Overall leader and best young rider in the race; Jennifer George and Lara Gillespie broke clear today on the closing stage and were 1st and 2nd, George sealing the 2018 title (Photo: Sharon McFarland)

Lara Gillespie wins final Tour of Omagh stage

Having won the morning stage 2 TT on Saturday, Lara Gillespie has taken her second stage win at the Tour of Omagh.

But even Gillespie could not shake race leader Jennifer George. The 35-year-old former pro rider, competing for TC Racing this weekend, finished with Gillespie on today’s final stage.

They broke clear of the rest of the riders with Gillespie (Scott-Orwell) winning the two-up sprint for victory on the day.

But in the overall, George was simply too good, and too brave. She won this race overall with her stage 1 performance.

The format for the women’s event has been a handicapped one this weekend. And during Friday’s opener George showed the best legs and the least fear.

She attacked from the scratch group and bridged across to what remained of the limit rider pack up ahead.

And then from that group she cracked on with three of the riders who had started in the limit group.

They were Isobel Oakes (Smugglers CC), Agnieszka Wozniak (Cork County CC) and Jane Wilkinson (Cycling Ulster).

All of them worked solidly to remain clear. Furthermore, they enjoyed a gap of almost four minutes by the time George took the four-up sprint to win.

Women’s race: Lara Gillespie (Scott Orwell) takes the stage from Jennifer George ( TC Racingr) @SPARTourofOmagh @Cycling_Ulster @LadiesTc @Orwell_Wheelers pic.twitter.com/M7134buNY5

— SPAR Tour of Omagh (@SPARTourofOmagh) July 29, 2018

Gillespie won the short TT the following morning. And she was 2nd to another classy junior, Clodagh Gallagher (Cycling Ulster), on Saturday’s afternoon stage.

But in the pink leader’s jersey George was 2nd in the TT and 4th on stage 3. And that saw her go into this morning’s final stage with 24 seconds in hand over Wozniak.

Oakes and Wilkinson were 3rd and 4th at the start of the final stage, both at 31 seconds. Gillespie was next; in 5th but a whopping 3:50 down.

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And when Gillespie was unable to shake off Jennifer George today, the former Drops rider sealed the 2018 title.

Gillespie attacked first today, surging ahead on her own after George's TC Racing had closed down several escapes.

When Lara Gillespie went she proved very strong; immediately taking a lead of about 30 seconds.

However, when the main field split up the Lenamore Road climb, George got clear and would close down Gillespie on her own.

In the end they had 1:10 on then riders home; Ellen Barker (Isle of Man) taking 3rd from one of the stage 1 breakaway women Isobel Oakes of Smugglers CC.

After that pair there elapsed a further 16 seconds before Fiona Guihen (Cycling Leinster) led in a five-rider group from Sofie Loscher (Women's Commission).

The final stage result did not change the top of the standings; George the clear winner. But that ride by Oakes in taking 4th meant she moved up one place to 2nd overall.

That was an excellent performance from her; surviving in the stage 1 escape and then showing she had it again on the final stage.

She ended the runner-up to George by 1:47. Then came Agnieszka Wozniak of Cork County CC, a further nine seconds back.

And in fourth place was the other rider in that four-rider stage 1 breakaway; Jane Wilkinson of Cycling Ulster.

For her efforts Gillespie held 5th overall; taking two stage wins from four but ultimately missing the Jennifer George train when it left the station on Friday evening.

