Home challenger or foreign invader; anyone with hopes of winning Rás na mBan will have to get past Colavita pro Olivia Dillon. The defending champion, she has been appointed leader of a strong national team for the Co Clare showdown next month.
Having had a very disappointing trip home from her US base for the national championships in June, there was better news today for Olivia Dillon when she was named as leader of the national squad for An Post Rás na mBan in Co Clare next month.
One of the very best riders Ireland has ever produced, Dillon went to Westmeath on the last weekend in June as a favourite for both the national time trial and road race title deciders.
However, she was left very frustrated when the pre-race inspection of all the riders’ time trial bikes, to ensure they complied with UCI rules, found her position was in breach of the regulations.
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Without the time to change her set-up, her time trial was over before it had begun and she was a non-starter in the contest won by Caroline Ryan (Garda CC-Richies Bikes).
Just two days later, Dillon should have had the opportunity to rescue her trip home in the road race. However, a fatal road traffic accident close to the course on the morning of the elite women’s and veteran’s men’s races saw both called off, sealing Dillon’s weekend as a complete disaster.
But in Clare next month she will be backed by a very strong national team in a race she has won before and taken multiple stage wins in. The Colavita rider goes into this year’s race as defending champion.
Alongside her in the Irish colours will be Mary Costello, Lauren Creamer, Anne Dalton and Eve McCrystal.
Lauren Creamer on her way to silver in the national time trial championships in June; she has tasted victory on the UK scene this year and has been developing well as an all-rounder (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
Costello is currently a member of the WyndyMilla UK team, which also counts national road race champion for the past two years Mel Spath on its roster.
Costello, a very accomplished track rider and one of the fastest women Ireland has on the road, has medalled several times in the national road championships, taking third last year when riding for US team Alliance Environmental.
Lauren Creamer, like Costello, is also based in the UK where she has been riding for the Pearl Izumi Sports team. She was second in the time trial championships in June, just 19 seconds behind Ryan.
And having ridden in the Irish colours in Rás na mBan in the past, but developed hugely as a rider since then, she will be looking to make her mark this year.
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Anne Dalton and Eve McCrystal have been plying their trade on the home scene in recent years and both are very strong riders; capable of playing a support role to protected rider Dillon but also grabbing their own opportunities should they present.
Dalton is riding this year for DID Electrical Racing and has ridden on the Irish team twice before in Rás na mBan. She also won the national league last year.
Eve McCrystal is regarded as a powerhouse rider and can be central to the Irish team's success in Co Clare next month, as well as grabbing her own chances should they arise (Photo: Alan Bingham)
McCrystal competes in the colours of Garda CC-Richies Bikes. A very strong triathlete when she switched to cycling some years ago, she is regarded as a powerful rider and is currently part the hugely successful Paracycling squad, where she rides a tandem with Katie-George Dunleavy.
The team will be managed by former Rás na mBan rider and Cycling Ireland women's commission committee member Margaret Donnelly.
An Post Rás na mBan takes place in Ennis from September 10th to 14th. It is supported by a number of partners including An Post, the IVCA, Clare Sports Partnership, National Dairy Council, Fuji Bikes and Fixx Coffee.
The event is the premier race for our elite female riders and attracts strong teams for the UK and Continental Europe.
It will involve 427kms of tough racing, including a new 120km Wild Atlantic Way stage tracing the Atlantic coast from Loop Head Lighthouse to Ballyvaughan.
The 2014 event is the ninth running of Rás na mBan in its current format and represents the 28th running of an international stage race for women in Ireland.
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