Harvey strikes as pressure heaped on breakthrough rider Glodenyte

*Cleo Harvey on her way to victory in Corkagh Park on a night when Gabriele Glodenyte experienced the burden of being a new big name rider (All photos by Matthew Lysaght)*

Cleo Harvey has won the opening round of the Women’s Cycling League in Corkagh Park, Dublin, on a night when Gabriele Glodenyte felt the burden of her new status in the peloton.

Eventual winner Harvey (Dublin Wheelers) was only one of a group of riders to go on the attack last night. And when those moves went, many looked to Glodenyte (UCD Cycling Club) to close the gaps; the expectations of her having grown since she won a round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series in Mayo last month.

Harvey took the initiative for the final time in the race as the front group approached the last corner; the race winner jumping just before that bend, getting a gap and powering on towards the chequered flag. Behind her, young Emma Smith of Navan Road Club was best of the rest, seeing off Glodenyte in the group sprint for 2nd place.

The attacking was opened on the night by Jennifer Neenan, the Sundrive Track Team rider who won the women’s race at the Orwell Two Day in Co Wicklow at the weekend. While Neenan was soon caught, Harvey put in a very strong dig around halfway through the contest. She powered clear of the group, with many of the riders looking to Glodenyte to take up the chase.

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Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers) made an effort to go after Harvey, but that came to nothing as she was eventually caught. Jennifer Bates (Torelli Cayman Islands Scimitar) was next to roll the dice; attacking but also being brought back.

With about four laps to go, Glodenyte took on the responsibility of finally closing down the lone leader, which she did after a sustained effort of about half a lap. On the final circuit, Jane Cullen (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) went for a flyer into the first corner, with Glodentyte again looked to to close the gap.

However, when Cullen was brought back, Harvey soon took the initiative, pulling the trigger and ending an aggressive race on the top step of the podium. In the ‘B Race’, Abby Burke (Unattached) won ahead of Siobhán Quain (Unattached) and Ciara Meagher (Unattached).