It should have been the blockbuster, edge-of-your seat finale the critics said it would be but instead of fitting the bill like a swashbuckling Schwarzenegger movie, it played out like one of those Saturday afternoon matinees no-one knows the name of.

In the end, only 47 riders out of 112 completed the gruelling 185 kilometre trek from Bantry and as we inched our way east yesterday, rider after rider seemed content to take refuge in the team cars. First to go were the Irish. One after another the numbers were called out over the race-radio and one after another their identities were established. “Another Irish man there,” said legendary commentator Phil Liggett. “There having a bad time of it today the home boys are.”

“I just had no legs today,” said Ronan McLaughlin of the Irish team. “The pace was just incredible for the first hour.” McLaughlin wasn’t telling lies and 44 kilometres with a side-wind is proof that these cyclists are a different breed  but a full-time professional, should at least complete his day's work.

Eric the Eel Moussambani is a name who entered the hearts of sports followers after the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Not because he was a prefect athlete, far from it. But because he swam when the rest of the atheletes laughed at him. While Pieter van den Hoogenband set a world record of 47.84 seconds to win the gold medal, Moussambani splashed his way to the finish to the cheers of the crowd in slightly more than twice that time. "The last 15 meters were very difficult," he said.

Yesterday, Sam Bennett-though not quite continuing the swimmer from Equatorial Guinea metaphor, lit up the race with another dazzling show of heart and courage, splashing his way to finish 25th overall. Apart from his solid ride, Sam Bennett's performance was also a big plus for Irish cycling. Twenty-fifth on the stage, two minutes 43 seconds behind Nordhaug and Downing and 25th overall may not sound like much, but he's just 18 and a firts-year senior.

In that context, he's performance was hugely promising. Bennett's a,bition is to secure a big pro contract in the years ahead and on this performance, the omens look good for the Carrick youngster.