Lydia Boylan has given herself every chance of still winning this An Post Rás na mBan after two very solid performances today. On this morning in the time-trial she was 5th and in tonight's circuit race came home in the bunch sprint for victory. It means she is still sixth overall, just 26 seconds off the race lead (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
By Brian Canty
Irish riders Lydia Boylan and Eve McCrystal are still in with a shout of pulling off a major upset at the An Post Rás na mBan after they finished in the main bunch of Saturday evening's fifth stage and posted strong time trial rides earlier in the day.
National road race champion Boylan (Team WNT) is the higher placed of the two in sixth at 26 seconds while McCrystal (Garda CC) is 10 seconds further back in ninth.
Advertisement
It would take something pretty special for either to win the pink jersey but ahead of a testing final stage tomorrow, anything is possible.
Last year, three riders came to the line to contest the stage and they were 57 seconds ahead of the next group on the road.
While every year is different, both have to believe the chance is still there.
Stage honours this evening went to Ellinor Huusko of Team Rytger. Second across the line was her teammate Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen while Rebecca Nixon (Fusion RT) rounded out the stage podium (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
On today’s split stage, both were prominent; Boylan clocking a time of 12’ 28” on this morning’s race against the clock and finishing 5th.
She was 9 seconds slower than stage winner Natalie Grinczer of Team Fusion while McCrystal was 19 seconds down.
That left McCrystal ninth on the stage and similarly placed ahead of tonight’s circuit race.
There, Boylan and McCrystal preserved their high placings after finishing in the bunch.
Stage honours this evening went to Ellinor Huusko of Team Rytger after 10 laps of a four-kilometre course which started and finished in Ballyalla.
Related News
Second across the line was her teammate Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen while Rebecca Nixon (Fusion RT) rounded out the stage podium.
Stephanie Pohl of South Netherlands leads the way at the top of the overall standings with just one stage remaining (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
Tomorrow’s final day takes the riders on an 85-kilometre loop from Clarecastle to Ennis via Kiladysert, Labasheeda, Kilmihil and Kilmaley.
There’s a category 3 climb after 20 kilometres as well as a potentially race-winning place to go on the attack after 55 kilometres.
The latter is the base of a category one climb and goes on for a whopping 10 kilometres. After that it’s pretty much downhill to the finish so a thrilling finale is expected.
Stephanie Pohl (South Netherlands) leads the way at the top of the overall standings, just seven seconds ahead of Eileen Roe (WV Breda Manieu.nl) while Emma Norsgaard Jorgensen (Team Rytger) is third at 13 seconds.
The leader of the points classification is also Norsgaard Jorgensen while the mountains jersey wearer is Mirthe Wagenaar (WV Breda).
McCrystal still wears the green jersey as the best-placed Irish rider overall while the best young rider is Norsgaard Jorgensen.
Results to follow.
Topics
