Baldo hangs on for Rás win

The Frenchman's team controlled yesterday's stage, reeling in a seven-man move which included Irish duo Seán Downey (An Post) and Robin Kelly (Carlow Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes). The final sprint was also crucial to the green jersey competition.

Last year's overall winner Bagdonas (An Post) went into the stage equal on points with stage one winner Marcin Bialoblocki, but Bialoblocki took third on the day to take the overall points win.

In the sprint to the line, Bagdonas was hoping team-mate Sam Bennett could take stage glory but the Carrick-on-Suir rider had to settle for second.

Meanwhile, Ryder Hesjedal snatched victory in the 2012 Giro d'Italia yesterday.

McMahon swims to silver in Euros

SWIMMING: Irish swimming's newest starlet Sycerika McMahon won her first European senior medal on the final day of the European Championships in Hungary.

McMahon won silver in the 50m breaststroke in 31.27, an Irish senior record, missing out on gold by .02 of a second.

The Cezch Republic's Petra Chocova took gold in 31.25.

Also in action were the women's 4x100m medley relay team. McMahon, Melanie Nocher, Bethany Carson and Fiona Doyle finished 12th in a time of 4:13.75.

Johnson edges Dufner in Texas

GOLF: Zach Johnson outduelled fellow-American Jason Dufner, the PGA Tour's hottest player, posting a final-round 72 yesterday to win the Colonial Invitational golf tournament in Fort Worth, Texas.

Johnson claimed a one-shot win with a 12-under par 268 and registered his first Tour win since the Colonial two years ago.

Hamilton feels stuck in reverse

F1: Lewis Hamilton feels it is time "to go back to the drawing board".

The Englishman said he had gone "backwards" in Monaco yesterday, finishing fifth, four seconds adrift of winner Mark Webber, who claimed his second Monaco win in three years. Nico Rosberg was second, with Fernando Alonso third and Sebastian Vettel fourth.