Irish TT champion Kelly Murphy has made a not insignificant piece of Irish sporting history by becoming the first Irish woman to break into the top 10 at a major elite road championships.
Murphy
placed 10th in the elite TT today at the European Championships in Alkmaar,
Holland.
The
29-year-old, who plies her trade with Storey Racing but was competing for the
national team today, went around the 22.4km course in a time of 29:34, for an
average speed of 45.457km per hour on the pan flat, though at times exposed,
course.
That
put her in 10th place some 1:27 behind winner and former world champion
Ellen van Dijk of the Netherlands.
Aside
from Kelly Murphy in the 31-strong field, Ireland also had European Track
Championships medallist Anna Turvey in the field.
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The
former national champion wasn’t too far behind Murphy, taking 12th place
some 26 seconds behind her.
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After
van Dijk in the gold medal position, Germany’s Lisa Klein took silver some silver
at 30 seconds.
Klein
adds that medal to the TTT relay silver medal she took with Germany yesterday.
In the bronze medal position today was Lucinda Brand of the Netherlands, some
52 off her winning compatriot.
The
quality of Kelly Murphy’s performance is put into content when one considers
the time gaps between the top three were very significant, but much tighter for
the rest of the top 10.
Murphy
was only 35 seconds off the bronze medal winner on the day; a very encouraging ride
for the road and track international.
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