Mia Griffin becomes first Irish rider in over a decade to win Rás na mBan

Mia Griffin of the DAS Hutchinson Brother UK Team during the final stage at Rás na mBan on her way to overall victory (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Mia Griffin (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother-UK) has held off a strong Dutch challenge over the weekend to claim the first Irish overall victory in over a decade at Rás na mBan.

Not since US-based former Irish international Olivia Dillon won the race back in 2013 - then riding for Team Ireland - has one of the home challengers taken top spot in the final general classification.

Griffin looked very good from the off at this race, winning stage 1 to take the leader's jersey, then placing 2nd the next day before winning again on stage 3.

However, on yesterday's finish to The Rower, last year's overall winner Manon de Boer (NWVG-uplus) reminded everyone what she is capable of by winning the stage and gaining a few seconds to move her closer to Griffin in the overall.

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The DAS Hutchinson Brother UK team celebrates in Kilkenny after winning the overall, points, young rider, Irish rider and team classifications as well as four of the six stages (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)

Griffin went into this morning's 2.5km TT in Kilkenny 11 seconds up on her team mate, and stage 2 winner, Caoimhe O'Brien. Then came De Boer at 12 seconds and Heidi Franz (Monarch Racing) at 14 seconds.

De Boer was a real danger had she had won the Sunday morning TT of the race last year, and beat Griffin that day by eight seconds. However, in the year that has elapsed since then, Griffin has arguably stepped up a gear as she has been part of the Irish team pursuit that qualified for the Olympics, finishing 8th in Paris at the Games.

In the TT, Dutch rider Noor Dekker (JEGG DJR Academy) claimed victory by just one second from De Boer, but Griffin was right behind; in 3rd place on the stage and just one seconds off De Boer and two seconds down on stage winner Dekker.

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Once again, Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei) showed her class in an international field; placing 4th in the short sharp test after finishing 3rd on The Rower finish on Saturday.

Manon de Boer won overall last year and pressed hard in the closing stages of this year's race, winning on The Rower yesterday and going close to a TT victory this morning (Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan)

The result of the TT meant Griffin led the race going into the afternoon criterium in Kilkenny today by 11 seconds from De Boer, with Dekker and Caoimhe O'Brien in 3rd and 4th, both at 23 seconds.

Lenehan was 5th at 24 seconds, with Aoife O'Brien (Team Ireland) the fourth Irish rider in the top 10; placed 10th at 35 seconds.

And though Dekker clipped off the front today on the final stage, with just over two laps remaining, and made it all the way in the winning move, she could not gain the time she needed to take the overall victory from Griffin.

Indeed, Griffin's team mate, Lucy Lee, was in that small breakaway and won the stage in a sprint from Dekker, with Canadian Anabelle Thomas (Primeau Vélo - Groupe Abadie) 3rd at two seconds.

Just 11 seconds down on the leaders, 20-year-old Aoife O'Brien of Team Ireland won the bunch sprint for 4th place. Griffin finished in that bunch, wrapping up overall victory by six seconds from Dekker, with De Boer slipped one place to 3rd at 11 seconds.

Caoimhe O'Brien was 5th overall, at 21 seconds, while Lenehan was the only other Irish rider in the final top 10 overall, placing 7th at 24 seconds.

Griffin also won the points classification and Irish rider classification while De Boer was queen of the mountains and Caoimhe O'Brien won the young rider classification. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother-UK claimed the team classification, after also winning the overall, points and young rider classifications as well as four of the six stages.

