Eve McCrystal (Garda CC), in green and Lydia Boylan (Team WNT), in the national champion's kit, prior to the start of the final stage of the An Post Rás na mBan last Sunday. The Irish duo started the day 26 and 36 seconds down overall and though it was always going to be a tall order to get that time back, they made a fine fist of it.
By Brian Canty
Lydia Boylan has relived the moment she thought she could have won the An Post Rás na mBan...as well as the moment she lost it.
The reigning national road race champion put up a brave challenge throughout the race which ended on Sunday but said missing a key split on stage two cost her a better shot at the pink jersey.
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“It was a super tough race; riding around Clare is always tough,” she reflected.
“The competition was intense but I had to do the jersey (national champion) proud.
“I was disappointed to drop out of podium contention on Thursday when I couldn’t stick with the front group," she said in reference to a select few who got away and fought it out for the win and the race lead.
“I knew after that’s stage the chances of winning outright were gone but I did what I could,” she added.
After a very solid time-trial on Saturday morning’s fourth stage she trailed by just 29 seconds and started the final stage with the same deficit to race leader Stephanie Pohl.
“I attacked as much as I could on the final day to try to get that time back, I couldn’t just sit in and wait for the sprint.
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“The rest of the teams were too strong though.”
It still didn’t stop her escaping, however, and even managing to claw back half of what she needed.
“I almost enjoy doing things like that,” she said of her attack last Sunday when she went clear with Eve McCrystal (Garda CC).
“It makes for more exciting racing and I wanted to do the jersey proud.
“I was surprised that not many did attack that final stage but I attacked several times on the last climb.
“I was attacking for 20k and with 5k to go Eve came with me. We drilled it for as long as we could and for a moment I thought…
“I knew it would be a long shot but equally, I had to try.
“We managed to get away but weren’t able to sustain it and we were caught inside the last kilometre.
“Still, it was good to get there and have some fun with Eve!”
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