Team Munster's Fiona Meade looking shattered taking her stage win; showing race craft, strength and explosiveness in equal measure to see off a classy international field in Ballyalla (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
Having played a supporting role on the opening two stages of An Post Rás na mBan, Ireland's Fiona Meade stepped squarely into the limelight this evening in Co Clare, taking a coveted stage win in Ireland's largest event on the elite women's scene.
The Team Munster rider has always been one for the rapid and robust mass sprints that have settled some of the flatter fast stages in this race in recent years, and today she showed she can beat all comers irrespective of the strength in dept of this domestic and international field.
She came across the line first this evening in Ballyalla after a 45km circuit race over 10 laps; turning the tables on Femke Van Kessel (WV Breda-Manieu.ni) who had taken stage 1 into Ennis on Wednesday evening from the classy US rider Tayler Wiles (DID Cycle 4 Life), with Meade in 3rd place.
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And when Wiles popped up again on yesterday’s Loop Head to Ballyvaughan 112km stage 2 to win that in a sprint from a depleted peloton, Meade again found herself the bridesmaid in third spot.
While a podium place on a stage of this race is a major achievement for even a good international rider, never mind a county competitor like Meade; she clearly wanted more and got it this evening.
She had too much for the other fast women in the 41-strong bunch that contested the sprint finish after a very fast stage that saw a not insignificant number of riders find themselves off the back.
Meade, who had clearly studied the finish and taken a close assessment of the wind up the home straight, put in a text book gallop.
She waited and waited as stage 1 winner and former race leader Van Kessel led out the sprint, with the Irish woman coming past her on her left well inside the last 100 metres to take her on the line.
The field fans out across the road in Ballyalla, with race leader and double stage winner Tayler Wiles in the centre in her leader's pink jersey (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)
As well as taking victory this evening, when that result is added to her two third places she is now sitting atop the points classification; a fantastic result for a woman who clearly tuned up her form for this race very nicely at the recent Suir Valley Three Day racing against most of the best men in the country.
The first climbers' classification leader on the race, Helene Gerard of the French Bretagne was in third place.
Just off the podium was Eve McCrystal, who took 9th on this morning's 8km TT despite a bad fall yesterday that saw her sport a bandaged left leg in competition today.
Having won the county rider classification on two previous visits, Meade will need to find her climbing legs tomorrow to be in the reckoning for that award for a third time, with two cat 1 climbs to be scaled on the 105km sufferfest.
