Report: Rás na mBan Stage 6

Britain’s Claire Steels of Brother UK/Fusion RT took overall victory in Rás na mBan following the final stage in Kilkenny this afternoon

Report: Rás na mBan Stage 6

The Brother UK Fusion RT rider was safely in the main group in 20th place one place behind her nearest rival Josie Knight (Team GB) whose audacious final kilometre attack was not enough to distance Steels who retained her six second overall lead to the end.

The top two were in the main peloton behind stage winner Silje Mathisen. The Region TeVeBu rider led Pernille Feldman (Region Sør) and Amalie Lutro (Region Sør) for a remarkable 1-2-3 for Norway. Team Ireland’s Lara Gillespie was fourth in the final stage and her team-mate Maeve Gallagher was also in the main peloton to complete the week best of the Irish in sixth place overall after the five days of racing in County Kilkenny.

Josie Knight’s consolation for missing out on the overall win was victory in the Points Classification forged with the three stage wins she took in the opening three days. Knight was also the best Womens Cycling Ireland Young Rider while Natalie Grinczer (Brother UK Fusion RT) successfully defended her lead in the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains Competition after following her nearest rival Elynor Backstedt (Storey Racing) over the top of the Woodstock Climb in third place.

The stage began with a flurry of activity and a number of attacks from riders keen to make the most of their final opportunity to score record a top result. Lexi Brown (Team Noord Holland) launched the first attack of the day and she was joined by Connie Hayes of (LIV Awol Spok’d U23) who opened up a gap of more than a minute before the GB national team upped the pace in the main group.

Hayes dropped Brown and ploughed on until she was caught just before the single classified climb of the day at Woodstock where Steels led over the top. A select group of 12 detached itself from the rest on the climb but the long descent to Thomastown helped to repair the split and the next significant effort came from Natalie Midtsveen of Noord Holland who gained 30 seconds before the bunch stirred into life.

A bunch finish seemed inevitable, though Josie Knight tried one last attempt to wrest the lead from Steels in the final kilometre which was safely controlled by the Brother UK Fusion RT squad which ended the week at the head of the team’s classification.

General Classification: Claire Steels, Brother UK Fusion RT
Points Classification: Josie Knight, GB
Queen of the Mountains: Natalie Grinczer, Brother UK Fusion RT
Best Young Rider: Josie Knight; GB
Best Domestic Irish Rider: Maeve Gallagher
Stage Winner: Silje Mathisen Team Region TeVeBU
Combativity: Connie Hayes

