Aoife O'Brien (15) wins at Cycling Ireland National Road Series | Sticky Bottle

Aoife O'Brien wins the Mullingar GP, the fourth round of the elite National Road Series. The U16 rider went up against many of the best elite riders in the country, having received special permission to ride the race, and beat them all (Photo: Joe Duffy)

Having been granted special permission as an U16 cyclist to ride against the elites at the Mullingar GP, 15-year-old Aoife O'Brien raced to victory yesterday.

The Lakeside Mullingar rider, and U16 road race champion, has been selected to represent Ireland in the European Youth Olympics.

She was riding round 4 of the National Road Series yesterday as preparation for that trip.

And though she was up against some of the best junior and elite riders in Ireland she powered up the uphill finish to win the race in a group sprint.

Series leader Grace Young of Strata 3-VeloRevolution, one of the most experienced elite riders in Ireland, pushed her closest; coming a close 2nd to the powerful local youth rider.

And with that Young extended her lead in the series with four of the seven rounds now completed.

*Junior rider Lucy O'Donnell of O'Leary Stone Kanturk leads with eventual winner Aoife O'Brien just behind in her U16 national champion's kit (Photo: Joe Duffy)*

*Series leader Grace Young with Katharine Smyth and Lauren Creamer. Aoife O'Brien tracks them closely (Photo: Joe Duffy)*

Just behind O'Brien and Young was Nikki Taggart of the Adamstown club in Dublin; rounding out the podium on the day.

The race, run over two laps, was punctuated by plenty of attacks; Young and Emma Desmond (Lucan CRC) especially active.

However, despite the aggression the contest came down to a drag race up the gradual incline to the finish line with young O'Brien prevailing from Young and Taggart.

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Just behind them was a very strong trio of riders filling positions 4th to 6th.

Katharine Smyth, the Ballymena Road Club rider who claimed elite bronze and masters gold in the national road race championships, finished 4th.

Lauren Creamer (Brotherton), who has a lot of international experience, was 5th.

And Maire Claffey (UCD Cycling Club), who won the recent Stephen Roche GP, claimed 6th place on the day.

But there was no doubting the star of the show; local teenager Aoife O'Brien announcing her arrival onto the elite domestic scene before she has even left the U16 ranks.

Absolutely thrilling finish to the women's race here at the Mullingar GP.

? Aoife O'Brien @LWMullingar
? Grace Young @Strata3VeloRev
? Nikki Taggart @CyclingAdamstow

Superb from Aoife, an under 16 athlete. One for the future, certainly - but very much one for the present! pic.twitter.com/0OG7ZtzRjH

— Cycling Ireland National Road Series (@CINatRoadSeries) July 14, 2019