Holland's Dekker wins at Rás na mBan, Limerick's Fox impresses | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Noor Dekker, far right, of the Netherlands, and riding for VW Breda Women CT, wins stage 2 of Rás na mBan into Gorey, Co Wexford (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)*

Noor Dekker of the Netherlands, and riding for WV Breda Women, has claimed stage 2 at Rás na mBan, leading in a 22-rider group after 104km of racing from Kilkenny to Gorey in Co Wexford.

There were three Irish riders in the top 10, including Gabrielle Fox, riding for Limerick club team Greenmount Cycling Academy, whose recent alumni includes pro cyclist and Tour de France rider Fiona Mangan.

Fox, a 27-year-old from Armagh, who relocated to Limerick for work a couple of years ago, only completed her first full season of racing last year, having enjoyed a first sporting career in camogie.

However, having taken herself off to Australia to race and train late last year - and since then competed in Belgium, Spain, Portugal and France - she now appears to be very much finding her legs. He 4th place on Thursday's stage, in a strong international field, is perhaps her best career result to date.

Dekker claimed the victory from France's Noémie Abgrall (Ladynamips RVC) and Denmark's Olympia Norrid-Mortensen (Torelli), with Fox 4th. Irish riders Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team) and junior Aliyah Rafferty (Team Ireland) were 5th and 6th. There were four Irish riders in the top 10, with Esther Wong (Team Ireland) in 10th.

Linda Kelly (Cycling Ireland Women's Commission) placed 11th and was the only other Irish rider in the 22-strong front group, which finished 2:05 ahead of a chasing group of almost 30 riders.

Yesterday's stage 1 winner, and race leader, Océane Goergen (Ladynamips RVC) was in that second group and so slips down the general classification. Yesterday's runner-up, Britain's Alice McWilliam (Team Phoenix), has taken over at the top of the general standings.

The early part of the stage, before the fireworks, was dominated by a three-rider group; Grace Reynolds (Smurfit Westrock CT), Sarah Pope (Ladynamips RVC) and Gertrud Riis Madsen (Team Aalborg Sparekassen). They led over the Sliabh Buí climb - the first of two categorised climbs coming 71km into the stage.

And though the leaders were caught shortly after that climb, a lot of damage had already been done as the ascent had split the main field. By the time the front group reached the second climb - the cat 3 Ballymore crested 13km from the finish - it was clear nobody chasing was going to get across.

The leaders raced into the finish for the gallop, with the result of the stage having significantly re-arranged the general classification, though just 10 seconds covers the top 22, with a gap of two minutes back to the next group of riders.

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McWilliam now leads overall, though is equal on the same time as today's stage winner, Dekker. Today's runner-up, Abgrall, is 3rd at four seconds, with young Rafferty best of the Irish; now 6th at eight seconds.

Ireland’s Wong, Kelly, Reynolds and Fox are among a group of 15 riders, all equal on time, at 10 seconds. Kelly continues to lead the 'best Irish county rider' classification.

Stage 2 | Race highlights

Kilkenny to Gorey. 104km with 1200m of elevation. Noor Dekker took the win today with Alice McWilliam moving into the leaders jersey.

Check out some of the race action here.

Tune in for stage 3 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/WNBBrgUNHE

— Rás na mBan (@RasnamBan) September 4, 2025

Stage 2 | Kilkenny-Gorey (104km)

