Epic is the only word to describe Olivia Dillon’s win in today’s third stage of An Post Rás na mBan, a victory of awesome power and tenacity that has already been accorded legendary status in Ireland’s premier stage race for women.
The race leader and reigning Ras na mBan champion copperfastened her lead at the top of the general classification with a 45km solo ride to take victory on the 80 kilometre ‘Queen Stage’ of the five-day event.
Dillon, the US-based Irish team leader went clear with Queen of the Mountains classification leader Linda Ringlever on the second climb of the day, the first category Healy Pass.
With 35 kilometres completed the duo had a narrow 25 second advantage over a group of four riders when Dillon attacked her Dutch rival and forged on ahead.
Ringlever was absorbed by the chasing quartet of Mel Spath (womenscycling.ie), Kimberley Ashton (Squadra Donne) and the Abergavenny RC Wales duo of Sarah Byrne and Corinne Hall.
Dillon, already in the leader’s jersey after her narrow solo win in Waterville on Stage Two, was fired up to produce a big performance and the multi Irish national time trial champion soon opened up an advantage of more than a minute on the group behind.
After taking the Queen of the Mountains points at the first category Caha Gap at 62km Dillon continued to press her advantage all the way to the finish line in Kenmare.
She raised her arms aloft for the second day in succession, this time with 1m58s in hand on her pursuers who were led over the line by Ringlever with Kimberley Ashton just pipping Corinne Hall and County Classification leader Melanie Späth for third.
Dillon now has a 2m09s lead on Ringlever heading to tomorrow’s two stages. In the morning the riders face four laps of a circuit based around Sneem village for a total of 66 km followed by a 3.1km time trial in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, the race had been animated by an early attack by former Roscommon inter county footballer Caroline Conway of the Leinster team.
Conway opened up a gap of more than a minute on her way to taking the first place Queen of the Mountains points at Knockanoughanish before retreating to the bunch ahead of the Healy Pass when Dillon and Ringlever began their epic duel.
Stage 3 Results
Kenmare – Kenmare 16 September 2011
Issued: 16 Sep 2011, 17:27
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Organisation: Womens Commission Country: IRL
Class: na .
Winner’s Time: 2h19’36” Deadline: None
Race Dist: 80.50 kms / 50.06 Miles Total Dist: 227.90 kms / 141.72 miles
Speed: 34.60 kph / 21.52 mph Average: 34.51 kph / 21.46 mph
Number of Starters: 51 Number of Finishers: 51
Did Not Start: 1
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PL No. UCI Code Name TM Team Time @
1 1 Dillion,Olivia INT Irish National Team 2h19’36”
2 39 Ringlever,Linda MOV Moving Ladies 2h21’34” @01’58”
3 14 Ashton,Kimberley SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h21’34” @ s/t
4 7 Hall,Corrine ABE Abergavenny 2h21’34” @ s/t
5 53 Spath,Melanie WC WomensCycling.ie 2h21’34” @ s/t
6 11 Byrne,Sarah ABE Abergavenny 2h21’34” @ s/t
7 50 Meade,Fiona WC WomensCycling.ie 2h24’45” @05’09”
8 9 Bunn,Lowri ABE Abergavenny 2h24’45” @ s/t
9 43 Jeuland,Nathalie ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h24’45” @ s/t
10 5 Fitzgerald,Sandra INT Irish National Team 2h24’45” @ s/t
