South African Keep leads, Ireland's Kelly in striking distance at Rás na mBan

*Emma Jeffers wins stage 3 of Rás na mBan into Mountrath on a day when the favourites gave up a big opportunity (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

Tiffany Keep, a South African riding for Hutchinson-Brother UK, holds the leader's jersey at Rás na mBan ahead of the final weekend of racing, with three stages to be contested in two days.

Today's third stage of the race - some 104km from Portlaoise to Mountrath - promised to produce a decisive moment, after the climb of The Cut, until the air went out of the challenge up front and a lead group of 15 riders effectively sat up.

That lack of commitment to cooperate, and drive it all the way to the line, will be regretted by some when the race reaches its conclusion in Kilkenny City on Sunday afternoon. But it means the seven riders who proved strongest on the stage 2 finish up The Rower climb remain tied on time at the top of the general classification.

Keep - a former South African champion who had competed at the Worlds and women an African Continental title in the TTT - won stage 2 and after finishing 3rd today, she is at the top of that lead group; in the race lead by virtue of stage placings.

Linda Kelly is among that group on the same time as Keep and, from an Irish perspective, it is hoped she can have a say in who wins this race, and may step up to grab the victory herself. Her Team Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei squad forced the pace at the key moment of the stage yesterday, when a blistering pace into, and up, the climb of The Cut, saw 15 riders pull clear.

The pressure shredded the peloton, with three groups on the road towards the front and then may riders solo or in small groups in their wake.

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First rider over the top of The Cut was queen of the mountains leader Manon de Boer of NWVG-Uplus. She extended her hold on the IVCA Wicklow 200 QoM classification, with a 17-point lead over Kelly and a maximum of 19 points available tomorrow.

However, perhaps because all of the classification leaders were in the front group, a stalemate set in. And that allowed two chasing groups to catch them, swelling the front group to 45 riders for the finish in Mountrath.

*Three groups formed on the road up and over The Cut, but he 15-strong select group out front did not drive home their advantage (Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan)*

Emma Jeffers and teammate Monica Greenwood took an impressive 1-2 for Team DAS-Handsling, with race leader Keep in 3rd place. Former national criterium champion, and a past winner at the UK Tour Series, Ellen McDermott (Team Boompods) was best placed of the Irish, in 4th. Aoife O'Brien of Team Ireland - who lost Erin Creighton today when she was a non-starter due to crash injuries - was 8th and stage stage 1 winner, Mia Griffin of Team Ireland, was 10th.

Tomorrow's stage into Tramore is the last chance for splits as it is followed by the morning TT and after criterium in Kilkenny City on Sunday.

Tomorrow there is a cat 2 climb after 14.3km in Kilmagemogue - 2.6km at an average of 4.1 per cent and maxing out at 9.6 per cent - which may cause splits. Rathinure Hill is next, almost 80km into the stage; 1km averaging 4.6 per cent. That is followed just over 5km later by the climb of Annestown; 1.5km, averaging 3.7 per cent with a max gradient of 5 per cent.

With the top of the general classification so close, it is hoped tomorrow's stage can provide fireworks and splits. If not, the morning TT in Kilkenny will settle the destination of the final general classification at Rás na mBan 2023.