July 27-29: Tour of Omagh

Promoted by Omagh Wheelers

Women’s Race

Stage 4: Omagh-Omagh 70.76km

1 Gillespie,Lara Scott Orwell CC 2h07'17"
2 George,Jennifer TC Racing
3 Barker,Ellen Team IOM Ladies @01'10"
4 Oakes,Isobel Smugglers CC @ s/t
5 Guihen,Fiona Cycling Leinster @01'26"
6 Loscher,Sofie Women's Commission De @ s/t
7 Davies,Eleanor Team IOM Ladies @ s/t
8 Wozniak,Agnieszka Cork County CC @ s/t
9 Flanagan,Aisling Cycling Leinster @01'28"
10 Gallagher,Clodagh Cycling Ulster @02'42"
11 Claffey,Maria Cycling Leinster @ s/t
12 Wilkinson,Jane Cycling Ulster @ s/t
13 McKinney,Michelle Women's Commission De @ s/t
14 Frieband,Monica Scott Orwell CC @ s/t
15 Hughes,Gwenno TC Racing @ s/t
16 Stevens,Niamh TC Racing @ s/t
17 O'Donovan,Niamh TC Racing @ s/t
18 Doran,Yvonne Scott Orwell CC @ s/t
19 Bates,Jennifer Cycling Leinster @ s/t
20 Campbell,Laura Cycling Ulster @ s/t
21 Priest,Kathryn Team IOM Ladies @06'01"
22 Bryce,Lyndsey Cycling Leinster @06'31"
23 Kuras,Ewa Women's Commission De @ s/t
24 Ni Fhlathartaigh,Cia Scott Orwell CC @ s/t
25 Neenan,Jennifer Cycling Leinster @06'40"
26 Molloy,Sinead Cycling Leinster @09'48"
27 Ni Reachtagain,Clair Women's Commission De @10'40"
28 Tilly,Hannah Women's Commission De @11'08"
29 O'Dwyer,Niamh TC Racing @11'15"
30 Ludlow,Claire Ardee CC @13'00"
31 Shanahan,Frances West Cork CC @13'19"
32 Fagan,Susan Women's Commission De @18'22"
33 Cooke,Anne-Marie Dublin Wheelers @20'07"

Final General Classification

1 George,Jennifer TC Racing 6h27'21"
2 Oakes,Isobel Smugglers CC @01'47"
3 Wozniak,Agnieszka Cork County CC @01'56"
4 Wilkinson,Jane Cycling Ulster @03'19"
5 Gillespie,Lara Scott Orwell CC @03'46"
6 Guihen,Fiona Cycling Leinster @05'36"
7 Loscher,Sofie Women's Commissi @05'48"
8 Barker,Ellen Team IOM Ladies @08'49"
9 Davies,Eleanor Team IOM Ladies @09'06"
10 Flanagan,Aisling Cycling Leinster @09'07"
11 Gallagher,Clodagh Cycling Ulster @09'55"
12 Bates,Jennifer Cycling Leinster @10'02"
13 Campbell,Laura Cycling Ulster @10'07"
14 Doran,Yvonne Scott Orwell CC @10'14"
15 Claffey,Maria Cycling Leinster @10'20"
16 Hughes,Gwenno TC Racing @10'22"
17 O'Donovan,Niamh TC Racing @10'28"
18 Stevens,Niamh TC Racing @10'29"
19 Frieband,Monica Scott Orwell CC @10'31"
20 Bryce,Lyndsey Cycling Leinster @14'04"
21 Kuras,Ewa Women's Commissi @14'21"
22 Ni Fhlathartaigh,Cia Scott Orwell CC @17'32"
23 McKinney,Michelle Women's Commissi @18'59"
24 Molloy,Sinead Cycling Leinster @20'34"
25 Ni Reachtagain,Clair Women's Commissi @20'48"
26 Priest,Kathryn Team IOM Ladies @22'15"
27 Neenan,Jennifer Cycling Leinster @23'12"
28 Ludlow,Claire Ardee CC @24'06"
29 Shanahan,Frances West Cork CC @26'49"
30 O'Dwyer,Niamh TC Racing @27'47"
31 Tilly,Hannah Women's Commissi @35'44"
32 Fagan,Susan Women's Commissi @56'43"
33 Cooke,Anne-Marie Dublin Wheelers @1h04'05"