Caoimhe O'Brien (Cyclingteam Belco-Van Eyck) has won the latest round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series in Co Meath today. The 21-year-old proved best in the 99km Sean Nolan Meath Grand Prix.
O'Brien, who has dominated the series at times in recent years, left some top quality opposition in her wake today. Many big name riders lined out in the fine weather of the June Bank Holiday Weekend for all-out racing that saw the field in the women's race split to pieces.
O'Brien took the verdict in a sprint from a four-rider breakaway, with Imogen Cotter (Fenix-Deceuninck Continental) 2nd and Linda Kelly (Spin the Bean Power by Coffee) rounding out the podium. Orla Walsh of UCD Cycling Club was also in the move but was edged out for a place on the final podium and had to be content with 4th place today.
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The leading four were chased in the latter stages today by a strong trio; Eve McCrystal (Bellurgan Wheelers), Annalise Murphy (Longcourt Hotel NCW) and Jemma Speers (North Down CC). However, while there was clearly plenty of firepower in that chasing group, the four riders up front proved too strong and made it all the way to fight it out for victory.
The four leaders pulled clear on a climb with about 20km remaining, on the second lap of two. Speers lost contact first and was then closely followed by McCrystal and Murphy, with the quarter up front ring away from them.
While the gaps were initially modest after the climb - about 20 seconds from the leaders back to McCrystal and Murphy and then a further 15 seconds back to Speers on her own - the climb was to prove decisive. No regrouping took place, with O'Brien using her sprint up front to take the victory from Cotter, Kelly and Walsh.
More to come.
