Bates and Cullen draw first blood as Corkagh Park racing returns

*Jane Cullen of Panduit Carrick Wheelers wins the B race on the first night of the 2021 women's series in Corkagh Park (All photos by Matthew Lysaght - Cycling Ireland)*

Jennifer Bates and Jane Cullen have drawn first blood as the Women's Cycling League 2021 got underway in Corkagh Park, Dublin.

Bates, who has represented Ireland as a paracycling tandem pilot and is riding for Weston Homes Torelli this year, took a convincing solo win in the 'A Race'.

While the early laps of the contest were tactical, with Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) mopping up the sprint primes, as the race progressed the attacks became more decisive.

Cleo Harvey (Dublin Wheelers) took the initiative with four laps remaining and when she went clear she immediately pulled out a gap. Sensing the danger in the group behind, Bates was next to take flight and managed to close the gap to Harvey.

The two leaders, Harvey and Bates, then combined for a period and established what would prove to be a winning advantage over the group behind. Up front, with one lap to go, Bates turned the screw and managed to distance Harvey.

Bates then put her head down and hit out hard for the finish line, where she took a clear win. Harvey then held off the chasers to take a deserved 2nd place. And behind them, May still had enough in the tank to take 3rd despite burning some of her matches winning the primes.

In the ‘B Race’, which was a handicapped event, some of
the limit group riders made the very most of their advantage and were never
caught by the scratch riders.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

Up front, the lead group that pulled clear comprised of Suzanne White (Sorrento CC), Jane Cullen (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) and Karen Robinson (Bohermeen CC), with White taking the two primes on offer.

When they stayed away it was Carrick’s Cullen who stepped up to seize her moment; taking victory in a sprint from Robinson, with White in 3rd place.