UK rider Hannah Barnes - pictured leading above in recent UK racing action - has taken the opening stage of An Post Rás na mBan in Co Clare this evening, Wednesday
Hannah Barnes (DID Electrical RT) has won the first stage of the 2013 An Post Ras na mBan in a bunch sprint in Ennis, Co Clare, this evening, Wednesday.
She got the better of Roxane Fournier (Trek Norway) and Christine Majerus (Team Luxembourg). Cork woman Fiona Meade took seventh place in the sprint and is the first county jersey winner of the race.
Barnes, the British National Criterium Champion, said she was delighted to take the victory after 58km.
“It was quite fast, a lot of people were trying to get away, which is always good, it means everyone is keen to start the first day,” she told stickybottle.
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“The finish was really fast. I don’t really like going through cities because of all the road furniture and you have to be cautious. I usually sat up right up in the bunch so I can see everything coming in. I am quite a wimp when it comes to bunches, and I have to just think and chill out. “
“I’ve never raced here before and it’s quite nice. I have been in Dublin before but never in the country.”
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Some 104 riders took to the start of the 2013 edition of the race, held for the first time in county Clare. A late afternoon start to allow for travelling riders meant for a short 58km stage and some very aggressive riding.
The pace was high early on, with back to back attacks instigated by Team Ireland and Bike4Air Ladies.
Each surge shed a few riders off the back of the bunch but none were strong enough to establish a breakaway. The strong international presence was felt at the queen of the hills points, with the climbs splitting the bunch into smaller groups.
The peloton was well thinned out after an unfortunate crash that took down Lauren Creamer (Joe Daly’s Cycles) and Kelli Samuelson (Ritte Ladies), with half the bunch stuck behind the incident. But those who avoided the spill were still racing hard to stay with the front group.
Coming into the final kilometres the bunch had whittled down to about 60 riders and it was clear the race would be decided in a sprint.
Barnes, who is guesting for team DID Electrical, proved strongest ahead of Fournier, the French woman guesting for team Trek Norway, and Majerus of Team Luxembourg.
The stage was sponsored by Fixx Coffee House.
We’ll bring you results and photos when we get them.
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