Fitzgerald puts in her massive burst at the end of the title race that nobody else could match
By Graham Healy
Sandra Fitzgerald capped off an outstanding performance for the Irish team at the European Police Championships over the weekend, as she took the gold medal in the women’s road race on Sunday in Ploeren, Brittany.
Fitzgerald won by two seconds from Marie Laure Cloarec of France; a massively strong rider who also won the women’s TT the previous day. German rider Lisa Küllmer took the bronze medal.
Fitzgerald’s Ireland team mate, Eve McCrystal just missed out on a podium spot as she finished in fourth.
Cloarec was obviously feeling confident in the 85km road race following on from her TT win the previous day. She attacked on the second lap, and riding on her own built up a lead of 1:30. However, she was reeled in by the peloton at the start of the final 11km loop.
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In the last 1km the French rider was at it again, going clear once more on her own but being caught pretty quickly.
Clearly still in flying form following the Paralympics – where she piloted Katie George Dunlevy - Fitzgerald took the initiative with 500m to go.
She took off for the line, and while Cloarec summoned the strength to go after her with Kullmer neither could catch Fitzgerald. She blasted across the line two seconds up and with the European Police Championships title in the bag and on the way back to Ireland.
After that leading trio it was Ireland’s McCrystal who was best of the rest, taking fourth place despite suffering mechanical problems on the second and third laps and being forced into a long chase.
Also on Sunday, the men’s road race was run over 134km. The Irish riders missed the key breakaway and all would finish in the bunch. The title was won by Benoit Daeninck of France who is believed to have signed some time ago for Cofidis for next season.
Thomas Lavery was the top finisher in 41st position, and he was also the first Irishman in the time trial on Saturday, when he finished in 44th place.
Fitzgerald’s win the women’s road race on Sunday followed on from Caroline Ryan’s silver medal in the time trial on Saturday, where she finished just two seconds off the top spot.
With McCrystal and Fitzgerald finishing in 5th and 7th places respectively, this resulted in Ireland winning the women’s team competition.
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The women’s test was run over a very tough and technical 20.5km circuit through the Brittany countryside, starting and finishing in the town of Ploeren.
The European Police Championships are held every four years, with a selection headache for the Irish team this year given the number of gardai racing.
A delighted Sandra Fitzgerald on the podium with her gold medal and European Police Champion’s jersey
Caroline Ryan, far left, on the podium to collect silver in the Women’s Police Champs TT
The team in full; two individual medals and a women’s team prize made for a successful weekend in France
Irish riders in women’s 20.5km - Saturday
2nd Caroline Ryan 30:01.74 @ 2 secs
5th Eve McCrystal 30:43.20
7th Sandra Fitzgerald 30:53.55
20th Sheila Clavin 32:57.95
24th Sheila Griffin 33:54.04
28th Laura Griskeviciute 34:31.08
Team – Women’s TT
1st Ireland 2hrs 4mins 34 secs
2nd Switzerland @33secs
3rd United Kingdom @2:48
Women’s Road Race - Sunday
1st Sandra Fitzgerald
4th Eve McCrystal @2secs
26th Sheila Clavin @11:37
27th Sheila Griffin @11:37
29th Laura Griskeviciute @11:40
Men’s Road Race - Sunday
41st Thomas Lavery @3:32
58th Michael Doyle @3:32
59th Denis McCarthy @3:32
62nd Damien O'Farrell @3:32
67th Enda Connolly @3:43
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