, the feature of the stage was the spectacular pile-up in the bunch sprinting for second place, six seconds behind Jansen.

The accident occurred when Colm Bracken of Dublin IRC, one of the top Irish sprinters in these situations, tried to go through for second place on the left-hand side. He hit the barriers only yards from the line.

Bracken maintained that van Hoof switched him and caused the crash. Van Hoof did not agree with Bracken's accusation and he was supported by Pelle Kil of the Netherlands, who also blamed Bracken.

Bracken was very unlucky to be deprived of a high placing. He was not placed as he did not cross the line, but in the photo-finish film his bike, number 118, was eighth.

Denis Easton (Armagh) and Padraig Marrey (Kildare) were judged to be sixth and seventh as they careered across the line under the truck that was used as the judges' platform and the podium for the victory ceremony.

A few others were brought down too and the ambulance crews were very busy afterwards attending to the injured. All involved, however, are expected to continue today.

Jansen led the Dutch one-two-three into Killaloe on Monday, but he finished 17 minutes down on Tuesday after his frame broke.

While there were a few early breakaway attempts yesterday, none were successful and the first item of news on the race radio was that Tuesday's stage winner, David McCann (Armagh), had abandoned after just four miles with a troublesome knee injury.

It was not until 42 miles that a worthwhile advantage was established, a group of 12 gaining over a minute. Their lead increased to two minutes after the halfway point at Crossmolina, but a big chase from behind brought the field back together at 82 miles.

Mark Lovatt (Cheshire) made what looked like a winning move at 90 miles, but he went too early and was reeled back in. Then Brian Kenneally (Wicklow) was involved in a promising attack when he went clear with 11 others. They gained almost a minute, but were caught before the last climb.

Keith Gallagher (Antrim) led there with Jansen second. Jansen made his bid for victory on the descent. He was in sight of the fast-moving pack all the way to the finish, but he kept going well enough to hold on by six seconds.

Putsep had a trouble-free time in the leader's yellow jersey and he still leads by a minute and eight seconds from Philip Cassidy (Ireland).