Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan International Cycle Race - Stage

Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan International Cycle Race

September 17^th – 19^th 2010

17^th September 2010

For Immediate Release

Dillon Stars in Sneem!

Team Ireland’s Olivia Dillon justified her pre-race favourite’s tag by sprinting in for victory at head of a five-rider group at the end of the first stage of the Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan.

The US based Mayo woman kept enough in reserve for a fine sprint win ahead of Linda Ringlever of the Dutch Moving Ladies squad and Ally Holland (Shred Racing-Rapha Condor) at the end of a 58km stage that included an ascent of Moll’s Gap.

Dillon led the chase of lone attacker Natalie Creswick (Shred Racing-Rapha Condor) who looked like she might hold on for a fine solo win after riding clear on her own on the ascent of Moll’s Gap until she was caught inside the final kilometre after 24km out front.

While Creswick’s brave bid for glory just fell short she had the consolation of donning the Queen of the Hills Jersey after taking maximum points at the top of both classified climbs.

The first five riders contested the win on the downhill run to the finish in Sneem with Dillon powering home two seconds clear of Ringlever and 1m36s ahead of a greatly depleted bunch led home by Anika Werheit of Team Lexxi Chicks.

Gillian McDarby (Usher Irish Road Club) took seventh and with it became the first rider to wear the leader’s jersey in the new County Rider classification which is set to become a coveted prize for locally based riders.

A record entry enjoyed perfect weather conditions for racing on a testing course using some of the toughest roads in Ireland. That combined with the relentless pace took its toll and the race quickly fragmented into numerous groups.

Up front Rapha Condor led the attacks with the Ireland squad controlling it for Dillon on the rolling approach to Moll’s Gap. Creswick, from Reading in Berkshire, made her bid on the long drag to the top and only Dillon, Ringlever, Holland and Matthysse Mathilde of the PSUK squad could follow.

With Holland playing a watching brief as her team-mate Creswick piled on the pressure, Dillon, Ringlever and Mathilde worked to pare the 20 seconds advantage that Creswick had eked out and just about managed to do it in time.

Afterwards Dillon expressed her relief and satisfaction after a tough stage.

“I’m absolutely delighted to take this win,” said the San Francisco based Kiltimagh native. “I drove the pace on Moll’s Gap and we had a hard chase to catch Natalie. Luckily we managed to catch her in time and I was able to take the win.

“The team gave me great support and it’s great to take the first jersey of the race. Now I’ve got to keep it!”

The race resumes at 11am on Saturday with a 70km road race centred on circuits of Sneem followed by a 2km time trial in the afternoon while Sunday’s fourth and concluding stage is a 90km road race.

The event, promoted by the Women’s Commission of Cycling Ireland, once again benefits from the generous sponsorship support and organisation skills of Louis Moriarty of Sneem Hotel.

Results

Sneem Hotel Ras na mBan 2010

Stage One

1 Olivia Dillon (Irish National Team) 58km in 1h33’48″;

2,Linda Ringlever (Moving Ladies) @02″;

3,Alli Holland (Shred Racing Rapha Condor) @04″;

4,Matthysse Mathilde (PSUK Cycle Race Team ) @07″;

5,Natalie Creswick (Shred Racing Rapha Condor) @08″;

6,Anika Werheit (Team Lexxi Chicks) @01’36″.