Stage 6 | Kilkenny Castle

  1. Lucy LEE Das Hutchinson Brother UK -10 1h14’23”
  2. Noor DEKKER JEGG DJR Academy -6
  3. Anabelle THOMAS* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie -4 +2”
  4. Aoife O’BRIEN* Ireland -1 +11”
  5. Lucy GLOVER* Shibden Apex RT
  6. Robyn CLAY* Das Hutchinson Brother UK
  7. Isabel MAYES* Shibden Apex RT
  8. Caoimhe O BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK -2
  9. Mari PORTON* Tofauti Everyone Active
  10. Ellen MCDERMOTT UCD Cycling Club
  11. Iris MULDER* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS
  12. Rebekah NASH Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
  13. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
  14. Tuva MAULAND* Brother UK/OnForm
  15. Beth WATSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
  16. Lotty DAWSON* Brother UK/OnForm
  17. Heidi FRANZ Monarch Racing
  18. Alice COLLING* Shibden Apex RT
  19. Mia GRIFFIN Das Hutchinson Brother UK
  20. Wendy OOSTERWOUD NWVG-Uplus
  21. Sabrina HAYES* CCB p/b Levine Law Group
  22. Jessica BONILLA LA Sweat
  23. Jayati HINE Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
  24. Mariana VALADEZ LA Sweat
  25. Aine DOHERTY* Ireland
  26. Jemma SPEARS Cycling Ulster
  27. Elizabeth VAAGS Torelli
  28. Katy HILL Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
  29. Gabrielle FOX Greenmount Cycling Academy
  30. Grace WARD* TC Racing
  31. Evie SMITH* Shibden Apex RT
  32. Martha STOKKELAND* Torelli
  33. Jasmijn BLOEMHEUVEL* JEGG DJR Academy
  34. Annamarie LIPP Torelli
  35. Abigail MILLER* Tofauti Everyone Active
  36. Elyse SCHUIJT Team Noord Holland
  37. Darcey HARKNESS* Cycling Ulster
  38. Jazmine LAVERGNE* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie
  39. Manon DE BOER NWVG-Uplus
  40. Frederikke AAFELDT Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
  41. Bronwyn MACGREGOR Torelli
  42. Gertrud RIIS MADSEN* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
  43. Ruby OAKES* Shibden Apex RT
  44. Jorja BOND* CCB p/b Levine Law Group
  45. Amber VAN OORT JEGG DJR Academy
  46. Ella BRENNEMAN* CCB p/b Levine Law Group
  47. Betty HASSE* CCB p/b Levine Law Group
  48. Iris SCHULTINGA NWVG-Uplus
  49. Aliyah RAFFERTY* Ireland
  50. Violinde DEBREEIJEN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
  51. Lizzie HERMOLLE Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
  52. Holly SIMONSON LA Sweat
  53. Dieke HENDRIKS WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS
  54. Rosan KOPER Team Noord Holland
  55. Grace REYNOLDS Brother UK/OnForm
  56. Camille DESROCHERS-LAFLAMME LA Sweat
  57. Lucy BENEZET MINNS* Ireland -3
  58. Elizabeth GRIER* CCB p/b Levine Law Group
  59. Amelia CEBAK* Tofauti Everyone Active
  60. Julia BESSELSEN WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS
  61. Nicola GREENWOOD Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
  62. Helena SHAPTON TC Racing
  63. Katrine KLINKBY ROSTBØLL Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
  64. Isabella JOHNSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
  65. Abi CONWAY* UCD Cycling Club
  66. Sofia SCHUGAR Monarch Racing
  67. Rosemary SIMMONS Greenmount Cycling Academy
  68. Helena GILBERT-SNYDER Monarch Racing
  69. Frankie HALL Das Hutchinson Brother UK
  70. Emily FLYNN LA Sweat
  71. Hannah MCCLOREY* Doltcini CycleDivision +2’24”
  72. Sidsel MØLLER HVAS Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark
  73. Hope INGLIS* Brother UK/OnForm
  74. Amelia STAUNTON* Greenmount Cycling Academy
  75. Georgia LANCASTER* Tofauti Everyone Active
  76. Jennifer NEENAN UCD Cycling Club
  77. Anouk BIJL* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +3’44”
  78. Anna DAMGAARD ERIKSEN Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +4’24”
  79. Miranda BIK JEGG DJR Academy +5’44”
  80. Elena WALLACE* Cycling Ulster +6’04”
  81. Marie-Sophie RES Team Noord Holland
  82. Ingeborg KERS Team Noord Holland
  83. Peggy SIMKINS* Doltcini CycleDivision
  84. Yvonne DORAN TC Racing
  85. Claire O’SULLIVAN Greenmount Cycling Academy
  86. Amy HARVEY* Doltcini CycleDivision +6’24”
    DNS Claudia FERREIRA Monarch Racing

