Pick the bones out of that: Fiona Meade sports a winning smile after romping to her first stage win of this year's An Post Rás na mBan (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
By Brian Canty
Fiona Meade has gone close to a stage win twice on the An Post Rás na mBan this week, but finally got that winning feeling tonight.
The Cork University-based physiotherapist said she was delighted with her victory in the 45km circuit race in Co Clare.
She was quickest in the final dash to the line after attacking by the Irish team had piled the pressure on but failed to force an escape clear.
Riding for Team Munster, though usually with Blarney CC, Meade now leads the points classification after scoring two third places on stages 1 and 2, before coming home 18th in this morning's 8km time trial.
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Tonight's victory was her second career stage win in the race, her Ballyalla triumph ending the three-year wait for another trip to the top of the podium.
Meade left it late but was a clear victor, having plenty to spare over second places Van Kessel, with all but a handful of riders many lengths back (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
"I was very happy with how it went,” she said of this evening's win.
“Going into the last lap I knew where I needed to be coming around the final bend," she explained of the frantic finale in a field of 89 riders.
"I looked at the finish before I started and there was a bit of wind and I knew I needed to wait until the last 100metres.
“There was one girl in front of me, Femke Van Kessel (WV Breda-Manieu) and she won the first stage so I came around her to get the win. I'm in the points jersey now as well so I'm even happier to have that.”
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In green and loving it; Meade says tomorrow's climbs don't suit her but she's looking to hang on to her points jersey (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
Meade targets this race every year and has combined local events with racing against male competitors to prepare for this week.
"We do a league race every Thursday night and train every Tuesday and I usually do another league on a Wednesday; so I'm used to riding in a bunch," she said of her usual routine.
“A lot of my training is in the men’s races and about a month ago I did the Suir Valley Three Day. That was with a bunch of men so that was great preparation for a stage like this, and learning how to hold my position."
Racing against the clock; Meade on her way to sneaking into the top 20 in this morning's 8km time trial in Barefield (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
With eyes firmly fixed on the county rider prize again, she also has bigger plans for the remaining two stages.
“I'm going to try and stay in the green jersey now because the hills aren't suited to me," she said.
"On stage two I was getting dropped on the climbs and tomorrow there's two category one climbs so I'll just try and hang in there. I just need to hang on.
"I've gotten the county rider (jersey) the last two years so getting a third in a row would be great and that's what I'm aiming for. But I do like the look of this points jersey so I'll do my best to hold it as well," she laughed.
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