First climbs draw out strongest riders on Rás na mBan as gaps open

*Stage 1 winner and race leader, Mia Griffin, on the road during Rás na mBan stage 2 today, which finished on The Rower climb (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)*

The general classification today began to take shape on stage 2 of Rás na mBan where three categorised climbs, including an uphill finish, brought the strong climbers to the top of the results, with time gaps emerging through the field.

While there was plenty of damage done on the final ascent, The Rower, to the finish line, many riders' legs were softened by the terrain long before then. The main field was thinned right down to about 30 riders by the time the remains of the bunch kicked up towards the chequered flag.

South African rider Tiffany Keep (Team Hutchinson-Brother UK) took the stage victory from Dutch duo Noa Jansen (JEGG-DJR Academy) and Manon de Boer (NWVG-Uplus). Linda Kelly (Team Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei) was best of the Irish, finishing in a group of just seven riders to finish on the same time as the stage winner.

*Tiffany Keep of Team Hutchinson-Brother UK wins today's stage 2 atop the climb of The Rower (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

And while the gaps behind that first seven riders to the next women home were small, they then became larger. There is still a long way to go on this race, but there was 25 seconds back to the 20th rider on the stage today, with larger gaps after that. Clearly the first pecking order has emerged; nowhere near final but likely a sign of things to come.

Apart from Kelly - a paracycling world champion as tandem pilot - Caoimhe O’Brien (Team Ireland) was next best of the Irish; in 15th place at 13 seconds. She was followed by Amelia Tyler (Alba Development Road Team), 17th at 18 seconds, and Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei), who was 19th at 20 seconds.

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Yesterday's stage winner, Mia Griffin (Team Ireland), was 26th at 35 seconds; perhaps paying a little today for her lack of racing in recent months as she recovered from concussion sustained at Paris-Roubaix back in April.

The breakaway hero of today was Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne (Team Boompods), who broke clear solo. She pulled out a gap of two minutes on the bunch. But her effort always looked like a long shot, even for someone of her pedigree, as a former Olympic rower.

While she was clear for about 30km, she was recaptured on the second climb of the day, Coppenagh, having led solo over the fist passage of The Rower. By the time the lead group came to the base of that climb for the second time it numbered no more than 30 riders; the charge to the line then blowing it to pieces.

Rixt Hoogland’s consistency over the first two days - she was also 4th yesterday - has given her the lead of both the Cycling Ireland points classification, and the Rás na mBan overall classification. However, while she leads overall, she is still on the same as the other six riders in the front group today. Kelly now looks like the best bet of the Irish riders for the general classification, though anything can happen in coming days.

In the Sport Ireland best young tider competition, Team Noord Holland’s Renée van Hout takes over the lead ahead of Ruby Oakes of Shibden Hope Tech Apex who sits on the same time on GC. Kelly will wear the Kilkenny County Council best Irish rider’s green jersey tomorrow after moving to the top of the standings with a fine performance today.

Tomorrow sees the race enter Co Laois for a 104km stage, starting in Portlaoise before taking on the challenging mountain climb of The Cut, before finishing in Mountrath in what’s sure to be another decisive day in Rás na mBan 2023.