Louise Moriarty clinched the sixth and final stage of An Post Rás na mBan, sprinting in at the head of an 18-rider group at the finish line outside Sneem Hotel.
Third over the line was Olivia Dillon who sealed overall victory for the second year in succession after a powerhouse display that included three stage victories in the five-day race.
Dillon’s Irish squad were instrumental in neutralising a number of breaks which animated the 93.5km final stage from Sneem to Cahirciveen and back.
Iona Sewell (Squadra Donne) made the first significant escape on the stage and she took the first Queen of the Hills points at Coomaciste with a gap of a minute.
She was soon caught and passed by Lauren Creamer (Ireland) and Lowri Bunn (Abergavenny RC) who worked to open a gap of more than four minutes on the field.
At that point, with 40 kilomteres to go, Creamer was asked to stop working by her Ireland team and Bunn faced the combined efforts of the Irish squad and Womenscycling.ie in her efforts to keep the duo clear.
It was an unequal struggle and the pair were finally swept up with 10km to go by a small group of riders which had been thinned out by the combination of high winds, hilly roads and the efforts of the riders behind.
Sandra Fitzgerald (Ireland) attacked repeatedly on the run to the line but each time was pegged back by the group led by Caroline Ryan to ensure that her Womenscycling.ie team mates Mel Späth and Fiona Meade were ideally placed for the finish.
In the end, neither had any answer to the final surge from Moriarty who added a stage victory to her second place on stage four.
Dutch rider Linda Ringlever (Moving Ladies) missed out on the win but consolidated third overall and carried off victory in the Queen of the Mountains competition.
Third over the line was Dillon, just ahead of team mate Fitzgerald with Femke van Kessel (Moving Ladies) fifth and Laura Massey (Inverse/Cyclaim) sixth in the final dash to the line after five hard days of racing.
The County Rider classification was controlled for much of the week by Melanie Späth (Womenscycling.ie) who also edged Ringlever for the second spot on the podium. But neither could do anything about Dillon, a US-based Mayo native who is a full-time professional with the Peanut Butter & Co team.
Much of her final winning margin of 2m18s was forged on an epic third stage which she won after riding much of the mountainous stage alone.
An Post Ras na mBan
Stage 6 FINAL Results
Sneem – Sneem 18 September 2011
Stage 6 Stage Result
Issued: 18 Sep 2011, 14:43
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Organisation: Womens Commission Country: IRL
Class: na .
Winner’s Time: 2h51’29” Deadline: None
Race Dist: 93.50 kms / 58.14 Miles Total Dist: 390.50 kms / 242.83 miles
Speed: 32.71 kph / 20.34 mph Average: 33.77 kph / 21.00 mph
Number of Starters: 51 Number of Finishers: 50
Did Not Finish: 1
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PL No. UCI Code Name TM Team Time @
1 34 Moriarty,Louise LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h51’29”
2 39 Ringlever,Linda MOV Moving Ladies 2h51’29”
3 1 Dillion,Olivia INT Irish National Team 2h51’29”
4 5 Fitzgerald,Sandra INT Irish National Team 2h51’29”
5 37 Van Kessei,Femke MOV Moving Ladies 2h51’29”
6 30 Massey,Laura INV Inverse/Cyclaim 2h51’29”
7 43 Jeuland,Nathalie ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h51’29”
8 3 Creamer,Lauren INT Irish National Team 2h51’29”