11 12 Eggi,Elena BIK Bike Aid 2h24’45” @ s/t
12 49 Ryan,Caroline WC WomensCycling.ie 2h24’45” @ s/t
13 34 Moriarty,Louise LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h24’45” @ s/t
14 30 Massey,Laura INV Inverse/Cyclaim 2h24’45” @ s/t
15 37 Van Kessei,Femke MOV Moving Ladies 2h24’45” @ s/t
16 3 Creamer,Lauren INT Irish National Team 2h24’45” @ s/t
17 10 Bamford,Rachel ABE Abergavenny 2h24’45” @ s/t
18 2 Horne,Ciara INT Irish National Team 2h24’45” @ s/t
19 44 Kilmartin,Jane VIV Pedales des Eaux Vive 2h27’49” @08’13”
20 28 Visser,Silja HOL District Noord Hollan 2h30’41” @11’05”
21 33 McRae,Joanna LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h30’41” @ s/t
22 45 Sewell,Iona SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h32’19” @12’43”
23 47 Magri,Stephenia SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h32’19” @ s/t
24 29 McNamara,Siobhan INV Inverse/Cyclaim 2h32’19” @ s/t
25 51 Meehan,Fran WC WomensCycling.ie 2h32’19” @ s/t
26 52 Banfield,Laura WC WomensCycling.ie 2h32’19” @ s/t
27 31 Grundy,Anna LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h34’07” @14’31”
28 38 Burgess,Jay MOV Moving Ladies 2h35’14” @15’38”
29 46 Maidment,Sarah SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h35’14” @ s/t
30 16 Conway,Caroline CL Cycling Leinster 2h35’14” @ s/t
31 13 Roche,Sinead CAS Castlebar CC 2h35’14” @ s/t
32 36 Kennedy,Roisin LUC Lucan CRC 2h35’14” @ s/t
33 17 Stephens,Niamh CL Cycling Leinster 2h35’14” @ s/t
34 23 Collie,Mandy CU Cycling Ulster 2h35’14” @ s/t
35 25 Verhagen,Alicja HOL District Noord Hollan 2h35’14” @ s/t
36 20 Brice,Amy CU Cycling Ulster 2h35’14” @ s/t
37 6 Hill,Amy ABE Abergavenny 2h40’33” @20’57”
38 40 Hendron,Orla ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h40’33” @ s/t
39 15 Dalton,Anne CL Cycling Leinster 2h40’33” @ s/t
40 18 McEvoy,Orla CL Cycling Leinster 2h40’33” @ s/t
41 41 McDonald,Charlotte ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h40’33” @ s/t
42 54 Springer,Ruth HOL District Noord Hollan 2h43’09” @23’33”
43 32 McKay,Helen LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h43’53” @24’17”
44 42 Cooke,Fiona ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h47’20” @27’44”
45 4 Gourley,Lauren INT Irish National Team 2h47’20” @ s/t
46 35 Xieyue,PanPanFan LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h50’14” @30’38”
47 27 Welling,Renee HOL District Noord Hollan 2h50’14” @ s/t
48 26 Stoelwinder,Anneloes HOL District Noord Hollan 2h50’14” @ s/t
49 21 Fullerton,Louise CU Cycling Ulster 2h50’14” @ s/t
50 19 Telford,Sandra CL Cycling Leinster 2h50’14” @ s/t
51 22 Savage,Maeve CU Cycling Ulster 2h50’42” @31’06”
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Non starters/finishers/eliminated Riders
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Did Not Start: 24-Hunter.M
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General Classification
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PL No. UCI Code Name CAT Team GC Time @
1 1 Dillion,Olivia S Irish National T 6h36’05”
2 14 Ashton,Kimberley S Squarda Donne/Sh 6h38’14” @02’09”
3 39 Ringlever,Linda S Moving Ladies 6h38’15” @02’10”
4 53 Spath,Melanie S WomensCycling.ie 6h38’17” @02’12”
5 11 Byrne,Sarah S Abergavenny 6h38’21” @02’16”
6 7 Hall,Corrine S Abergavenny 6h41’37” @05’32”