Final General Classification

  1. Mia GRIFFIN Das Hutchinson Brother UK 11h19’19”
  2. Noor DEKKER JEGG DJR Academy +6”
  3. Manon DE BOER NWVG-Uplus +11”
  4. Lucy LEE Das Hutchinson Brother UK
  5. Caoimhe O BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK +21”
  6. Anabelle THOMAS* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie +23”
  7. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +24”
  8. Heidi FRANZ Monarch Racing +25”
  9. Robyn CLAY* Das Hutchinson Brother UK +26”
  10. Abigail MILLER* Tofauti Everyone Active +31”
  11. Aoife O’BRIEN* Ireland +34”
  12. Lucy BENEZET MINNS* Ireland
  13. Ruby OAKES* Shibden Apex RT +35”
  14. Grace REYNOLDS Brother UK/OnForm +36”
  15. Jazmine LAVERGNE* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie
  16. Katy HILL Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +37”
  17. Wendy OOSTERWOUD NWVG-Uplus +40”
  18. Elyse SCHUIJT Team Noord Holland +42”
  19. Alice COLLING* Shibden Apex RT +46”
  20. Betty HASSE* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +59”
  21. Jorja BOND* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +1’00”
  22. Lizzie HERMOLLE Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +1’13”
  23. Frankie HALL Das Hutchinson Brother UK +1’20”
  24. Aliyah RAFFERTY* Ireland +2’11”
  25. Mari PORTON* Tofauti Everyone Active +2’19”
  26. Ella BRENNEMAN* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +2’23”
  27. Frederikke AAFELDT Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +2’33”
  28. Ellen MCDERMOTT UCD Cycling Club
  29. Martha STOKKELAND* Torelli +2’41”
  30. Rosan KOPER Team Noord Holland +2’44”
  31. Jessica BONILLA LA Sweat +2’52”
  32. Gabrielle FOX Greenmount Cycling Academy +2’58”
  33. Gertrud RIIS MADSEN* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +3’10”
  34. Sofia SCHUGAR Monarch Racing +4’29”
  35. Rebekah NASH Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +6’07”
  36. Iris MULDER* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +6’09”
  37. Tuva MAULAND* Brother UK/OnForm +6’16”
  38. Lotty DAWSON* Brother UK/OnForm +6’28”
  39. Elizabeth GRIER* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +6’42”
  40. Holly SIMONSON LA Sweat +6’52”
  41. Violinde DEBREEIJEN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +6’56”
  42. Amber VAN OORT JEGG DJR Academy +7’16”
  43. Evie SMITH* Shibden Apex RT +8’41”
  44. Annamarie LIPP Torelli +8’44”
  45. Iris SCHULTINGA NWVG-Uplus +9’47”
  46. Amelia CEBAK* Tofauti Everyone Active +9’49”
  47. Abi CONWAY* UCD Cycling Club +10’13”
  48. Jemma SPEARS Cycling Ulster +10’47”
  49. Nicola GREENWOOD Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +12’34”
  50. Jasmijn BLOEMHEUVEL* JEGG DJR Academy +13’31”
  51. Bronwyn MACGREGOR Torelli +14’25”
  52. Amelia STAUNTON* Greenmount Cycling Academy +14’59”
  53. Isabel MAYES* Shibden Apex RT +15’27”
  54. Rosemary SIMMONS Greenmount Cycling Academy +15’39”
  55. Lucy GLOVER* Shibden Apex RT +16’08”
  56. Katrine KLINKBY ROSTBØLL Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +16’10”
  57. Jayati HINE Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +21’20”
  58. Elizabeth VAAGS Torelli +22’44”
  59. Emily FLYNN LA Sweat +24’27”
  60. Camille DESROCHERS-LAFLAMME LA Sweat +24’29”
  61. Dieke HENDRIKS WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +24’40”
  62. Darcey HARKNESS* Cycling Ulster +24’58”
  63. Mariana VALADEZ LA Sweat +25’18”
  64. Aine DOHERTY* Ireland +26’16”
  65. Sidsel MØLLER HVAS Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +26’31”
  66. Hope INGLIS* Brother UK/OnForm +26’59”
  67. Helena SHAPTON TC Racing +27’55”
  68. Anna DAMGAARD ERIKSEN Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +28’58”
  69. Hannah MCCLOREY* Doltcini CycleDivision +33’10”
  70. Grace WARD* TC Racing +38’16”
  71. Georgia LANCASTER* Tofauti Everyone Active +39’18”
  72. Helena GILBERT-SNYDER Monarch Racing +41’47”
  73. Sabrina HAYES* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +43’49”
  74. Isabella JOHNSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +46’37”
  75. Miranda BIK JEGG DJR Academy +58’14”
  76. Elena WALLACE* Cycling Ulster +59’46”
  77. Beth WATSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +1h07’25”
  78. Anouk BIJL* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +1h09’12”
  79. Jennifer NEENAN UCD Cycling Club +1h11’10”
  80. Julia BESSELSEN WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +1h16’09”
  81. Yvonne DORAN TC Racing +1h20’41”
  82. Marie-Sophie RES Team Noord Holland +1h27’23”
  83. Ingeborg KERS Team Noord Holland +1h34’22”
  84. Claire O’SULLIVAN Greenmount Cycling Academy +1h46’58”
  85. Peggy SIMKINS* Doltcini CycleDivision +1h49’34”
  86. Amy HARVEY* Doltcini CycleDivision +1h50’45”

