Nina Kessler wins stage 1 of the Women’s RAS, the Rás na mBan 2018 on Wednesday; Nikki Juniper and Anna Henderson both in the top 10 in a race with plenty of Brits racing
![]() |
Women’s RAS: Stage 1
Justifying her status as the standout sprinter on the entry list, Nina Kessler of Regio NH sprinted in ahead of a group of 39 to take the first stage of Rás na mBan 2018 in Gowran.
Dutchwoman Kessler is guesting with her Noord Holland regional team on a week away from duties with the HiTec world tour squad and added to a palmarès with a powerful sprint on the rise to the finish line at the end of 70km in County Kilkenny
119 riders representing 25 teams and 19 different nations signed on in Kilkenny ahead of stage one of the Five-Day Rás na mBan International Women’s Stage Race. For the 13th edition of the event and the third time it has been based in the Marble City, the organisers have assembled a quality selection of international teams including last year’s individual and team winners, Team GB and, for the first time in several years, an Irish national team including Irish national road race champion Eve McCrystal.
The riders faced a grippy first 70km stage with a single Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains climb won in a close contest by Britain’s Nicola Juniper guesting with TC Racing.
The fast pace whittled the lead group down to less than 40 riders approaching the finish town of Gowran and it was Kessler (Team NH) who powered home to secure the first Fuchsia jersey of overall race leader.
Leading womenscycline.ie Under-23 rider Claire Faber (Andy Schleck Cycles Women’s Project) was second with Norway’s Amalie Lutro (Regio Sør Norge) taking the final podium spot. Kessler also leads the Irish Dairy The Complete Natural Points Classification while Bandon CC’s Agniezka Wozniak (Team Verge) is the best placed locally-based rider for the Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider.
… continued after advert
Stage 1
1 Nina KESSLER Team NH 1:47:29
2 Claire FABER Andy Schleck Cycles Women Project 1:47:29
3 Amalie LUTRO Region Sør Norge 1:47:29
4 Iris SACHET DN17 Nouvelle Aquitaine 1:47:29
5 Nicola JUNIPER TC Racing 1:47:29
6 Marine QUINIOU Team Breizh Ladies 1:47:29
7 Anna HENDERSON Cycle Team OnForm 1:47:29
8 Silje MATHISEN Norway Sør 1:47:29
9 Manon MINAUD DN17 Nouvelle Aquitaine 1:47:29
10 Coralie DEMAY Team Breizh Ladies 1:47:29
13 BENNETT Elizabeth Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 1:47:29
14 BARKER Megan Great Britain National Team 1:47:29
17 CALLANDER Rhona Great Britain National Team 1:47:29
18 CREAMER Lauren Scott Orwell Wheelers C C 1:47:29
24 MURPHY Lauren Momentum CCN 1:47:29
26 ROBERTS Jessica Great Britain National Team 1:47:29
27 TACEY April Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 1:47:29
31 SHARPE Alice VC Ériu 1:47:29
33 POWELL Jennifer TW1 Racing 1:47:29
34 HUNTER JOHNSTON Fiona FusionRTVeloperformance 1:47:29
35 RAYBOULD Rebecca Great Britain National Team 1:47:29
36 FISHER Annabel Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 1:47:29
37 ALBERTS Nikky Team NH 1:47:29
38 BULLARD Georgia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 1:47:29
42 ELLIS Isabel Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 1:47:29
44 LEWIS Emma FusionRTVeloperformance 1:47:29
49 WILKINSON Mary Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 1:47:29
51 SPEAKE Alicia Cycle Team OnForm 1:47:29
52 BOYLAN Lydia Ireland National Team 1:47:29
53 HOLL Jenny Great Britain National Team 1:47:29
54 MONKHOUSE Amy Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 1:47:29
55 MASSEY Laura Torelli-Brother-Assure 1:47:29
56 THACKRAY Sophie Torelli-Brother-Assure 1:47:29
58 PATCH Molly FusionRTVeloperformance 1:47:29