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Stage 6

1 MATHISEN Silje Team Region TeVeBU 2:21:28
2 FELDMANN Pernille Larsen Team Region Sør 2:21:28
3 LUTRO Amalie Team Region Sør 2:21:28
4 GILLESPIE Lara National Team Ireland 2:21:28
5 ELLIS Isabel Storey Racing 2:21:28
6 MCDERMOTT Ellen Team Noord-Holland 2:21:28
7 FLATAAS Marie CK Victoria 2:21:28
8 TINDLEY Jo Velo Performance 2:21:28
9 TACEY April Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
10 HOLL Jenny National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
11 SHARPE Alice National Team Ireland 2:21:28
12 BOYLAN Lydia Torelli-Assure-Madison 2:21:28
13 HINE Jayati Torelli-Assure-Madison 2:21:28
14 LEEUWEN Marianne van Team Noord-Holland 2:21:28
15 FINDROVÁ Mariana National Team Slovakia 2:21:28
16 HARLEY-JEPSON Beth Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
17 HERMANOVSKÁ Hana Torelli-Assure-Madison 2:21:28
18 GALLAGHER Maeve National Team Ireland 2:21:28
19 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
20 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
21 ALBERTS Nikky Team Noord-Holland 2:21:28
22 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
23 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 2:21:28
24 JOHNSON Ione Cycle Team onForm 2:21:28
25 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
26 MACHÁLKOVÁ Petra National Team Slovakia 2:21:28
27 CALLANDER Rhona National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
28 WOOTTON Kate Cycle Team onForm 2:21:28
29 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
30 SMYTH Katharine National Team Ireland 2:21:28
31 HOMER Gabriella Cycle Team onForm 2:21:28
32 BARKER Ellen LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:21:28
33 WOZNIAK Agnieszka UCD Cycling 2:21:28
34 GADD Lucy Storey Racing 2:21:28
35 BENTLEY Olivia TW1 Racing 2:21:28
36 JØRGENSEN Tiril Team Region TeVeBU 2:21:28
37 CLAFFEY Maire UCD Cycling 2:21:28
38 CAMPBELL Laura Cycling Ulster 2:21:28
39 JONES Jasmine Storey Racing 2:21:28
40 ENEVER Sophie Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
41 O’DONNELL Lucy Velo Performance 2:21:28
42 THOMPSON Poppy Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
43 PATCH Molly Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
44 MIDTSVEEN Natalie Irene Team Region TeVeBU 2:21:28
45 SNORTHEIM Stine Marie CK Victoria 2:21:28
46 COX Florence Velo Performance 2:21:28
47 BULLARD Georgia Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
48 HRTÁNKOVÁ Júlia National Team Slovakia 2:21:28
49 HOWITT Hannah Team IOM 2:21:28
50 DORAN Yvonne Cycling Leinster 2:21:28
51 DOCHERTY Anna National Team Great Britain 2:21:40 0:12
52 HART Louise TW1 Racing 2:21:40 0:12
53 ŠVRCKOVÁ Barbora National Team Slovakia 2:21:40 0:12
54 BURNS Eileen Cycling Ulster 2:21:40 0:12
55 HAYES Connie LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:21:40 0:12
56 KJØRAAS Mirijam CK Victoria 2:21:44 0:16
57 BIRD Sharon Cycling Ulster 2:21:28
58 TAGGART Nikki Women’s Cycling Ireland 2:26:13 4:45
59 STEENS Rebecca Team IOM 2:26:16 4:48
60 MACLEOD Kate TW1 Racing 2:26:16 4:48
61 O’BRIEN Caoimhe Cycling Leinster 2:26:16 4:48
62 BAYES Hannah LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:26:16 4:48
63 ENGEBRETSEN Hennie Team Region TeVeBU 2:26:16 4:48
64 WILDMAN Poppy LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:26:16 4:48
65 O’DWYER Niamh TC Racing 2:26:16 4:48
66 MCKINNEY Michelle Women’s Cycling Ireland 2:26:16 4:48
67 SILVA Soraia TC Racing 2:26:16 4:48
68 HAVERN Ciara Cycling Ulster 2:26:16 4:48
69 LOOKER Emily Team IOM 2:26:16 4:48
70 GJØS Martine CK Victoria 2:26:24 4:56
71 SALVADOR Márcia TC Racing 2:26:24 4:56
72 POLS Sandy van der Team Noord-Holland 2:31:39 10:11
73 BROWN Lexi Team Noord-Holland 2:31:39 10:11
74 NEENAN Jennifer Cycling Leinster 2:31:42 10:14
75 NÍ REACHTAGÁIN Claire Women’s Cycling Ireland 2:31:42 10:14
76 BRENNAN Eva Women’s Cycling Ireland 2:31:42 10:14
77 MAHONEY Catherine UCD Cycling 2:31:42 10:14
78 KRISTIANSEN Hedda Team Region Sør 2:34:01 12:33
79 HILLIARD Faith TC Racing 2:34:02 12:34
80 FOX Arron Cycling Leinster 2:34:02 12:34
81 HAMMOND Claire TW1 Racing 2:38:22 16:54

