How the race was won | Abi Conway comes good on big day at 'Hanlon' | Sticky Bottle

Abi Conway shows her delight at winning the Des Hanlon Memorial after a long breakaway on a wet and windy day (Photo: Sean Rowe)

Abi Conway (Paralloy RT) may have started the Des Hanlon Memorial for just the third time in her career today, but the Mayo women has already added her name to the illustrious list of winners. Her victory today, after looking so strong once the climbing began, confirms her status as one of the rapidly emerging riders on the home scene.

She had already proven her talents before today's contest in Carlow, promoted by Carlow Road Cycling Club. But winning such a challenging and prestigious event suggests she may make a big impression when she goes to race in the UK in the weeks ahead, and then on to the European scene.

Those in the women's race today had one 'outer lap' and 1½ 'inner laps' to complete for a race distance of 82km, in wind and rain; the breeze today having a big bearing on the race. Not long after the start, as was the case in the men's main event, a breakaway went off the front.

Aine Doherty (Dan Morrissey-Pissei) struck out solo with less than 10km completed. She went off in pursuit of a group of W3 riders who were in the race today, in the absence of an intermediate league this year, with a one-minute handicap from the start.

Doherty caught those ahead and went through them. It wasn't until the first major climb, with about 30km completed, that big moves were being made in the group behind, after a cagey start to the race.

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Conway and Kelly took it up, driving it on on the climb and catching Doherty before the top, with Elena Wallace (Harps CC) for company. Those four then got together in a group, which had plenty of firepower. They put their heads down, riding hard towards the first passage of the finish line.

However, by the time they reached that finish line for the first time, Kelly and Conway had distanced Doherty and Wallace; leading the race in a two-up move for the next 30km or so.

Finding themselves in that position, they decided to cooperate, though that work was punctuated by some attacks, put in by both riders on the climbs.

However, those moves thrown in by Kelly and Conway failed to result in a decisive split and the duo raced onto the base of the final climb to the finish line together.

With the breeze blowing from the left on the final section of road to the line, Conway took up position on the right, in a bid to ensure Kelly couldn't find shelter there and come past her.

Conway, one of the breakthrough riders of the last couple of seasons, led out the gallop and managed to hold off Kelly. She opened a slight gap on her in the final charge for the chequered flag, though there was very little between them.

Doherty and Wallace took a deserved 3rd and 4^th. Claire Diffley (Orwell Wheelers) was 5th, followed by Mia Smith (Brother UK-Team OnForm) 6th, Yvonne Doran (Orwell Wheelers) 7th, Jennifer Caverly (Dublin Bay Cycling Club) 8th, Ysabella Huele (Rudyco Cycling Team Vzw) 9th and Niamh O'Brien (Barrow Wheelers) in 10th.