Emma Walsh takes a great solo stage win on a tough day in Limerick. Race leader Aideen Keenan was in what was left of the peloton 28 seconds down to wrap up the overall win (Photo with thanks to Gerry Murray)
Just as the opening stage of Newcastle West Knights Women’s Two Day had been settled on Saturday, the third and final stage also went to a women willing and able to take the race by the scruff of the neck and race home ahead of a depleted peloton.
This time around it was Waterford Racing Team's Emma Walsh who took stage honours, coming home a comfortable 28 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group.
But while she was delighted with her ride, the overall spoils went to Aideen Keenan.
The DID Electrical Racing Team rider had seized control by taking Saturday afternoon's stage 2 time trial.
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Keenan had been in the bunch on the 56km opening stage early on Saturday, which started and finished in Broadford.
The sprint for 2nd place on Sunday's stage 3. It was taken by Nenagh's Sinead Oakes, in the centre, from Maria Claffey of UCD, far left, and Michelle O'Halloran of Lakeside, in the yellow on the right (Photo with thanks to Gerry Murray)
That contest was taken by Nenagh's Sinead Oakes who came in solo, some 23 second ahead of the bunch.
But in the 8km test later in the day, Keenan posted a time of 12mins 32secs, winning by 14 seconds from Michelle O'Halloran of Lakeside, with UCD's Maria Claffey a further six seconds back.
Stage 1 winner and race leader Oakes put in a good ride again; this time taking 4th on the stage but losing 29 seconds and her overall lead to Keenan.
It meant Keenan went into Sunday's 60km final stage with a lead of six seconds over Oakes, with O'Halloran 3rd at 15 seconds and Claffey 4th a further 10 seconds back.
Waterford's Walsh was 5th, some 38 seconds off the race lead after finishing 5th in Saturday's time trial.
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Overall winner Aideen Keenan: She showed her strength in the time trial; taking the race lead and holding it on the final stage (Photo: Brendan Culleton)
Walsh would take flight on Sunday's stage 3 and threaten Keenan's hold on the overall standings.
But her stage-winning margin of 28 seconds over what remained of the peloton was not enough to dislodge the race leader.
In the end Keenan took the final general classification spoils from stage 1 winner Oakes by 6 seconds.
Walsh's stage 3 ride brought her up to 3rd overall, 10 seconds down.
She jumped up the standings from 5th to 3rd at the expense of Lakeside's O'Halloran, who ended the race just nudged off the final podium; 4th overall some 15 seconds off winner Keenan.
Newcastle West Knights Women’s Two Day
Saturday & Sunday April 11th & 12th
Stage 3: Broadford – Broadford (60km)
1 Walsh,Emma Waterford Racing Club 1h54'42"
2 Oakes,Sinead Nenagh @28"
3 Claffey,Maria UCD CC
4 O'Halloran,Michelle Lakeside Wheelers
5 Young,Grace De Ronde CC
6 Rochford,Nessa De Ronde CC
7 Keohane,Anne De Ronde CC
8 Monyague,Orla Dublin Wheelers
9 Stephens,Niamh UCD CC
10 Cronin,Martina Waterford Racing Club
11 Horan,Breda Dublin Orwell Wheeler
12 Marconi,Monica Dublin Orwell Wheeler
13 Horan,Ann Dublin Orwell Wheeler
14 Birchill,Emily North Tipp Wheelers
15 Keenan,Aideen DID Electerical RT
16 Good,Amy Cadence Performance R
17 Lake,Jenny Velo Shutt
18 Clancy,Rachel Nenagh
19 Harrison,Eimear Westport Covey Whls
20 O'Sullivan,Teresa Tralee BC @52"
21 O'Mahony,Sonja Lakeside Wheelers
22 Kennedy,Roisin Arcane Adamstown @01'12"
23 Flanagan,Aisling Lakeside Wheelers @01'18"
24 Hendron,Orla Dublin Orwell Wheeler
25 Collins,Autumn Cadence Performance R @04'19"
26 Kovacs,Niki Team Mule Bar Sigma S @04'59"
27 Moyles,Majella Nenagh @08'18"
28 Kennedy,Sinead Nenagh
29 Brady,Mary Dublin Orwell Wheeler @10'33"
30 Horan,Helen Dublin Orwell Wheeler @10'38"
31 O'Connor,Siobhan Dublin Orwell Wheeler @10'53"
32 White,Julie Aquablue
33 Sheridan,Naoise Dublin Orwell Wheeler @16'46"
Final General Classification
1 Keenan,Aideen E DID Electerical 3h46'05"
2 Oakes,Sinead N Nenagh @06"
3 Walsh,Emma E Waterford Racing @10"
4 O'Halloran,Michelle E Lakeside Wheeler @15"
5 Claffey,Maria E UCD @25"
6 Horan,Ann E Dublin Orwell Wh @44"
7 Monyague,Orla N Dublin Wheelers @48"
8 Stephens,Niamh E UCD Cycling @53"
9 Marconi,Monica E Dublin Orwell Wh @01'06"
10 Clancy,Rachel N Nenagh @01'11"
11 Horan,Breda N Dublin Orwell Wh @01'14"
12 Birchill,Emily J North Tipp Wheel @01'19"
13 Good,Amy J Cadence Performa @01'20"
14 Young,Grace N De Ronde CC @01'28"
15 Keohane,Anne M De Ronde CC @01'30"
16 O'Sullivan,Teresa E Tralee BC @01'33"
17 Cronin,Martina E Waterford Racing @01'35"
18 Harrison,Eimear J Westport Covey W st
19 Rochford,Nessa N De Ronde CC @01'43"
20 O'Mahony,Sonja E Lakeside Wheeler @01'44"
21 Lake,Jenny E Velo Shutt @01'46"
22 Hendron,Orla M Dublin Orwell Wh st
23 Kennedy,Roisin E Arcane Adamstown @01'55"
24 Flanagan,Aisling E Lakeside Wheeler @01'57"
25 Kovacs,Niki E Team Mule Bar Si @05'22"
26 Kennedy,Sinead N Nenagh @09'35"
27 White,Julie N Aquablue @11'09"
28 Horan,Helen E Dublin Orwell Wh @11'24"
29 Collins,Autumn J Cadence Performa @11'57"
30 Brady,Mary N Dublin Orwell Wh @13'02"
31 Moyles,Majella N Nenagh @16'43"
32 O'Connor,Siobhan E Dublin Orwell Wh @18'57"
33 Sheridan,Naoise J Dublin Orwell Wh @32'51"
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