Drama for Irish team as de Boer holds firm to win Rás na mBan | Sticky Bottle

Caoimhe O'Brien of Team Ireland finishes 2nd on the final stage - to Dutch rider Paulien Koster of Team Noord Holland - with another Irish rider, Ellen McDermott of Team Boompods, taking 3rd place (Photo: Caroline Kerley)

Manon de Boer (NWVG-Uplus) has been crowned overall winner at Rás na mBan 2023. The Dutch rider putting in a commanding performance on the final day by winning the morning TT and then holding off late raids off the front as she defended her slender lead.

De Boer had already wrapped up the mountains classification before the final day of action, but then progressed to bigger things on Sunday.

She started the 2.5km TT in Kilkenny on Sunday morning among six riders all equal on time at the top of the general classification, meaning her TT win put her in the race leader's jersey for the final stage.
She went into that final stage just three seconds up on a trio of riders; Renee Van Hout (Team Noord Holland), Tiffany Keep (Hutchinson-Brother UK) and Noa Jansen (JEGG-DJR Academy).

Manon de Boer, in the race leader's jersey, won the penultimate stage and lifted the overall title for 2023 after defending her slim lead at the top of the standings in the final of the stage 6 criterium (Photo: Sean Rowe)

Rixt Hoogland (NWVG-Uplus) and Ireland's Linda Kelly (Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei) were 5th and 6th, both at seven seconds and so still within reach of overall victory if they could get a gap during the criterium.

Though the final stage was just over an hour of racing, the time gaps at the top were so tight De Boer had to be on her toes through the stage to ensure none of her rivals within striking distance of her leader's jersey was allowed to get up the road.

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Her resolve was tested during the final five laps when 2nd place overall, and best young rider classification leader, van Hout went on the attack repeatedly. However, De Boer was up to the challenge of closing her down, aided by other teams who wanted to keep the bunch together for a sprint.

*Koster was delighted with her victory on the final stage, winning the sprint for a few lengths after a powerful final kick (Photo: Caroline Kerley)*

One of those was Team Ireland, who had double stage winner Mia Griffin as a real threat for the stage victory. However, Griffin crashed around halfway through the race and, though the rules allowed one lap out on the final criterium stage for a mechanical or crash, she was delayed rejoining the group due to problems with her bike.

She found an ally in Kelly Murphy (AWOL O'Shea), who dropped back for Griffin. The duo are team mates in the national team pursuit line-up. With the help of Murphy, the national TT champion, Griffin was able to get back on, though the chase took its toll.

In the end, the stage came down to a bunch sprint, won by Paulien Koster of Team Noord Holland, from Irish duo Caoimhe O’Brien (Team Ireland) and Ellen McDermott (Team Boompods).

*UCD Cycling Club took the Irish team classification at the end of a tough five days of racing (Photo: Sean Rowe)*

That meant De Boer's three-second lead in the overall was maintained and secured her overall victory, while her win in the climbers' classification was always assured once she finished the stage. She won overall from Van Hout, Keep and Jansen - all at three seconds - with Hoogland 5th at seven seconds and Kelly 6th, also at seven seconds.

Hoogland won the points classification with Van Hout claiming the best young rider competition while Kelly won the best Irish rider classification. UCD Cycling Club’s Maeve Gallagher was best young Irish rider, with UCD also winning the best Irish team classification.