Ras na mBan Stage 6

Another very wet morning. There was a pretty "upbeat" atmosphere as we set off into the mist, slipping and sliding along the shiny roads. Thankfully the pace was fairly gentle from the start, allowing the legs to warm up and Iona to launch a solo attack in the direction of the first climb, where she took the first "Queen of the Hills" points with a gap of a minute. A number of other riders attacked up the road but the main bunch (including the leaders) stayed together until well after the first climb.

 
Eventually (after a good 20 miles) we caught sight of Iona and co. up the road and the pace picked up significantly. Passing through the town of Waterville for the second time, the pace picked up again, as we started the second ascent of Coomaciste. Unfortunately, Iona heard a twang and then some clonking (broken spoke) and had to wait for a spare wheel.

Kim (as ever) remained with the leaders for the remainder of the race and contested the bunch sprint as the race finished in Sneem. Sarah and Steph tried their best to hang on up the climb, losing contact with the bunch near to the top. They eventually formed a group with a couple of Dutch girls and despite both losing their chains on the gallop for home, finished just over 4 minutes behind the leading bunch. (Not at all bad considering Sarah had nearly not been allowed to start the final stage, owing to a nasty chest infection). Iona was not far behind.

Stage 6 results: Kim 14th, Sarah 24th, Steph 26th, Iona 31st
Final GC after 6 stages: Kim 4th, Iona 24th, Steph 26th, Sarah 32nd
Squadra Donne finished 5th overall

This has been a fantastic week: hard work, tiring but incredibly fun and so special to be so many other female cyclists. Special thanks must go to Jon and Steve - in particular to Steve for his endless encouragement, superb massages, expert bike fixing and for washing Irish road off our bikes after at least 3 stages.

Big thanks also to Valerie Considine for organising an awesome week of racing; Louis Moriarty and all at Sneem Hotel for giving us a super base for the week and for looking after us and feeding us so well. Thanks also must go to Kim, who rode for the team this week. What a brilliant result. We wish you all the best for the future...

(Photos taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Ras na mBan Stage 5

Wet, wet, wet! Steph went for a pre-race swim in a small bog, whilst Iona and Sarah attempted to warm up in the torrential rain. In the end we all took shelter in the team car: at least our legs would be warm even if they weren't "warmed up".

 
The rain had just about stopped as we set off. The 3km, predominantly downhill, course was rather hairy with all the spray on the road. There were a couple of narrow bridges to negotiate, as well as some slippery drain-covers, before finishing in the town centre.
Stage 5 results: Kim 18th, Iona 22nd, Sarah 25th, Steph 30th. (1st and 51st places were separated by just 58 seconds).
GC: Kim 4th, Iona 21st, Steph 26th, Sarah 33rd
Team in 5th place overall


(Photos taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Ras na mBan Stage 4

It was a very wet morning! Stage 4 took us four times around a 10 mile circuit with a two mile climb on each lap.

The pace was fast from the start and remained brisk as the bunch hit the first climb. Kim, Steph and Iona remained in the lead group for the first three laps. Steph punctured on lap 4 but managed to rejoin a group of riders fairly swiftly. Iona lost contact with the main bunch at the top of the final climb. The finishing straight was rather hairy, as a number of cars got in the way of riders but thankfully there were no accidents. Kim contested the rather dangerous bunch sprint and finished 15th overall.

Sarah, struggling to breathe with a nasty cold, admits she nearly gave up before the first climb but soldiered on and completed the stage.

Stage 4 results: Kim 15th, Iona 18th, Steph 29th, Sarah 38th
GC: Kim 2nd, Iona 21st, Steph 26th, Sarah 33rd


(Photo taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Ras na mBan Stage 3

It was pouring with rain when we woke up. The cloud hung low over the hills. Beautiful in a wild sort of way!

Today's 50 mile stage lay ahead of us: some kind of giant beast to be conquered. Three major climbs: Knockanoughanish (cat 2), the Healy Pass (cat 1) and then Caha Pass (cat 1). This was not going to be an easy ride!!

Sarah was feeling sorry for herself, having come down with a nasty cold and not having slept at all well. She was determined not to let this stop her from racing.

The race started in the town of Kenmare and after a neutralised section out of the town, we soon found ourselves on the first climb. The bunch stayed pretty much together until the descent, where the slippery, windy roads allowed those with guts and "no fear" (or maybe just better descending skills) to get ahead. Then it was straight into the next climb. Iona, Steph and Sarah found themselves chasing the lead riders for the first couple of miles up the climb. Kim was sitting firmly with the leaders and this is where she stayed for the rest of the race, finishing 3rd overall. Another superb result.