The racing starts in Ballyvaughan before heading around Blackhead and onto Doolin. From there the field climbs up to Doonagore Castle and over to the outskirts of Lisdoonvarna before racing for Kilfenora.
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From Kilfenora it's on to Corofin and then towards Carron, taking in the climb of Glen before dropping down to Bellharbour and back to finish in Ballyvaughan.
Sept 10th-14th: An Post Rás na mBan
Stage 4: Ballyalla 45km
Sponsored by Fixx Coffeehouse, Dublin 2
1 Meade,Fiona MUN Team Munster 1h03'31"
2 Van Kessel,Femke WVB WV Breda-Manieu.ni
3 Gerard,Helene BRE Dn Bretagne
4 McCrystal,Eve IRL Irish National Team
5 Nixon,Rebecca MEA Team Meadowlark
6 Jankute,Gabriele LUX Team Luxembourg
7 Woering,Melanie DEN Team Rytger
8 Eg,Simone DEN Team Rytger
9 Knuttsson,Frida DEN Team Rytger
10 Weaver,Mollu SCO Epic Scott
11 Van Neck,Melissa TWF Team West Frisia
12 Walker,Jessica LAK Westmeath Lakeside Wh
13 Costello,Mary IRL Irish National Team
14 Spence,Emily Colavita Fine Cooking
15 Audrain,Ivy DID DID Cycle 4 Life RT
16 Klok,Ines WVB WV Breda-Manieu.ni
17 Fraser,Chloe FUS FusionRT Gearclub/Bik
18 Wiles,Tayler DID DID Cycle 4 Life RT
19 Neefjes,Tessa TWF Team West Frisia
20 Grant,Emma STU Team Stuttgart
21 Gurley,Lydia DOW Dublin Orwell Wheeler
22 Coralie,Sero BRE Dn Bretagne
23 Wagenaar,Mirthe WVB WV Breda-Manieu.ni
24 Dillon,Olivia IRL Irish National Team
25 Hill,Amy FUS FusionRT Gearclub/Bik
26 Grinczer,Natalie FUS FusionRT Gearclub/Bik
27 Dagostino,Lauren Colavita Fine Cooking
28 Demay,Coralie BRE Dn Bretagne
29 Cobb,Alice FUS FusionRT Gearclub/Bik
30 Etienne,Anne BRE Dn Bretagne
31 Massey,Laura SCO Epic Scott
32 Wetzel,Stephanie Colavita Fine Cooking
33 Ewing,Anne WVB WV Breda-Manieu.ni
34 Thomas,Claire DID DID Cycle 4 Life RT
35 Dixon,Eve GEO Geoffrey Butler C Lad
36 Vogl,Lena STU Team Stuttgart
37 Womersley,Rebecca STU Team Stuttgart
38 Mickey,Abby RIT Ritte Women's CT
39 Rimasson,Gabrielle BRE Dn Bretagne
40 Keenen,Aideen DOW Dublin Orwell Wheeler
41 Ossyra,Sabina STU Team Stuttgart
42 Matthijsse,Mathilde BSC Bonito Squadra Corse @09"
43 Chittenden,Lucy BSC Bonito Squadra Corse
44 Guerrini,Suzetta MEA Team Meadowlark
45 Brand,Melissa SCO Epic Scott
46 Erskine,Julie LAK Westmeath Lakeside Wh
47 Fisher,Annabel BSC Bonito Squadra Corse
48 O'Halloran,Michelle LAK Westmeath Lakeside Wh
49 Peer,Anne WVB WV Breda-Manieu.ni
50 Buisman,Nina TWF Team West Frisia
51 Thill,Laurence LUX Team Luxembourg
52 Van Rozelaar,Pernill TWF Team West Frisia
53 Darley Ronan,Lisa DTC Dublin Towers CC
54 Staplebroek,Lisa MUN Team Munster
55 O'Reilly,Eimear DTC Dublin Towers CC
56 Stephens,Niamh DTC Dublin Towers CC
57 Robinson,Karen LAK Westmeath Lakeside Wh
58 Christian,Anna SCO Epic Scott
59 Woering,Henriette DEN Team Rytger
60 Nordin,Gabriella MEA Team Meadowlark
61 Rata,Emma BSC Bonito Squadra Corse
