Nurse who represented Holland at eRacing Worlds wins at Rás na mBan | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Dutch rider Lieke van Zeelst, racing this week in Ireland as part of the Greenmount Cycling Academy team, claims stage 2 of Rás na mBan (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

Lieke van Zeelst, a 24-year-old Dutch nurse who represented the Netherlands at the UCI eRacing World Championships this year, has taken a brilliant win on stage 2 of Rás na Ban and the race leader's jersey with it.

Van Zeelst, who only began riding UCI-ranked races in Europe last year, took off on her own - in sodden conditions - with 18km to go on today's 88.8km stage from Kilkenny to Inistioge. She had the legs to keep her effort going up the final ascent to Woodstock Gardens.

She won by 10 seconds from Kate Richardson (Alba Development Road Team), who finished solo, with another 12 seconds elapsing before a group of eight riders all finished on the same time. Danielle Shrosbree (Cams-Basso) placed 3rd from Zoe Langham (Pro-Noctis-Rotor-Redchilli Bikes). Irish rider Ellen McDermott (Team Boompods), who has been in great form in Belgium of late, placed 5th after a very strong finale.

Fiona Mangan (IBCT-RDL Team) and stage 1 winner Gillespie (Team Ireland) were the only other Irish riders in the top 20; Mangan 15th at 34 seconds and Gillespie 17th at 39 seconds.

For the impressive stage winner, her move began just after the day's second queen of the mountains climb of Coppenagh. After going clear after the top of the climb she flew down the descent solo and opened a gap of over 40 seconds on the remains of the bunch, which numbered less than 30 riders.

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

Eventual stage runner-up Richardson, who was also 2nd yesterday, made a very good effort to go after the lone leader on the incline up towards the finish, before the final 1.4km flatter run in to the chequered flag. Richardson got to within 10 seconds of Van Zeelst but no closer.

Queen of the mountains after the opening stage, Shrosbree, won the two categorised climbs today. But after the Shrosbree's Cams-Basso team and Pro-Noctus-Rotor-Redchilli Bikes put the pressure on up the final climb, it was Van Zeelst who capitalised on their efforts. She took flight so far from the finish that nobody would have expected her to make it all the way on her own. But she did.

Earlier this year Van Zeelst - who works as a nurse in Breda in the Netherlands and rides as an amateur rider - entered the Dutch trials for the eRacing World Championships on a whim. Having only stepped into the process at the suggestion of her team mate, she made the national team for the world title race.

Today she switched that power onto the tarmac, in very Irish conditions, and showed she is a force to be reckoned with in this year's race. She also took a great win for Greenmount CA; the Limerick-based club that has put a huge amount of effort into developing racing Shannonside.

The lead of the best Irish rider classification changed to Cycling Ulster's Amelia Tyler, after overnight leader Caoimhe O'Brien (Cycling Leinster) punctured on the last climb and never regained the group. The best young rider classification also changed hands, with runner-up Richardson taking that jersey.