Best British Rider
1 ELLIS Isabel Storey Racing 2:21:28
2 TINDLEY Jo Velo Performance 2:21:28
3 TACEY April Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
4 HOLL Jenny National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
5 HINE Jayati Torelli-Assure-Madison 2:21:28
6 HARLEY-JEPSON Beth Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
7 HERMANOVSKÁ Hana Torelli-Assure-Madison 2:21:28
8 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
9 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
10 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
11 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 2:21:28
12 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
13 CALLANDER Rhona National Team Great Britain 2:21:28
14 WOOTTON Kate Cycle Team onForm 2:21:28
15 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
16 HOMER Gabriella Cycle Team onForm 2:21:28
17 BARKER Ellen LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:21:28
18 GADD Lucy Storey Racing 2:21:28
19 BENTLEY Olivia TW1 Racing 2:21:28
20 JONES Jasmine Storey Racing 2:21:28
21 ENEVER Sophie Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
22 THOMPSON Poppy Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 2:21:28
23 PATCH Molly Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
24 COX Florence Velo Performance 2:21:28
25 BULLARD Georgia Brother UK Fusion RT 2:21:28
26 HOWITT Hannah Team IOM 2:21:28
27 DOCHERTY Anna National Team Great Britain 2:21:40 0:12
28 HART Louise TW1 Racing 2:21:40 0:12
29 HAYES Connie LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:21:40 0:12
30 MACLEOD Kate TW1 Racing 2:26:16 4:48
31 BAYES Hannah LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:26:16 4:48
32 WILDMAN Poppy LIVawol Spok’d U23 2:26:16 4:48
33 LOOKER Emily Team IOM 2:26:16 4:48
34 HAMMOND Claire TW1 Racing 2:38:22 16:54
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OVERALL
1 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 10:50:07
2 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 10:50:13 0:06
3 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 10:50:23 0:16
4 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 10:50:58 0:51
5 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 10:51:27 1:20
6 GALLAGHER Maeve National Team Ireland 10:51:59 1:52
7 PATCH Molly Brother UK Fusion RT 10:52:17 2:10
8 SHARPE Alice National Team Ireland 10:52:30 2:23
9 TACEY April Brother UK Fusion RT 10:55:44 5:37
10 TINDLEY Jo Velo Performance 10:57:13 7:06
11 GILLESPIE Lara National Team Ireland 10:57:31 7:24
12 BENTLEY Olivia TW1 Racing 10:57:50 7:43
13 MATHISEN Silje Team Region TeVeBU 10:58:25 8:18
14 ELLIS Isabel Storey Racing 10:58:47 8:40
15 THOMPSON Poppy Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:58:50 8:43
16 LUTRO Amalie Team Region Sør 10:58:51 8:44
17 JONES Jasmine Storey Racing 10:58:53 8:46
18 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:00 8:53
19 HARLEY-JEPSON Beth Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:03 8:56
20 ENEVER Sophie Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:08 9:01
21 BOYLAN Lydia Torelli-Assure-Madison 10:59:08
22 MIDTSVEEN Natalie Irene Team Region TeVeBU 10:59:13 9:06
23 LEEUWEN Marianne van Team Noord-Holland 10:59:39 9:32
24 FINDROVÁ Mariana National Team Slovakia 10:59:56 9:49
25 MCDERMOTT Ellen Team Noord-Holland 10:59:59 9:52
26 CLAFFEY Maire UCD Cycling 11:00:02 9:55
27 FLATAAS Marie CK Victoria 11:00:38 10:31
28 DOCHERTY Anna National Team Great Britain 11:01:21 11:14
29 HERMANOVSKÁ Hana Torelli-Assure-Madison 11:01:26 11:19
30 JOHNSON Ione Cycle Team onForm 11:01:36 11:29
31 BULLARD Georgia Brother UK Fusion RT 11:02:34 12:27
32 CALLANDER Rhona National Team Great Britain 11:02:47 12:40
33 COX Florence Velo Performance 11:03:25 13:18
34 GJØS Martine CK Victoria 11:04:13 14:06
35 HOMER Gabriella Cycle Team onForm 11:05:03 14:56
36 HOLL Jenny National Team Great Britain 11:05:48 15:41
37 O’DONNELL Lucy Velo Performance 11:05:49 15:42
38 SNORTHEIM Stine Marie CK Victoria 11:05:58 15:51
39 WOZNIAK Agnieszka UCD Cycling 11:05:59 15:52
40 BIRD Sharon Cycling Ulster 11:06:51 16:44
41 DORAN Yvonne Cycling Leinster 11:07:02 16:55
42 FELDMANN Pernille Larsen Team Region Sør 11:07:36 17:29
43 SMYTH Katharine National Team Ireland 11:08:07 18:00
44 JØRGENSEN Tiril Team Region TeVeBU 11:08:48 18:41
45 MACHÁLKOVÁ Petra National Team Slovakia 11:10:48 20:41
46 ALBERTS Nikky Team Noord-Holland 11:10:54 20:47
47 BURNS Eileen Cycling Ulster 11:13:21 23:14
48 HART Louise TW1 Racing 11:14:04 23:57
49 GADD Lucy Storey Racing 11:15:16 25:09
50 BARKER Ellen LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:17:54 27:47
51 HAYES Connie LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:17:55 27:48
52 ŠVRCKOVÁ Barbora National Team Slovakia 11:18:44 28:37
53 SILVA Soraia TC Racing 11:20:02 29:55
54 KJØRAAS Mirijam CK Victoria 11:20:50 30:43
55 BAYES Hannah LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:23:37 33:30
56 STEENS Rebecca Team IOM 11:23:39 33:32
57 HRTÁNKOVÁ Júlia National Team Slovakia 11:24:14 34:07
58 WOOTTON Kate Cycle Team onForm 11:24:36 34:29
59 O’BRIEN Caoimhe Cycling Leinster 11:30:14 40:07
60 HINE Jayati Torelli-Assure-Madison 11:31:35 41:28
61 SALVADOR Márcia TC Racing 11:32:02 41:55
62 LOOKER Emily Team IOM 11:32:43 42:36
63 CAMPBELL Laura Cycling Ulster 11:33:39 43:32
64 BROWN Lexi Team Noord-Holland 11:34:24 44:17
65 WILDMAN Poppy LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:34:34 44:27
66 TAGGART Nikki Women’s Cycling Ireland 11:35:25 45:18
67 HOWITT Hannah Team IOM 11:36:37 46:30
68 MCKINNEY Michelle Women’s Cycling Ireland 11:38:35 48:28
69 HAVERN Ciara Cycling Ulster 11:39:50 49:43
70 ENGEBRETSEN Hennie Team Region TeVeBU 11:43:47 53:40
71 KRISTIANSEN Hedda Team Region Sør 11:50:53 1:00:46
72 BRENNAN Eva Women’s Cycling Ireland 11:51:15 1:01:08
73 O’DWYER Niamh TC Racing 11:54:43 1:04:36
74 MACLEOD Kate TW1 Racing 11:55:27 1:05:20
75 MAHONEY Catherine UCD Cycling 11:56:23 1:06:16
76 NÍ REACHTAGÁIN Claire Women’s Cycling Ireland 11:58:09 1:08:02
77 NEENAN Jennifer Cycling Leinster 12:01:07 1:11:00
78 FOX Arron Cycling Leinster 12:04:02 1:13:55
79 POLS Sandy van der Team Noord-Holland 12:11:39 1:21:32
80 HAMMOND Claire TW1 Racing 12:19:30 1:29:23
81 HILLIARD Faith TC Racing 12:28:33 1:38:26

