The 'Three Days of Bedford' will feature a strong field with British professionals and world champion riders
By Caroline Martinez
Cycling Leinster has selected a six-woman team to go to the UK to take part in the Three Days of Bedford international stage race from May 4th to 6th. The event is part of the Women's Team Series sponsored by Shutt Velo Rapid and British Cycling.
It is the biggest women’s stage race in the UK, with top riders taking part including the double world road champion Lucy Garner, world team pursuit gold medallist Elinor Barker and last year’s race winner and former Irish international Ciara Horne.
The Leinster selection is made up of: Charlotte McDonald (Orwell Wheelers); Fran Meehan (Aquablue); Eve McCrystal (Garda CC); Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC); Roisin Kennedy (Adamstown); Rachel Kaye Mellor (Orwell Wheelers).
Advertisement
Double Paralympic medallist Fran Meehan brings a wealth of experience and success to the team, while Garda duo Sandra Fitzgerald and Eve McCrystal have already shown great form this season.
Fitzgerald also competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games, in three events, and took the opening National Women’s League race in Laois last month. She also won the European Police Championships road race in France last year and teamed up with McCrystal to take the team time-trial.
Roisín Kennedy has had a strong start to the year, taking third in the first National Women’s League race having been the driving force of the breakaway she shared with Fitzgerald and McCrystal.
Charlotte McDonald, who proved her value to the Leinster set-up with a strong ride at the 2012 Rás na mBan, took 8th place in the Orwell-run TT in Dublin last week, her first race of the season.
Related News
Rachel Kaye Mellor, a first-year junior, came through the ranks of the Neenan Travel Talent Team 2020 development squad last year. She is the national U16 road race champion, was second in the criterium and took bronze in the TT.
“Bedford will be a real opportunity for such a strong team to be competitive. It will also give top junior Kaye Mellor a great opportunity to compete against her peers in the UK and gain valuable experience,” said Leinster women’s racing director Mags Donnelly.
“It’s also great for all the riders to get a tough three-day race in so early in the year and it will stand to them as the season progresses.”
Watch out too for Irish international Lydia Boylan, who will be riding with her team CTC, and the rumours of a second Irish squad taking part may also be confirmed in the next few days.
Bedford Thee-Day Schedule:
Day 1: Great Borford, 55km road race.
Day 2: Keysoe, 10km TTT, and 80km road race.
Day 3: Millbrook 8km ITT, and 80km road race.
Topics