62 Maes,Elise LUX Team Luxembourg
63 Geoghegan,Michelle IRL Irish National Team
64 Donovan,Katie RIT Ritte Women's CT
65 McGoldrick,Cassie FUS FusionRT Gearclub/Bik
66 Schulz,Marlen STU Team Stuttgart
67 Sewell,Iona GEO Geoffrey Butler C Lad @13"
68 Kinch,Ciara DOW Dublin Orwell Wheeler
69 O'Mahoney,Sonja LAK Westmeath Lakeside Wh
70 Dalton,Anne IRL Irish National Team
71 Carier,Lara LUX Team Luxembourg
72 Soden,Nicola GEO Geoffrey Butler C Lad
73 Calderon,Priscilla RIT Ritte Women's CT @21"
74 Carter,Rebecca JOE Dublin Joe Daly Cycle
75 Brama,Elisabeth BSC Bonito Squadra Corse @04'27"
76 McAteer,Catherine DTC Dublin Towers CC @05'42"
77 Ormesher,Hannah DID DID Cycle 4 Life RT @16'15"
78 O'Sullivan,Teresa MUN Team Munster @19'30"
79 McKay,Sandra GEO Geoffrey Butler C Lad
80 Coljon,Carmen LUX Team Luxembourg
81 Griffiths,Tanya GEO Geoffrey Butler C Lad
82 Bekkering,Danielle JOE Dublin Joe Daly Cycle
83 Series,Peigi MEA Team Meadowlark
84 Claffey,Marie DTC Dublin Towers CC
85 Moran,Tonya JOE Dublin Joe Daly Cycle
86 McEntee,Claire DOW Dublin Orwell Wheeler
87 Kerrane,Helen JOE Dublin Joe Daly Cycle
88 Horan,Ann DOW Dublin Orwell Wheeler @29'15"
89 Cronin,Martina MUN Team Munster @30'11"
General Classification
1 Wiles,Tayler S DID Cycle 4 Life 5h59'15"
2 Weaver,Mollu U Epic Scott @33"
3 Matthijsse,Mathilde S Bonito Squadra C @42"
4 Demay,Coralie U Dn Bretagne @43"
5 Fraser,Chloe U FusionRT Gearclu @45"
6 Dillon,Olivia V Irish National T @47"
7 Cobb,Alice U FusionRT Gearclu @53"
8 Grant,Emma S Team Stuttgart @55"
9 Knuttsson,Frida J Team Rytger @58"
10 Gurley,Lydia S Dublin Orwell Wh @59"
11 Guerrini,Suzetta S Team Meadowlark @01'00"
12 Ewing,Anne S WV Breda-Manieu. @01'05"
13 Wetzel,Stephanie S Colavita Fine Co = s/t
14 Eg,Simone J Team Rytger @01'10"
15 Meade,Fiona S Team Munster = s/t
16 Grinczer,Natalie U FusionRT Gearclu @01'12"
17 Woering,Melanie U Team Rytger @01'13"
18 Christian,Anna U Epic Scott @01'15"
19 Massey,Laura S Epic Scott @01'16"
20 Gerard,Helene U Dn Bretagne @01'18"
21 Van Kessel,Femke S WV Breda-Manieu. = s/t
22 Thomas,Claire V DID Cycle 4 Life @01'19"
23 Woering,Henriette U Team Rytger = s/t
24 Wagenaar,Mirthe S WV Breda-Manieu. = s/t
25 Etienne,Anne J Dn Bretagne @01'24"
26 Walker,Jessica U Westmeath Lakesi @01'27"
27 Dagostino,Lauren S Colavita Fine Co @01'28"
28 Nixon,Rebecca S Team Meadowlark @01'32"
29 Donovan,Katie S Ritte Women's CT @01'40"
30 Klok,Ines S WV Breda-Manieu. @01'49"
31 Mickey,Abby S Ritte Women's CT @01'53"
32 Erskine,Julie S Westmeath Lakesi @02'01"
33 Nordin,Gabriella S Team Meadowlark @02'02"
34 Fisher,Annabel S Bonito Squadra C @02'05"
35 Womersley,Rebecca U Team Stuttgart @07'23"
36 McCrystal,Eve S Irish National T @07'46"
37 Brand,Melissa S Epic Scott @08'47"
38 Audrain,Ivy S DID Cycle 4 Life @09'42"
39 Hill,Amy U FusionRT Gearclu @09'44"
40 Spence,Emily S Colavita Fine Co = s/t
41 Rimasson,Gabrielle U Dn Bretagne @10'02"
42 Van Neck,Melissa S Team West Frisia @10'05"
43 Dixon,Eve U Geoffrey Butler @10'13"
