"I gave it a good hard hoot on that drag because I didn't want to be attacked on the hill"

Fran Meehan on her way to the inaugural women's race at the Des Hanlon Memorial, saying the event is further evidence of a strengthened women's scene.

By Brian Canty

Fran Meehan made it another day to remember for the Cork-based Aquablue team with a swashbuckling display of strength to win the inaugural women's race at the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow this afternoon.

The event was marked by a number of very strong attacks in the opening kilometres but it was Meehan, from Tullamore and in her first season with Aquablue, who did all the damage early on.

She attacked on the climb outside Castlecomer, catching two escapees who had jumped away earlier, before soloing to a marvellous win.

The opening prime went to Orwell Wheelers rider Claire McEntee, but as soon as Meehan found her rhythm she was gone and not seen again before the finish.

"I'm thrilled, it was a lovely nice season-opener and I'm delighted to win the inaugural event here,” she said.

“And it was good for Aquablue too, to get a double because it was such a tough course.

"I was sick all last week so I didn't really train at all so the win comes as a bit of a surprise, to be honest.”

She said team manager Timmy Barry told her to “mind herself” in the first section of the race and see how things unfolded around 45 minutes in.

“I put in a couple of little digs, nothing to make it stick but just to see who was doing what,” she said.

"But at the left-hander then before Castlecomer, I made a move. I knew the climb from riding it last year and the year before, I was on the front going around there.

“I didn't really attack, I just took the corner fierce fast, cyclo-cross style; I just went for it. There were two or three dangling behind, and one or two up the road at that stage but I passed them.

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"I gave it a good hard hoot on that drag because I didn't want to be attacked on the hill and I was expecting Amy Brice (DID Electrical Racing Team) to come across because she's a great climber.

“I kept riding because I didn't want the gap to close. Then I think after about six or seven kilometres I lost those who were behind and I was on my own.

“I took the bend very fast again at the bottom of that descent, I wasn't going to hang around. Then I got to the bottom of the main climb of the Butts and I knew the road because I drove it this morning.

“I was worried about blowing actually at that stage so maybe I dialled it back a bit.

"But I got over the climb. I’d 15k to the finish so I had a bit of time to enjoy it. It was a brilliant race too.”

Meehan felt that having a women’s race as part of one of the biggest days of the year shows the women’s scene “has rounded a corner”. She pointed to runner up Josie Knight of O’Leary Stone Kanturk as evidence of the ability now coming up through the ranks.

“She's only 16 and really is a star,” Meehan said.

“She’s effortless on the bike; has a fabulous style. So the interest is there now, the numbers are there and the amount of young ones coming through is just great. Long may it continue."

Meehan puts her good form down to a combination of having a good winter as well as riding cyclocross; something she has a deep affinity for and would love to try it again. But in the months ahead the road has her focus.

"I just want to do well in the nationals, the TT nationals and I want to go abroad as well. But I don't know if I have the budget, I just think I'd do well there because Belgium in particular suits me down to the ground."