Irish juniors stay in contention as UCI Nations Cup race splits | Video

The Irish juniors have performed strongly on stage 2 at the UCI Nations Cup in the Netherlands, with the field splitting on the final ascent to the finish line

The Irish team have ridden strongly on stage 2 of Watersley Ladies Challenge, the UCI Junior Nations Cup race in the Netherlands, on a day when the field split on the final ascent up to the finish line.

Team Ireland had two riders in the top 10 heading into today's stage after Lucy Benezet Minns and Aliyah Rafferty were 2nd and 7th in the opening stage TT yesterday.

And while the duo slipped a little today in the general classification, they remain firmly in contention ahead of the final stage tomorrow, which features 10 short climbs before a small incline to the line.

Today, it was French phenom Célia Gery who was once again on top; the national road race and TT champion, who won yesterday's short time trial, best in the sprint to the line.

Advertisement

On that 300m incline to the line, with some stretches with gradients over nine per cent, Gery was a very clear winner; taking the stage by one second from Auke De Buysser (AG Insurance-NXTG U19) and Paula Ostiz (Spain).

Some seven riders were credited at the same time, one second down on yellow jersey Gery, and behind them there were similar gaps, all adding up for the riders a little further back.

Though Rafferty, Benezet Minns and Doherty were in the main field coming to the finish, they fell victim to those time gaps through the field. Rafferty was 44th at 14 seconds, Benezet Minns was 53rd at 20 seconds and Doherty was 67th at 29 seconds. Kate Murphy, who is new to the junior international road set-up, was 93rd at 3:42.

Related News

The result means Benezet Minns slips from 2nd place this morning, just four seconds down on Gery, to 5th overall at 34 seconds. Rafferty also drops a little, from 7th overall starting today's 90.2km stage into Watersley, to 12th at 44 seconds. Doherty is 62nd at 1:33 while Murphy is 107th at 5:23.

However, both Rafferty and Benezet Minns will get their chance to gain ground tomorrow if they have the legs as the stage will be more challenge and may split long before the finish.

Related News