Noor DEKKER WV Breda Women CT 2h38'31''
Noemie ABGRALL Ladynamips RVC
Olympia NORRID-MORTENSEN* Torelli
Gabrielle FOX Greenmount Cycling Academy
Grace REYNOLDS Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team
Aliyah RAFFERTY* Ireland
Varvara FASOI Greece
Alice MC WILLIAM Team Phoenix
Mia WILLIAMS* WV Breda Women CT
Esther WONG* Ireland
Linda KELLY Cycling Ireland Women's Commission
Jennifer POWELL FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing
Lotty DAWSON* Brother UK/OnForm
Lea BRETTE Ladynamips RVC
Bronwyn MACGREGOR Greenmount Cycling Academy
Maddie HEYWOOD Greenmount Cycling Academy
Elyse SCHUIJT TEAM NH
Annabel RAMSAY* Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team
Amelia CEBAK* Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team
Gertrud RIIS MADSEN* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
Larissa HARTOG Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda
Sarah POPE Ladynamips RVC
Oceane GOERGEN Ladynamips RVC +2'05''
Marthe VERHAEGHE* The Lead Out Cycling Academy
Alice COLLING* Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team
Rachel GALLER FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing
Kirstie DRAKEFORD Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
Aoife O DONOVAN* Cycling Ireland Women's Commission
Jessika CHAN* Torelli
Emma THEYS The Lead Out Cycling Academy
Amber VAN OORT WV Breda Women CT
Ella TANDY* Greenmount Cycling Academy
Grace SARGEANT Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
Doireann KILLEEN* Cycling Ireland Women's Commission
Louise Norman HANSEN Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
Amelia STAUNTON* Brother UK/OnForm
Eleftheria GIACHOU* Greece
Chloe FOURMIGUE Ladynamips RVC
Anna BONIFACE FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing
Betty HASSE Team Phoenix
Elena WALLACE* Cycling Ireland Women's Commission
Cecilia HIME Brother UK/OnForm
Nicoline Bjerregaard VESTERGAARD* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
Grace WARD* CJ O'Shea Development Team
Elena WU-YAN Team Phoenix
Rosie SIMMONS Brother UK/OnForm
Abi CONWAY* Ireland
Lucy GADD Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team
Charlotte DEYKIN Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +2'10''
Claire DIFFLEY Pinergy Orwell Wheelers CC +3'30''
Demi KÖNST* TEAM NH +4'32''
Regina DOTY* CJ O'Shea Development Team
Nicola LYNCH CJ O'Shea Development Team
Claire NOTT FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing
Aine DOHERTY* Ireland +4'35''
Lily BRINDLE* Brother UK/OnForm +6'31''
Emma LYNGHOLM Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +7'05''
Jasmijn BLOEMHEUVEL* WV Breda Women CT
Cato SPELEERS The Lead Out Cycling Academy
Jemma SPEERS Cycling Ireland Women's Commission
Phoebe ROCHE* CJ O'Shea Development Team
Karin PETTERSON WV Breda Women CT
Aikaterini ELEFTHERIADOU Greece
Dannielle WATKINSON Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +8'05''
Isabella JOHNSON Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
Anastasia KONTOLEON* Greece +8'06''
Lotte DE ROOVER The Lead Out Cycling Academy +8'13''
Marike VELDHUIS TEAM NH +9'05''
Rebecca BABBAGE FTP (Fulfil The Potential) Racing +9'37''
Yvonne DORAN Pinergy Orwell Wheelers CC +11'06''
Line Juul BALLE* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +14'13''
Marie-Sophie RES TEAM NH
Miranda BIK Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda +14'16''
Ingeborg KERS TEAM NH +14'18''
Dina RØED* Torelli +14'21''
Peggy SIMPKINS CJ O'Shea Development Team +20'46''
Erin Grace CREIGHTON* Ireland
Rhianna HENEGHAN Pinergy Orwell Wheelers CC
Julie VERMEEREN Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda +31'31''
Lieske COUMANS Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda
Hilde HUIJBREGTS* Minigigs/Wielervereniging Breda
Elizabeth ARCHBOLD Greenmount Cycling Academy +38'13''
DNF Aoibhinn SHARKEY* The Lead Out Cycling Academy
DNF Marthe RØDSGAARD Torelli
DNF Charlotte BROUGHTON Torelli
OTL Carmel MORAN Pinergy Orwell Wheelers CC