McCrystal prevails in titanic battle with Smith in Nenagh
One of the big names in Irish cycling in recent years, Eve McCrystal takes the Gas Networks Ireland Visit Nenagh Classic (Photo: John Coleman)
By Jessica Lamb
A TITANIC battle which began at the Des Hanlon, continued at the Gas Networks Ireland Visit Nenagh Classic as Eve McCrystal and Catherine Smith took the top two placings.
They had been breakaway companions in round one of the National Road Series in Carlow and were again together off the front at Nenagh.
A group of four made it stick early on in the 80km race.
Scott-Orwell’s Orla Walsh was the first to crack. And Claire McIlwaine (Phoenix CC) was next when McCrystal upped the pace on the second climb.
Madigan CC’s Smith and the Garda CC eventual winner then rode hard to the finish.
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The chasers failed to co-operate yet still dragged the gap back under a minute before the line.
At the finish neither McCrystal nor Smith had matches to burn, but it was Eve McCrystal who pushed enough power to win.
McIlwaine stayed away from the chasers to take third, with a frustrated Sinnead Oakes claiming fourth. She had attempted to bridge on her own inside 10k to go.
Walsh, who crashed shortly after dropping back from the break to the chasers, finished fifth. She won that sprint from St Tiernan’s CC’s Kate Earlie.
More to follow.
Round 2: Women’s National Series
1 Eve McCrystal - Garda CC
2 Catherine Smith - Madigan CC
3 Claire McIlwaine - Phoenix CC
4 Sinnead Oakes - De Ronde CC
5 Orla Walsh - Scott Orwell
6 Kate Earlie - St Tiernan’s CC
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