62 DIXON Leah Cycle Team OnForm 1:47:29
71 SUMMERFORD Ruth FusionRTVeloperformance 1:52:24 4:55
74 BARKER Ellen TC Racing 1:53:18 5:49
75 STEELS Claire FusionRTVeloperformance 1:53:18 5:49
78 COX Florence Torelli-Brother-Assure 1:53:18 5:49
80 HUGHES Gwenno TW1 Racing 1:53:18 5:49
85 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 1:53:18 5:49
86 GREAVES Melissa TW1 Racing 1:53:18 5:49
89 OAKES Isobel Scott Orwell Wheelers C C 1:53:18 5:49
94 THOM Joanne Torelli-Brother-Assure 1:53:18 5:49
96 GADD Lucy Team Backstedt/Hotchillee 1:59:40 12:11
98 LONGTHORP Rebecca Datalynx-Parenesis Women’s RT 1:59:40 12:11
99 WOODWORTH Jessica Cycle Team OnForm 1:59:40 12:11
100 HAMMOND Claire TW1 Racing 1:59:40 12:11
101 FILBY Maxine Shutt Ridley RT 1:59:40 12:11
108 MIDDLETON Kerry Team LDN 2:03:58 16:29
109 SODEN Nicola Datalynx-Parenesis Women’s RT 2:04:18 16:49
110 CONANT Haddi Shutt Ridley RT 2:06:00 18:31
114 MACKAY Sandra Datalynx-Parenesis Women’s RT 2:06:05 18:36
115 SEWELL Iona Datalynx-Parenesis Women’s RT 2:06:05 18:36
117 DUCKWORTH Gabrielle Datalynx-Parenesis Women’s RT 2:14:15 26:46
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Result: British Men’s RR Championship
- Result: British Women’s RR Championship
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Result: Royal Navy & Marines CA 10m TT
- Result: City Road Club Hull 10m TT
- Result: Essex Roads 11.5m TT
- Result: Lichfield No Frills 2
- Result: Team LDN – Brother UK Summer Crit Series 3
- Result: Henstridge Circuit Races 4
- Result: Harvey Hadden Crit Series 5
- Result: Isle of Man Youth League
- Result: Mens Otley Grand Prix
- Result: Santini Women’s Otley Grand Prix
- News: Shimano 105 Di2 Ribble Range
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday 12
- Result: West Thames League 14
- Result: Tameside Tuesday League 10
- Result: Lotus Cars Cycle Race League 9
- Result: Brooks Cycles Track League
- Result: Hove Park Crits 2
- Result: Port Talbot Wheelers TTT
- Result: Warrington RC TTT
- Result: Severn RC 10m TT
- Result: Salford CC 25m TT
- Result: ECCA 10m TT
- Result: Utag RT 10m TT
- Result: LRRA 10m Time Trial
- Result: VC Glasgow South 10m TT
- Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 5
- Result: Kent Valley RC 10m TT
- Result: Sussex CA 50m TT
- Result: Thanet RC 25m TT
- Result: Colchester Rovers CC 47m TT
- Result: Kent Valley RC 25m TT
- Result: Oxonian CC 25m TT
- Result: Houghton CC 25m TT
- Result: Giant Helston 25m TT
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl 4
- Result: Santini Bovingdon Bomber Summer Series
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 7
- Result: L’Etape de la Defonce 2-day
- Result: Omega Circuits
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Shimano 105 Di2 Ribble Range
- News: Ben Healy wins Irish national time trial
- Events: Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix is back!
- News: Pedal Club Lunch, June ‘22
- Latest Podcast: Brother Cycling UK
- Commonwealth Games: UK Islands
- Commonwealth Games: Wales
- News: British Championships on TV
- Commonwealth Games: Team England
- Startlist: Stockton Grand Prix Women
- Preview: 2022 Cicle Classic Day 2
- News: Mildenhall Cycling Mini-Fest
- News: Scottish CX Champs for Dundee
- Events: Bath CC Women’s Road Race
- Startlist: 2022 CiCLE Classic (Women)
- Startlist Stockton Grand Prix Men
- Startlist: Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic
- Riders: British Road Championships
- 2022 Women’s Tour
- Next Week: Women’s Tour
- New Shoes Anyone?
- News: Sammie Stuart goes UCI!
- News: Brother UK Sponsors Biggest UK Races
- Scottish Team for Commonwealth Games
- Events: BikeStow Three-Day
- Startlists: Junior Road Championships 2022
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy