Race leader Elinor Barker was away at the gun and out front at the finish in the Rás na mBan stage last night. But it was stage 1 winner Belle de Gast who took victory again (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Elinor Barker continues Rás na mBan run
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Having won stage 1 and taken the Rás na mBan leader’s jersey, new to cycling Belle de Gast has done it again.
She was fastest of a small but quality breakaway at the end of last night’s circuit race in Kilkenny City.
The flying Dutchwoman saw off two other riders who have also risen to the top at this race.
Sweden’s Frida Knutsson of Team Crescent DARE was 2nd. She also ran out runner-up in yesterday morning’s TT.
Knutsson was also 2nd on stage 2 and on the first stage came home in 4th place.
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Rounding out the podium last night was a rider in no mood to give away time to anyone; race leader Elinor Barker.
The Team GB woman was 10th and 4th on the first two stages. She then rode away from everyone on the stage 3 finish up Mount Leinster to win alone and take the race lead.
And Barker would tighten her grip on the general classification with victory in yesterday’s TT.
She has a lead of 1:40 on his nearest challenger; Alexandra Nessmar. But when the winning escape took flight late last night, she was alert and went with it.
De Gast would win it well from the three-woman escape. But it will take a near miracle to deny Barker outright victory tomorrow.
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Elinor Barker looks set to take the 2017 Rás na mBan in Kilkenny (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
Having said that, anything is possible in bike racing. And Team GB will need to be alert on tomorrow’s 85km stage which features the climb of Inistioge.
How Rás na mBan stage 5 unfolded
Though the leading trio would move clear on the penultimate lap of the 2km circuit last night, it had been action all the way in the one-hour speedfest.
In-keeping with her superiority in recent days, Barker was first to attack from the gun last night. And while she was recaptured, her fellow Team GB rider Mel Lowther was next to make an impact.
She jumped hard and got a gap and would spend the next 15 minutes out front alone. And when she was caught the Team GB cannon continued to fire out its talent; this time Becky Raybould going clear.
However, the speed in the bunch made it very difficult for anyone to stay away, especially solo.
A flurry of late moves would shoot clear; De Gast, Kirsten Peetom (Maastlandster CCN) and Knutsson all active.
But they too couldn’t make it count and were caught, with a bunch finish seeming more and more like.
Nobody had told De Gast though; she went again and this time it was decisive.
Knutsson and Barker knew it and they had the legs to go after her and catch her.
The trio never got far from the peloton, which had thinned right down through the hour. But they made it all the way.
De Gast got around the final turn in front and she would stay there. She floated over the finish line in victory for the second time in four days.
Race leader Elinor Barker (23) also holds the points and mountains jerseys, with team mate Alice Barnes 2nd on count-back in the latter.
Team GB also has the young rider classification lead with Lowther. Meanwhile, Eve McCrystal holds the best Irish rider classification lead.
Full results when they are available....
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