By Liam Coates
Caoimhe O'Brien of Torelli-Cayman Islands-Scimitar has taken another victory in the National Road Series today at Newcastle West, where a tight finish saw her pip Erin Creighton of McConvey Cycles, with Emma Smith of Navan Road Club rounding out the podium.
Coming into the second and third laps, the group remained tightly bunched today and the fight for victory came down to a bunch sprint from what remained of the peloton.
Despite the apparent lack of drama, O'Brien, speaking immediately after the win, said the race was "punchy" and there were quite a few attacks out on the course, though none of them stuck. On keeping her leader's jersey, she said she was "delighted."
"It's only the start of the season so with my training I'm just going to keep trying to build up so hopefully I'll be able to keep this momentum going," she said. "And hopefully maybe one day I'll be able to get a solo win too."
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This win cements 19-year-old O'Brien as the one to watch on the women's racing scene this season, as her UCI-ranked team places her in the midst of a crowded European scene along with her wins at home.
Creighton, who turned 18-years-old just last month, crossed the finish line a few milliseconds after O'Brien, and has climbed from her third place finish at the last NRS race in Carlow, a fantastic performance for the junior rider.
