National cyclocross champion Fran Meehan, left, battles through the Belgian snow on her way to a very strong result against the best riders in the world (Photo: Geert Nachtergaele)
Just a couple of weeks away from the defence of her elite women's title at the National Cyclocross Championships, Fran Meehan has been displaying the kind of form on the Continent that suggests she will be difficult to dislodge from the champion's jersey.
The Tullamore woman riding for Aquablue yesterday raced a Superprestige event in Diegem near Brussels, finishing on the same lap as the best riders in the world.
The event was won by world champion Marianne Vos.
She took the 40-minute contest by just four seconds from world road race champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of the Rabo-Liv team.
Fifty further seconds would elapse after the French rider crossed the line before Katerina Nash riding for Luna Pro rounded out the podium.
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Meehan powers her way towards the finish in a freezing Belgium yesterday (Photo: CyclingEye.com - Patje Cosyn)
The Czech rider is a former skier and double winter Olympian turned bike rider.
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She has won UCI World Cup cyclocross races and medalled and the World Cyclocross Championships.
Meehan came home in 37th place of the 50 finishers; 8:01 after Vos.
Her finishing on the same lap as the Dutch legend was an excellent ride.
Racing over a circuit course, the Irish woman needed to avoid being lapped by the leaders to be given a finishing time and placing.
Achieving that goal against such quality opposition and on a short circuit where riders are regularly lapped suggests Meehan is in some very good form.
Meehan is looking towards the World Championships in the Czech Republic at the end of next month after the national championships.
World champion Vos on her way to yet another victory (Photo: CyclingEye.com - Patje Cosyn)
Superprestige Diegem
Sunday, Dec 28th, Diegem, Belgium
1 Marianne Vos (Ned) Rabo-Liv Woman Cycling Team 0:40:10
2 Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Fra) Rabo-Liv Woman Cycling Team 0:00:04
3 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 0:00:54
4 Ellen Van Loy (Bel) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:35
5 Eva Lechner (Ita) 0:02:02
6 Lucie Chainel (Fra) 0:02:14
7 Alice Maria Arzuffi (Ita) 0:02:24
8 Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona 0:03:32
9 Jolien Verschueren (Bel) Wielerteam Decock-Woningbouw Vandekerckhove 0:02:34
10 Pavla Havlíková (Cze)
11 Loes Sels (Bel) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:02:36
12 Sanne Van Paassen (Ned) Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team 0:02:44
13 Femke Van Den Driessche (Bel) 0:02:53
14 Elle Anderson (USA) 0:03:23
15 Martina Mikulášková (Cze) 0:03:40
16 Katrien Thijs (Bel) 0:03:56
17 Lizzy Witlox (Ned) 0:04:00
18 Crystal Anthony (USA) 0:04:20
19 Erica Zaveta (USA) 0:04:25
20 Elena Valentini (Ita) BTC City Ljubljana 0:04:39
21 Karen Verhestraeten (Bel) 0:04:47
22 Cindy Bauwens (Bel) 0:04:55
23 Nadja Heigl (Aut)
24 Laure Bouteloup (Fra) 0:04:59
25 Maria Erlandsson (Nor) 0:05:16
26 Gabriella Durrin (GBr) 0:05:19
27 Audrey Menut (Fra) 0:05:27
28 Esmee Oosterman (Ned) 0:05:37
29 Elizabeth White (USA) 0:05:40
30 Fleur Nagengast (Ned) 0:06:11
31 Shana Maes (Bel) 0:06:33
32 Evy Kuijpers (Ned) Futurumshop.nl-Zannata 0:07:12
33 Corey Coogan (USA) 0:07:18
34 Annelies Van Doorslaer (Bel) Futurumshop.nl-Zannata 0:07:26
35 Diane Lee (GBr) 0:07:34
36 Mercedes Pacios (Spa) 0:07:52
37 Francine Meehan (Ire) 0:08:01
38 Mirjam Gysling (Swi) 0:08:04
39 Sarah Lomas (GBr) 0:08:26
40 Meg De Bruyne (Bel) 0:08:34
41 Suzie Godart (Lux) 0:08:42
42 Lotte Eikelenboom (Ned) 0:09:06
43 Joyce Vanderbeken (Bel) 0:09:25
44 Ksenia Lepikhina (USA) 0:09:32
45 Jennifer Nowlin (USA) -1Lap
46 Béatrice Godart (Lux)
47 Brenda Kaczmarczyk (Bel)
48 Tine Verdeyen (Bel)
49 Jessika Timmermans (Bel)
50 Chris Van Dorsselaere (Bel)
DNF Sandie Verriest (Bel)
DNF Maud Kaptheijns (Ned)
DNF Sophie De Boer (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
DNF Nikki Harris (GBr) VZW Young Telenet Fidea Cycling Team
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