By Caroline Martinez
Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC) won round 1 of the Joe Daly Cycles Women's National League on Sunday in Rathdowney, Co Laois, to take the early lead in the general classification after the first of six rounds to be held this season.
Anne Dalton (Orwell Wheelers) was second in a sprint finish, with Roisin Kennedy (Adamstown) in third.
Fitzgerald, Dalton and Kennedy were part of a four-woman breakaway instigated by Kennedy that escaped the peloton inside the first 15 kilometres.
The forty-strong bunch was under pressure from the gun of the 50km race. Orwell Wheelers, who were out in strength and clearly riding to a plan, were catapulting rider after rider off the front, forcing others to drive the pace in response. None of their early attacks stuck. Instead, it was Adamstown’s Kennedy who decided she wasn't interested playing Orwell's game and made a strong move of her own.
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Eve McCrystal, realising Kennedy wasn't coming back, took to the front on the hilly section of the course and got away from the rest of the field. Orwell Wheelers' Anne Dalton and Patricia Buckley gave chase, soon followed by McCrystal's team-mate Sandra Fitzgerald. Unfortunately for Buckley, a puncture forced her out of what was to prove the decisive move of the day.
After 25 km, the chasing trio finally caught Kennedy, though she was still determined to continue putting pressure on her breakaway companions. She chose to drive the pace relentlessly, probing for signs of weakness.
The quarter had established a decisive gap back to the peloton when on the final exposed drag of the lap Dalton incrementally cranked up the pace, distancing the other three. Fitzgerald and Kennedy bridged to her just at the crest of the drag but McCrystal didn't quite make the catch and the break was down to three with less than 10km to go.
Approaching the finish line, Fitzgerald, Dalton and Kennedy had several minutes on the rest of the field and tactics came into play. Kennedy, perhaps fearing the sprinting prowess of Fitzgerald, chose to keep the pace high on the run in but the Garda CC rider launched a long range effort with about 1km to go.
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With a few bike lengths advantage she fully committed to holding the gap, hoping some indecision from the chasing pair would be enough to land her the win. Fitzgerald proved too strong to be taken back in the stiff headwind of the finishing stretch. Dalton narrowly took second ahead of third-placed Kennedy in the sprint.
Race winner Fitzgerald said: “On the first lap Roisin Kennedy was the first to get a good gap and stayed away. A few people went across to her and she attacked them again. She was really strong today.”
“We got to the back section on a hill and Eve (McCrystal) my team mate attacked. Two Orwell riders jumped on her wheel; Anne Dalton and Patricia Buckley. So immediately I jumped on their wheel and we got away.”
“Myself, Anne and Eve started taking turns and we caught Roisin. On the second lap Roisin kept attacking the group. At 1 kilometre (remaining) I put in a big attack to get to the finish.”
With the domestic scene showing greater strength in depth than ever and so many strong riders knocking on the door of success the competition is sure to be fierce in the next round in Drogheda, on April 21st.
Joe Daly Cycles Women National League
Round 1 Results
1. Sandra Fitzgerald (Garda CC)
2. Anne Dalton (Orwell Wheelers)
3. Roisin Kennedy (Adamstown)
4. Ciara Mangan (AquaBlue)
5. Monika Kotecka (Sevensprings CC)
6. Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers)
7. Suzie Mitchell (Sundrive Track Team)
8. Ciara Kinch (Orwell Wheelers)
1st Lap Prime
Eve McCrystal
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