Emma Jeffers, left in purple, during the opening stage of Tour de Pologne, with the Irish international getting up for the gallop (Photo: Alessandro Perrone-Sprint Cycling Agency)

Ireland’s Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team) and Marine Lenehen (Lidl-Trek) have performed well on the opening stage of Tour de Pologne, with Jeffers forcing her way to the front to get into the mix in the bunch gallop.

Lenehan was making her World Tour team debut after stepping up from Irish club team Dan Morrissey Pissei to Lidl Trek for a stagiaire for the remainder of the season. Today she was working towards placing her team’s sprinter, Clara Copponi, towards the front in the final.

The stage – some 105.7km starting and finishing in Zamosc – was won in a bunch sprint by Chiara Consonni (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) from Copponi and Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health).

Jeffers – the Irish U23 road race champion, who has already made her Ireland debut on the track – got up for a creditable 12th place on the stage.

That is the best result of her season to date, indeed her best result on the road since she stepped up to UCI Continental level last year for Australian team ‘Jayco’.

Lenehan today finished in the bunch – placing 65th of the 107 riders who finished on the same time as stage winner, and first race leader, Consonni.

That was a good showing for Lenehan, who has made her name in Grand Fondo events, as it is the first time she has gotten into the European pro peloton and gone up against some of the biggest teams in the sport.

The three-stage race continues tomorrow with the 100km stage 2, starting and finishing in Chelm, with a slight drag to the finish line.