Stage Three Race Report Rás na mBan 2024; Griffin Doubles Up in Gorey

Magenta Jersey extends lead at top of the General Classification.

Paris Olympian Mia Griffin continued her run of success at this year’s Rás na mBan, sprinting to victory in Stage 3 into Gorey, Co. Wexford this afternoon.

Griffin, wearing the magenta leader’s jersey, took the victory ahead of American Heidi Franz (Monarch Racing) in second, with Dutch rider Noor Dekker (JEGG DJR Academy) coming home in third.

The maximum time bonuses secured by Griffin at both the finish and intermediate sprint resulted in her extending her lead at the top of the general classification to 12 seconds over DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK teammate Caoimhe O’Brien.

The day started in the warmest conditions seen at this year’s race so far, with riders assembling at the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny City for the 104 kilometre route to Gorey, in Rás na mBan’s first visit to Co. Wexford. The undulating profile featured 1206 metres of elevation gain and two categorised climbs, in what was sure to be a tough day out for many tiring legs.

The first hour of racing was punctuated by a series of short-lived attacks, with the peloton remaining largely intact until a long uncategorised drag which preceded the intermediate sprint after 38 kilometres. Griffin took the maximum three bonus seconds at the sprint, followed once again by sisters Aoife and Caoimhe O’Brien, who picked up the remaining two and one bonus seconds respectively.

Another flurry of attacks immediately followed, with Canadian Anabelle Thomas eventually forcing a gap by powering clear in the most significant break of the day. The Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie rider established a margin of over one minute on the chasing peloton, before finally being reeled in at the base of the second category ascent of Sliabh Buí to end her 27 kilometre solo foray.

Once on the 3.3 kilometre long climb, featuring a maximum gradient of 18.6%, the main bunch exploded into multiple groups, with only a reduced bunch of favourites and jersey wearers left at the front of the race by the top.

In a continuation from the previous day’s mountains classification contests, IVCA Wicklow 200 QOH jersey wearer Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) once again went head-to-head with 2023 overall winner Manon de Boer (NWVG-Uplus), with the Dutch rider prevailing to narrow Lee’s lead to just two points. Third place was taken by Franz, recently selected to represent USA at the upcoming World Road Race Championships, followed by Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei’s Katy Hill in fourth.

The run-in to the second and final categorised climb of the day to Ballymore was dominated by the strong attack of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK’s Frankie Hall and Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie’s Jazmine Lavergne, both sitting at 16 seconds overall going into stage three.

The duo rapidly opened a gap of one minute, surviving Franz’s pushing of the pace on the Ballymore climb to maintain a 34 second advantage over the top, with Hall taking the maximum QOM points ahead of Lavergne.

Team Ireland, JEGG-DJR and Dan Morrissey all put riders to work on the front of the chasing group, finally succeeding in closing the gap to the leading pair with just five kilometres remaining.

Repeating the playbook from the previous two stages, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK took control at the front of the lead group in the closing stages, once again setting up the sprint for magenta jersey Griffin, who duly delivered the victory to extend her lead overall.

Griffin’s victory also widens the gap at the top of the Cycling Ireland Points and Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider classifications, with teammate Caoimhe O’Brien also adding a second to her lead at the top of the Sport Ireland Best Young Rider standings.

Tomorrow sees the return of the popular stage from Kilkenny to The Rower, featuring three categorised climbs and 1,041m of elevation gain over the 101 kilometre route.

For the full race preview, including teams and riders to watch, go to: https://rasnamban.com/ras-na-mban-2024-race-preview/

You can view the full route, stage by stage, here: https://rasnamban.com/2024-route/

Results can be found here: https://rasnamban.com/2024-results-live-feed/