9 53 Späth,Melanie WC WomensCycling.ie 2h51’29”
10 10 Bamford,Rachel ABE Abergavenny 2h51’29”
11 12 Eggi,Elena BIK Bike Aid 2h51’29”
12 50 Meade,Fiona WC WomensCycling.ie 2h51’29”
13 9 Bunn,Lowri ABE Abergavenny 2h51’29”
14 14 Ashton,Kimberley SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h51’29”
15 7 Hall,Corrine ABE Abergavenny 2h51’29”
16 49 Ryan,Caroline WC WomensCycling.ie 2h51’29”
17 29 McNamara,Siobhan INV Inverse/Cyclaim 2h51’29”
18 11 Byrne,Sarah ABE Abergavenny 2h51’29”
19 44 Kilmartin,Jane VIV Pedales des Eaux Vive 2h52’37” @01’08”
20 2 Horne,Ciara INT Irish National Team 2h52’54” @01’25”
21 38 Burgess,Jay MOV Moving Ladies 2h53’01” @01’32”
22 33 McRae,Joanna LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h54’36” @03’07”
23 28 Visser,Silja HOL District Noord Hollan 2h55’30” @04’01”
24 46 Maidment,Sarah SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h55’30” @ s/t
25 25 Verhagen,Alicja HOL District Noord Hollan 2h55’33” @04’04”
26 47 Magri,Stephenia SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h55’36” @04’07”
27 51 Meehan,Fran WC WomensCycling.ie 2h56’20” @04’51”
28 15 Dalton,Anne CL Cycling Leinster 2h56’20” @ s/t
29 4 Gourley,Lauren INT Irish National Team 2h59’21” @07’52”
30 31 Grundy,Anna LMH Look Mum No Hands 2h59’21” @ s/t
31 45 Sewell,Iona SQU Squarda Donne/ShuttVr 2h59’26” @07’57”
32 40 Hendron,Orla ORW Orwell Wheelers 2h59’26” @ s/t
33 17 Stephens,Niamh CL Cycling Leinster 2h59’26” @ s/t
34 13 Roche,Sinead CAS Castlebar CC 2h59’31” @08’02”
35 52 Banfield,Laura WC WomensCycling.ie 2h59’33” @08’04”
36 16 Conway,Caroline CL Cycling Leinster 2h59’33” @ s/t
37 18 McEvoy,Orla CL Cycling Leinster 2h59’33” @ s/t
38 6 Hill,Amy ABE Abergavenny 2h59’39” @08’10”
39 20 Brice,Amy CU Cycling Ulster 3h00’06” @08’37”
40 36 Kennedy,Roisin LUC Lucan CRC 3h04’22” @12’53”
41 41 McDonald,Charlotte ORW Orwell Wheelers 3h06’59” @15’30”
42 32 McKay,Helen LMH Look Mum No Hands 3h06’59” @ s/t
43 42 Cooke,Fiona ORW Orwell Wheelers 3h09’20” @17’51”
44 54 Springer,Ruth HOL District Noord Hollan 3h10’41” @19’12”
45 26 Stoelwinder,Anneloes HOL District Noord Hollan 3h11’00” @19’31”
46 27 Welling,Renee HOL District Noord Hollan 3h11’00” @ s/t
47 19 Telford,Sandra CL Cycling Leinster 3h11’00” @ s/t
48 35 Xieyue,PanPanFan LMH Look Mum No Hands 3h26’00” @34’31”
49 21 Fullerton,Louise CU Cycling Ulster 3h27’00” @35’31”
50 22 Savage,Maeve CU Cycling Ulster 3h27’00” @ s/t
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Non starters/finishers/eliminated Riders
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Did Not Finish: 23-Collie.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 11h33’35”
2 53 Späth,Melanie S WomensCycling.ie 11h35’53” @02’18”
3 39 Ringlever,Linda S Moving Ladies 11h36’02” @02’27”
4 14 Ashton,Kimberley S Squarda Donne/Sh 11h36’14” @02’39”
5 11 Byrne,Sarah S Abergavenny 11h36’20” @02’45”
6 7 Hall,Corrine S Abergavenny 11h39’26” @05’51”
7 49 Ryan,Caroline S WomensCycling.ie 11h42’20” @08’45”
8 50 Meade,Fiona S WomensCycling.ie 11h42’33” @08’58”
9 34 Moriarty,Louise S Look Mum No Hand 11h42’37” @09’02”
10 9 Bunn,Lowri S Abergavenny 11h42’45” @09’10”
11 3 Creamer,Lauren S Irish National T 11h42’46” @09’11”
12 12 Eggi,Elena S Bike Aid 11h42’47” @09’12”
13 30 Massey,Laura S Inverse/Cyclaim 11h42’52” @09’17”
14 5 Fitzgerald,Sandra S Irish National T 11h43’24” @09’49”
15 37 Van Kessei,Femke S Moving Ladies 11h43’32” @09’57”
16 10 Bamford,Rachel S Abergavenny 11h45’33” @11’58”
