Following his fifth place earlier this month on the third stage of the Tour of Italy, Ciaran Power yesterday registered another excellent top-10 placing on the 102-kilometre 16th stage which finished in Meda.

The 24-year-old crossed the line in sixth place, sprinting home in the same time as winner Fabrizio Guidi of Italy and one place ahead of Linda McCartney team-mate Tayeb Braika. Power's result, which leaves him in 130th overall, is a crucial boost for his squad, coming just hours after team rider Matthew Stephens was forced to withdraw with a knee injury.

Indeed with just five days remaining, Power's manager Frank Quinn feels that the Waterford cyclist has a strong chance of achieving his goal of reaching the finish in Milan this Sunday.

"Sixth on the stage is a very good result and shows that he is still strong this late into the race," says Quinn. "There are a couple of tough mountain stages to go, but this ride should give Ciaran the boost he needs and hopefully he will make it all the way to Milan."

Italian rider Francesco Casagranade continues to lead the race. Today the riders face a relatively flat 224-kilometre leg to Genoa before the first of three Alpine stages tomorrow.