Points Classification

  1. Mia GRIFFIN Das Hutchinson Brother UK 29 pt
  2. Robyn CLAY* Das Hutchinson Brother UK 28 pt
  3. Caoimhe O BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK 26 pt
  4. Aoife O’BRIEN* Ireland 24 pt
  5. Noor DEKKER JEGG DJR Academy 23 pt
  6. Heidi FRANZ Monarch Racing 21 pt
  7. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei 20 pt
  8. Manon DE BOER NWVG-Uplus 18 pt
  9. Lucy LEE Das Hutchinson Brother UK 16 pt
  10. Abigail MILLER* Tofauti Everyone Active 12 pt
  11. Mari PORTON* Tofauti Everyone Active 11 pt
  12. Anabelle THOMAS* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie 8 pt
  13. Jazmine LAVERGNE* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie 7 pt
  14. Lucy GLOVER* Shibden Apex RT 6 pt
  15. Ruby OAKES* Shibden Apex RT 5 pt
  16. Iris MULDER* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS 5 pt
  17. Isabel MAYES* Shibden Apex RT 4 pt
  18. Elyse SCHUIJT Team Noord Holland 3 pt
  19. Lotty DAWSON* Brother UK/OnForm 3 pt
  20. Grace REYNOLDS Brother UK/OnForm 2 pt
  21. Camille DESROCHERS-LAFLAMME LA Sweat 2 pt
  22. Ellen MCDERMOTT UCD Cycling Club 1 pt
  23. Evie SMITH* Shibden Apex RT 1 pt

Climbers’ Classification

  1. Manon DE BOER NWVG-Uplus 49 pt
  2. Lucy LEE Das Hutchinson Brother UK 38 pt
  3. Heidi FRANZ Monarch Racing 18 pt
  4. Katy HILL Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei 17 pt
  5. Elyse SCHUIJT Team Noord Holland 14 pt
  6. Jazmine LAVERGNE* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie 6 pt
  7. Frankie HALL Das Hutchinson Brother UK 5 pt
  8. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei 5 pt