7 50 Meade,Fiona S WomensCycling.ie 6h44’43” @08’38”
8 9 Bunn,Lowri S Abergavenny 6h44’48” @08’43”
9 12 Eggi,Elena S Bike Aid 6h44’48” = s/t
10 3 Creamer,Lauren S Irish National T 6h44’48” = s/t
11 34 Moriarty,Louise S Look Mum No Hand 6h44’48” = s/t
12 49 Ryan,Caroline S WomensCycling.ie 6h44’48” = s/t
13 30 Massey,Laura S Inverse/Cyclaim 6h44’48” = s/t
14 37 Van Kessei,Femke S Moving Ladies 6h44’48” = s/t
15 5 Fitzgerald,Sandra S Irish National T 6h44’58” @08’53”
16 43 Jeuland,Nathalie S Orwell Wheelers 6h47’43” @11’38”
17 10 Bamford,Rachel S Abergavenny 6h47’43” = s/t
18 44 Kilmartin,Jane S Pedales des Eaux 6h47’52” @11’47”
19 33 McRae,Joanna S Look Mum No Hand 6h50’41” @14’36”
20 28 Visser,Silja S District Noord H 6h50’44” @14’39”
21 45 Sewell,Iona S Squarda Donne/Sh 6h52’22” @16’17”
22 2 Horne,Ciara S Irish National T 6h55’10” @19’05”
23 29 McNamara,Siobhan S Inverse/Cyclaim 6h55’17” @19’12”
24 47 Magri,Stephenia S Squarda Donne/Sh 6h55’17” = s/t
25 52 Banfield,Laura S WomensCycling.ie 6h55’17” = s/t
26 51 Meehan,Fran S WomensCycling.ie 6h55’17” = s/t
27 31 Grundy,Anna S Look Mum No Hand 6h57’05” @21’00”
28 38 Burgess,Jay S Moving Ladies 6h58’12” @22’07”
29 46 Maidment,Sarah S Squarda Donne/Sh 6h58’12” = s/t
30 25 Verhagen,Alicja S District Noord H 6h58’12” = s/t
31 40 Hendron,Orla S Orwell Wheelers 7h03’31” @27’26”
32 15 Dalton,Anne S Cycling Leinster 7h03’31” = s/t
33 18 McEvoy,Orla S Cycling Leinster 7h03’31” = s/t
34 23 Collie,Mandy S Cycling Ulster 7h06’13” @30’08”
35 36 Kennedy,Roisin S Lucan CRC 7h06’13” = s/t
36 16 Conway,Caroline S Cycling Leinster 7h06’40” @30’35”
37 17 Stephens,Niamh S Cycling Leinster 7h06’40” = s/t
38 13 Roche,Sinead S Castlebar CC 7h06’49” @30’44”
39 32 McKay,Helen S Look Mum No Hand 7h06’51” @30’46”
40 41 McDonald,Charlotte S Orwell Wheelers 7h12’08” @36’03”
41 20 Brice,Amy S Cycling Ulster 7h17’14” @41’09”
42 42 Cooke,Fiona S Orwell Wheelers 7h18’55” @42’50”
43 6 Hill,Amy J Abergavenny 7h20’25” @44’20”
44 54 Springer,Ruth S District Noord H 7h20’55” @44’50”
45 4 Gourley,Lauren J Irish National T 7h24’45” @48’40”
46 19 Telford,Sandra S Cycling Leinster 7h25’10” @49’05”
47 27 Welling,Renee J District Noord H 7h30’06” @54’01”
48 26 Stoelwinder,Anneloes S District Noord H 7h33’31” @57’26”
49 35 Xieyue,PanPanFan S Look Mum No Hand 7h33’50” @57’45”
50 22 Savage,Maeve S Cycling Ulster 7h34’18” @58’13”
51 21 Fullerton,Louise S Cycling Ulster 7h42’20” @1h06’15”
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Primes
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KOM Cat 2: Knockanoughanish
PL No. Name Tm Pts Sec
1 16 Conway,C CL 4pt
2 39 Ringlever,L MOV 3pt
3 1 Dillion,O INT 2pt
4 49 Ryan,C WC 1pt
KOM Cat 1: Healy Pass
PL No. Name Tm Pts Sec
1 39 Ringlever,L MOV 5pt
2 1 Dillion,O INT 4pt
3 10 Bamford,R ABE 3pt
4 14 Ashton,K SQU 2pt
5 11 Byrne,S ABE 1pt
KOM Cat 1: Caha Pass
PL No. Name Tm Pts Sec
1 1 Dillion,O INT 5pt
2 53 Spath,M WC 4pt
3 39 Ringlever,L MOV 3pt
4 14 Ashton,K SQU 2pt
5 11 Byrne,S ABE 1pt
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Mountains Competition
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PL No. Name TM Pts
1 39 Ringlever,L MOV 21
2 1 Dillion,O INT 20
3 53 Spath,M WC 12
4 14 Ashton,K SQU 6
5 16 Conway,C CL 4
6 49 Ryan,C WC 3
7 10 Bamford,R ABE 3
8 11 Byrne,S ABE 2
9 9 Bunn,L ABE 1
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