Iona enjoyed the descent off the Healy Pass but found herself riding alone for several miles before she was joined by four other riders (including Steph). They formed a strong, cohesive group, which worked well together until the end of the race. Iona was the first to cross the finish line. Sarah ended up riding with a group that finished a few minutes later.

This was a challenging stage but probably one of the most beautiful, epic races we have done. If only we could have more races like this in England. Oh - and despite getting drenched just warming up, the rain mostly held off for the duration of the race, which was a bonus!

Stage 3 placings: Kim 3rd, Iona 22nd, Steph 23rd, Sarah 29th
GC: Kim 2nd, Iona 21st, Steph 24th, Sarah 29th
Team 5th overall


(Photos taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Ras na mBan Stage 2

After a fairly leisurely breakfast, the bikes were loaded onto the team car and Steve drove us to the start of the stage, in the town of Waterville.

This 56 mile stage took us over "Mick Murphy's Hill" - a Cat 3 climb, around Valentia Island and over a shorter, Cat 2 climb up to the Geokaun Mountain Centre, before crossing the bridge back onto the mainland.

As we passed through the towns and villages, the locals (including large groups of school children) had come out to watch the race and cheer us on. Very special :-)

The bunch fragmented early on in the race after a strong attack up the first climb. However, a number of riders who had been "dropped" up the climb (including Sarah) chased for seemingly miles but eventually caught the main bunch again. Crossing over to Valentia Island, there was a strong headwind and a crosswind made the race around the island rather challenging.

The bunch split up again over the second climb. Guest rider Kim stayed away in the break of five riders for the rest of the race and finished second overall. Chapeau!

Iona, Steph and Sarah did varying amounts of chasing but all ended up in the main bunch as the race crossed the bridge back onto the mainland. There was a moment of drama as the bunch split in two different directions. Which way were we supposed to be going? Yet more chasing before a feisty bunch finish in Waterville.

A fantastic course and a great race with some fantastic riding from all members of the team.

Positions for stage 2: Kim 2nd, Sarah 19th, Iona 21st, Steph 27th
GC: Kim 2nd, Iona 16th, Sarah 23rd, Steph 30th
Team: 3rd overall


(Photos taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Ras na mBan Stage 1

The team has arrived safely in Ireland. Steve heroically collected Steph, Sarah and our guest rider (Kim) from the airport, taking his mileage to 650 miles in 24 hours. We were very grateful to arrive at the hotel before midnight and to get a much-needed good night's sleep.

The day started with a hearty breakfast and then a gentle spin to check the bikes over. The stage started at 5pm - rather a lot of time for nerves to build up.

The stage took us over Moll's Gap - a cat 2 climb, around 6km in length. After a steady "spin" for the first half of the climb, someone attacked and a break got away. Iona and Kim stayed away in the break. Apparently it was hard work - "hard as nails" according to Kim, as attacks were launched every few minutes.

Steph was in the second group along the road, which was eventually caught by Sarah's group about 5km from the finish.

This is going to be a tough week of racing... now for dinner, massages and a good night's sleep.

Positions: Kim 15, Iona 16, Sarah 27, Steph 33. The team is in 4th place overall.


(Photos taken by Jill Leonard of Eurosport Photography)

Team win for Squadra Donne in Coalville

It was a windy day for racing. Thankfully the rain mostly held off. This was a rolling course with some short uphill sections to test the legs. The biggest challenge of the day, however, was the 18mph head/cross-wind for 2/3 of the course.

The bunch split after the first lap. Iona was clearly in the break. Sarah chased for 2.5 miles or so to catch the break. Steph was racing with her head and intelligently decided to let the break go, so that she could try to control the bunch and keep her team-mates away. Iona stayed firmly in the break to the end of the race, finishing in 6th place. Sarah managed to hang on for 2 laps before sliding off the back.

Back in the main bunch, passers by probably thought we were out for a leisurely Sunday ride. Only two or three girls were really doing any of the work and there was not much racing going on. Disappointing. It was a bit of a challenge to know whether to push the pace up and do some hard work or conserve our energy for the final climb and sprint for the finish.

Despite riding on the front for the final five miles, Sarah managed to find the energy to tank it up the final climb, distancing herself from the rest of the field, and sprint for the finish line. However, having let the break go earlier on, Steph was even more determined to win the bunch sprint and she just pipped Sarah to the line with Tracy not far behind.

I think we were all a bit surprised to find that we'd won the team competition. What a great end to the Team Race Series season. Now for Ireland...