Young Rider Classification

  1. Caoimhe O BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK 11h19’40”
  2. Anabelle THOMAS* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie +2”
  3. Robyn CLAY* Das Hutchinson Brother UK +5”
  4. Abigail MILLER* Tofauti Everyone Active +10”
  5. Aoife O’BRIEN* Ireland +13”
  6. Lucy BENEZET MINNS* Ireland +13”
  7. Ruby OAKES* Shibden Apex RT +14”
  8. Jazmine LAVERGNE* Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie +15”
  9. Alice COLLING* Shibden Apex RT +25”
  10. Betty HASSE* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +38”
  11. Jorja BOND* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +39”
  12. Aliyah RAFFERTY* Ireland +1’50”
  13. Mari PORTON* Tofauti Everyone Active +1’58”
  14. Ella BRENNEMAN* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +2’02”
  15. Martha STOKKELAND* Torelli +2’20”
  16. Gertrud RIIS MADSEN* Team Aalborg Sparekassen Danmark +2’49”
  17. Iris MULDER* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +5’48”
  18. Tuva MAULAND* Brother UK/OnForm +5’55”
  19. Lotty DAWSON* Brother UK/OnForm +6’07”
  20. Elizabeth GRIER* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +6’21”
  21. Evie SMITH* Shibden Apex RT +8’20”
  22. Amelia CEBAK* Tofauti Everyone Active +9’28”
  23. Abi CONWAY* UCD Cycling Club +9’52”
  24. Jasmijn BLOEMHEUVEL* JEGG DJR Academy +13’10”
  25. Amelia STAUNTON* Greenmount Cycling Academy +14’38”
  26. Isabel MAYES* Shibden Apex RT +15’06”
  27. Lucy GLOVER* Shibden Apex RT +15’47”
  28. Darcey HARKNESS* Cycling Ulster +24’37”
  29. Aine DOHERTY* Ireland +25’55”
  30. Hope INGLIS* Brother UK/OnForm +26’38”
  31. Hannah MCCLOREY* Doltcini CycleDivision +32’49”
  32. Grace WARD* TC Racing +37’55”
  33. Georgia LANCASTER* Tofauti Everyone Active +38’57”
  34. Sabrina HAYES* CCB p/b Levine Law Group +43’28”
  35. Isabella JOHNSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +46’16”
  36. Elena WALLACE* Cycling Ulster +59’25”
  37. Beth WATSON* Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon +1h07’04”
  38. Anouk BIJL* WV De Jonge Renner/Team DJR – MINIGIGS +1h08’51”
  39. Peggy SIMKINS* Doltcini CycleDivision +1h49’13”
  40. Amy HARVEY* Doltcini CycleDivision +1h50’24”

Irish Rider Classification

  1. Mia GRIFFIN Das Hutchinson Brother UK 11h19’19”
  2. Caoimhe O BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK +21”
  3. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +24”
  4. Ellen MCDERMOTT UCD Cycling Club +2’33”
  5. Gabrielle FOX Greenmount Cycling Academy +2’58”
  6. Abi CONWAY* UCD Cycling Club +10’13”
  7. Jemma SPEARS Cycling Ulster +10’47”
  8. Darcey HARKNESS* Cycling Ulster +24’58”
  9. Elena WALLACE* Cycling Ulster +59’46”
  10. Jennifer NEENAN UCD Cycling Club +1h11’10”
  11. Yvonne DORAN TC Racing +1h20’41”
  12. Claire O’SULLIVAN Greenmount Cycling Academy +1h46’58”

Team Classification

  1. DAS HUTCHINSON BROTHER UK 33h59’19”
  2. DAN MORRISSEY PRIMOR BY PISSEI +33”
  3. IRELAND +2’04”
  4. CCB P/B LEVINE LAW GROUP +2’58”
  5. SHIBDEN APEX RT +5’40”
  6. NWVG-UPLUS +9’29”
  7. TOFAUTI EVERYONE ACTIVE +11’21”
  8. BROTHER UK/ONFORM +12’01”
  9. MONARCH RACING +12’55”
  10. JEGG DJR ACADEMY +17’03”
  11. TORELLI +18’23”
  12. TEAM AALBORG SPAREKASSEN DANMARK +20’34”
  13. GREENMOUNT CYCLING ACADEMY +32’14”
  14. LA SWEAT +32’35”
  15. JADAN VIVE LE VELO GLASDON +49’46”
  16. TEAM NOORD HOLLAND +1h16’07”
  17. UCD CYCLING CLUB +1h22’34”
  18. CYCLING ULSTER +1h34’09”
  19. WV DE JONGE RENNER/TEAM DJR – MINIGIGS +1h35’04”
  20. TC RACING +2h25’08”
  21. DOLTCINI CYCLEDIVISION +4h02’39”

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