Lucy O’Donnell has claimed elite race victory in the
second round of the Leinster Cyclocross Series at Drewstown House, Co Meath,
today.
The 17-year-old topped a podium filled with junior
riders; Annie Roche taking the runner-up spot and Caoimhe May placing 3rd
despite a late mechanical.
O’Donnell, rode the cyclocross Worlds for Ireland last
season and also gained selection for the World Road Championships in September,
won from the front today.
Having celebrated her 17th birthday last week the Verge
Pic Cycles rider pressed hard in the early stages of today’s five-lap contest.
And like the men’s race, by the end of the first lap it
was clear who the strongest riders in the field were.
O’Donnell had already pulled away with Stephen and Annie
Roche (both Scott-Donnybrook), as well as May (Scott-Orwell Wheelers).
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The leading four had a gap of about 30 seconds at the end of the opening lap, with Asia Bula (Scott-Donnybrook) best of the rest at that stage.
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On the second lap it was O’Donnell who pushed the pace a
little and while Annie Roche and Caoimhe May were up to the challenge,
Stephanie Roche lost a little bit of time.
O’Donnell continued to press on the third lap and as the
race passed the halfway point she began to pull clear of Annie Roche and
Caoimhe May.
By the time the leaders went out onto the penultimate
lap, O’Donnell had an advantage of about 20 seconds on Roche, with May
approximately 30 seconds off the lone leader.
And while O’Donnell further extended her advantage of
Roche on the fourth lap, the latter dug in ensuring the leader wasn’t able to
ease off at all.
While May was distanced a little and settled into 3rd
place, Roche continued to press O’Donnell at the pointy end of the race.
However, while Roche continued to keep the pressure on
during the last lap in the hope O’Donnell might make a mistake or crack, it
wasn’t to be.
Lucy O’Donnell ran out the winner from Roche, with May
surviving for 3rd place despite suffering a mechanical and being forced to run
over the finish line.
Stephanie Roche claimed 4th place and Asia Bula was 5th,
also wrapping up the Masters 40 category win.
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