Eileen Burns (Ballymena CC) is in some seriously good form at the moment and underlined that with a superb showing in the Manx International GP Feminin at the weekend (Photo: Marian Lamb - UlsterCyclingNews)
Ireland placed two riders in the top 20 at the Manx International Grand Prix Feminin over the weekend.
The opening round of the British Cycling women's road series attracted a stellar field of riders from home and abroad – with Cycling Ireland represented by a strong team of five riders.
Claire McIlwaine maintained her fine form by finishing a very strong 13th, just over seven minutes behind the winner while Eileen Burns was 19th at 11:57.
The other Irish riders who made the journey to the UK were Fiona Meade as well as promising juniors Ciara Doogan (UCD Fitzcycles) and Emily Birchall (NRPT-Magnet.ie).
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It was a cracking race from start to finish with the closed roads on the Isle of Man making it a truly unique occasion – and even the weather played ball for the afternoon.
The 65-kilometre circuit might be more popular for the Isle of Man TT but huge crowds came out to support the weekend’s events.
There was a support race prior to the women’s event and an elite men’s race afterwards, in which WorldTour stars such as Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift made appearances.
The women faced two laps for a testing 130 kilometres and it was all the more difficult given the exposed nature of the course and a climb that reached over 400 metres.
Claire McIlaine leads the escape at the Des Hanlon Memorial last month, a race she would go on to win. The Phoenix CC woman was best of the Irish at the Manx International Grand Prix feminin yesterday. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
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The gradient reached a leg-sapping 15% at times, so it was little wonder to see the small field shred to pieces on the opening lap.
There was a flurry of attacks as soon as the flag was dropped, with Claire Swoboda (Starley Racing) really pressing hard to get away.
A group eventually managed to escape on the first lap but it was all back together as they took the bell, the Irish very much still in contention at that point.
But Kimberly Ashton of the CASP team proved a class apart and she emerged victorious, coming across the line on her own to take the acclaim of a huge crowd.
Sprinting for second were Nicola Juniper (Team Ford Eco Boost) and Elizabeth Steadman of Fusion RT Fierlan, with the former edging it.
All the Irish riders finished - and credit must be given to the two juniors who took on some seriously tough competition.
Doogan is still recovering from illness at the moment and is likely to skip the VisitNenagh Classic at the weekend, but Birchall is set to travel.
We will have a full preview on that closer to the weekend.
Manx International GP Feminin, 130km
1 Kimberley Ashton Casp Racing 03:36:57
2 Nicola Juniper Team Ford Ecoboost 01:34
3 Elizabeth Stedman Fusion RT Fierlan st
4 Chanel Mason Army Cycling Race Team (ACRT) 01:36
5 Fiona Hunter Johnston Fusion RT Fierlan 03:08
6 Julie Erskine Team Ford Ecoboost 03:39
7 Jennifer Hudson Fusion RT Fierlan st
8 Angela Hibbs Fusion RT Fierlan 04:06
9 Jennifer Holden Fusion RT Fierlan st
10 Stephanie Mottram Unattached 05:06
11 Claire Swoboda Starley Racing 05:16
12 Gabriella Leveridge Starley Racing 05:47
13 Claire Mcllwaine CI Women’s Commission Dev Team 07:09
14 Chloe Weller Army Cycling Race Team (ACRT) st
15 Hilde Oudman Starley Racing 07:58
16 Karen Poole Team Vertex-pedalpowersport.com 08:36
17 Bethany Crumpton Boot Out Breast Cancer C.C 10:01
18 Charline Joiner Team Ford Ecoboost 10:16
19 Eileen Burns CI Women’s Commission Dev Team 11:57
20 Rebecca Carter Team WNT 12:20
- The remaining Irish trio of Ciara Doogan, Emily Birchall and Fiona Meade all finished, though we have not got their finishing times at the time of publication.
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