44 Peer,Anne U WV Breda-Manieu. @10'15"
45 Rata,Emma J Bonito Squadra C @10'29"
46 Kinch,Ciara V Dublin Orwell Wh @10'30"
47 Schulz,Marlen S Team Stuttgart @10'33"
48 Calderon,Priscilla S Ritte Women's CT = s/t
49 Chittenden,Lucy S Bonito Squadra C = s/t
50 Carter,Rebecca S Dublin Joe Daly @11'30"
51 Geoghegan,Michelle S Irish National T @11'38"
52 Coralie,Sero U Dn Bretagne @12'59"
53 Van Rozelaar,Pernill J Team West Frisia @13'03"
54 Dalton,Anne S Irish National T @13'24"
55 Jankute,Gabriele U Team Luxembourg @13'44"
56 Buisman,Nina J Team West Frisia @13'52"
57 Keenen,Aideen S Dublin Orwell Wh @17'27"
58 Vogl,Lena J Team Stuttgart @21'20"
59 McGoldrick,Cassie U FusionRT Gearclu @26'17"
60 Maes,Elise U Team Luxembourg @28'52"
61 O'Halloran,Michelle V Westmeath Lakesi @29'05"
62 Neefjes,Tessa J Team West Frisia @29'06"
63 Stephens,Niamh S Dublin Towers CC @29'29"
64 Robinson,Karen S Westmeath Lakesi @29'31"
65 O'Reilly,Eimear S Dublin Towers CC @29'41"
66 Darley Ronan,Lisa V Dublin Towers CC @29'52"
67 Sewell,Iona S Geoffrey Butler @31'10"
68 Soden,Nicola S Geoffrey Butler @31'53"
69 Carier,Lara J Team Luxembourg @31'56"
70 Staplebroek,Lisa S Team Munster @32'03"
71 Ossyra,Sabina U Team Stuttgart @32'20"
72 Thill,Laurence U Team Luxembourg @32'54"
73 O'Mahoney,Sonja S Westmeath Lakesi @35'09"
74 Brama,Elisabeth S Bonito Squadra C @35'12"
75 Bekkering,Danielle S Dublin Joe Daly @38'44"
76 Costello,Mary S Irish National T @39'45"
77 McAteer,Catherine S Dublin Towers CC @40'42"
78 Griffiths,Tanya U Geoffrey Butler @48'28"
79 McEntee,Claire S Dublin Orwell Wh @48'34"
80 McKay,Sandra V Geoffrey Butler @50'54"
81 Coljon,Carmen S Team Luxembourg @51'25"
82 Moran,Tonya V Dublin Joe Daly @59'05"
83 Claffey,Marie S Dublin Towers CC @1h03'35"
84 Ormesher,Hannah S DID Cycle 4 Life @1h03'36"
85 Cronin,Martina S Team Munster @1h04'58"
86 Horan,Ann S Dublin Orwell Wh @1h06'44"
87 Kerrane,Helen V Dublin Joe Daly @1h11'43"
88 O'Sullivan,Teresa S Team Munster @1h12'24"
89 Series,Peigi V Team Meadowlark @1h15'04"
Points Competition
1 Meade,F MUN 26
2 Wiles,T DID 19
3 Van Kessel,F WVB 19
4 Nixon,R MEA 13
5 Knuttsson,F DEN 12
6 Eg,S DEN 12
7 Jankute,G LUX 10
8 Gerard, H DNB 8
9 Woering,H DEN 7
10 McCrystal, E IRL 7
11 Coralie,S BRE 6
12 Walker,J LAK 5
Mountains Competition
1 Wiles,T DID 18
2 Fraser,C FUS 15
3 Matthijsse,M BSC 12
4 Gerard,H BRE 12
5 Christian,A SCO 9
6 Ewing,A WVB 5
7 Weaver,M SCO 5
8 Wetzel,S 5
9 Wagenaar,M WVB 1
Team General Classification
1 FusionRT 18h00'35"
2 Epic Scot @ 14"
3 Team Rytg @ 28"
4 Dn Bretag @ 35"
5 WV Breda- @ 52"
6 Team Mead @ 01'44"
7 DID Cycle @ 08'11"
8 Colavita @ 09'27"
9 Bonito Sq @ 09'49"
10 Ritte Wom @ 11'16"
11 Irish Nat @ 15'50"
12 Team Stut @ 15'52"
13 Westmeath @ 24'10"
14 Dublin Or @ 26'06"
15 Team West @ 32'10"
16 Geoffrey @ 1h07'32"
17 Team Luxe @ 1h11'38"
18 Team Muns @ 1h19'31"
19 Dublin To @ 1h25'51"
20 Dublin Jo @ 1h46'29"
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