17 43 Jeuland,Nathalie S Orwell Wheelers 11h45’45” @12’10”
18 44 Kilmartin,Jane S Pedales des Eaux 11h51’03” @17’28”
19 33 McRae,Joanna S Look Mum No Hand 11h52’55” @19’20”
20 28 Visser,Silja S District Noord H 11h53’37” @20’02”
21 2 Horne,Ciara S Irish National T 11h54’27” @20’52”
22 29 McNamara,Siobhan S Inverse/Cyclaim 11h56’05” @22’30”
23 38 Burgess,Jay S Moving Ladies 11h58’36” @25’01”
24 45 Sewell,Iona S Squarda Donne/Sh 11h58’53” @25’18”
25 51 Meehan,Fran S WomensCycling.ie 11h59’02” @25’27”
26 47 Magri,Stephenia S Squarda Donne/Sh 12h01’36” @28’01”
27 25 Verhagen,Alicja S District Noord H 12h04’31” @30’56”
28 52 Banfield,Laura S WomensCycling.ie 12h05’37” @32’02”
29 31 Grundy,Anna S Look Mum No Hand 12h07’21” @33’46”
30 15 Dalton,Anne S Cycling Leinster 12h10’36” @37’01”
31 40 Hendron,Orla S Orwell Wheelers 12h12’08” @38’33”
32 46 Maidment,Sarah S Squarda Donne/Sh 12h12’09” @38’34”
33 18 McEvoy,Orla S Cycling Leinster 12h13’59” @40’24”
34 16 Conway,Caroline S Cycling Leinster 12h17’08” @43’33”
35 13 Roche,Sinead S Castlebar CC 12h20’34” @46’59”
36 36 Kennedy,Roisin S Lucan CRC 12h24’34” @50’59”
37 17 Stephens,Niamh S Cycling Leinster 12h29’40” @56’05”
38 32 McKay,Helen S Look Mum No Hand 12h32’27” @58’52”
39 6 Hill,Amy J Abergavenny 12h38’24” @1h04’49”
40 20 Brice,Amy S Cycling Ulster 12h40’49” @1h07’14”
41 41 McDonald,Charlotte S Orwell Wheelers 12h42’33” @1h08’58”
42 42 Cooke,Fiona S Orwell Wheelers 12h51’37” @1h18’02”
43 4 Gourley,Lauren J Irish National T 12h54’18” @1h20’43”
44 54 Springer,Ruth S District Noord H 12h59’39” @1h26’04”
45 19 Telford,Sandra S Cycling Leinster 13h04’32” @1h30’57”
46 27 Welling,Renee J District Noord H 13h04’33” @1h30’58”
47 26 Stoelwinder,Anneloes S District Noord H 13h12’40” @1h39’05”
48 35 Xieyue,PanPanFan S Look Mum No Hand 14h00’27” @2h26’52”
49 22 Savage,Maeve S Cycling Ulster 14h01’55” @2h28’20”
50 21 Fullerton,Louise S Cycling Ulster 14h09’41” @2h36’06”
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Primes
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KOM Cat 2: Coomaciste
PL No. Name Tm Pts Sec
1 3 Creamer,L INT 4pt
2 9 Bunn,L ABE 3pt
3 45 Sewell,I SQU 2pt
4 32 McKay,H LMH 1pt
KOM Cat 2: Coomaciste
PL No. Name Tm Pts Sec
1 9 Bunn,L ABE 4pt
2 3 Creamer,L INT 3pt
3 39 Ringlever,L MOV 2pt
4 53 Späth,M WC 1pt
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Mountains Competition
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PL No. Name TM Pts
1 39 Ringlever,L MOV 26
2 1 Dillion,O INT 20
3 53 Späth,M WC 16
4 9 Bunn,L ABE 8
5 3 Creamer,L INT 7
6 10 Bamford,R ABE 6
7 14 Ashton,K SQU 6
8 49 Ryan,C WC 6
9 16 Conway,C CL 4
10 11 Byrne,S ABE 2
11 45 Sewell,I SQU 2
12 32 McKay,H LMH 1
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Team General Classification
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PL Name Time
1 Abergaven 34h58’22”
2 Irish Nat @ 01’05”
3 WomensCyc @ 02’26”
4 Moving La @ 19’54”
5 Squarda D @ 34’25”
6 Look Mum @ 44’33”
7 Cycling L @ 1h29’27”
8 Orwell Wh @ 1h42’00”
9 District @ 1h50’55”
10 Cycling U @ 4h27’38”
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Commissaire Communique
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First An Post Prime Rider No 45
Second An Post Prime Rider No 9.
Compliments to all for a very Sporting and Safely run event.
Safe Home and I hope to see you all next year.
P.S DUBLIN FOR THE SAM MAGUIRE.
The College of Commissaires
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