Best of British Overall

1 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 10:50:07
2 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 10:50:13 0:06
3 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 10:50:23 0:16
4 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 10:50:58 0:51
5 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 10:51:27 1:20
6 PATCH Molly Brother UK Fusion RT 10:52:17 2:10
7 TACEY April Brother UK Fusion RT 10:55:44 5:37
8 TINDLEY Jo Velo Performance 10:57:13 7:06
9 BENTLEY Olivia TW1 Racing 10:57:50 7:43
10 ELLIS Isabel Storey Racing 10:58:47 8:40
11 THOMPSON Poppy Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:58:50 8:43
12 JONES Jasmine Storey Racing 10:58:53 8:46
13 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:00 8:53
14 HARLEY-JEPSON Beth Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:03 8:56
15 ENEVER Sophie Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:08 9:01
16 DOCHERTY Anna National Team Great Britain 11:01:21 11:14
17 HERMANOVSKÁ Hana Torelli-Assure-Madison 11:01:26 11:19
18 BULLARD Georgia Brother UK Fusion RT 11:02:34 12:27
19 CALLANDER Rhona National Team Great Britain 11:02:47 12:40
20 COX Florence Velo Performance 11:03:25 13:18
21 HOMER Gabriella Cycle Team onForm 11:05:03 14:56
22 HOLL Jenny National Team Great Britain 11:05:48 15:41
23 HART Louise TW1 Racing 11:14:04 23:57
24 GADD Lucy Storey Racing 11:15:16 25:09
25 BARKER Ellen LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:17:54 27:47
26 HAYES Connie LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:17:55 27:48
27 BAYES Hannah LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:23:37 33:30
28 WOOTTON Kate Cycle Team onForm 11:24:36 34:29
29 HINE Jayati Torelli-Assure-Madison 11:31:35 41:28
30 LOOKER Emily Team IOM 11:32:43 42:36
31 WILDMAN Poppy LIVawol Spok’d U23 11:34:34 44:27
32 HOWITT Hannah Team IOM 11:36:37 46:30
33 MACLEOD Kate TW1 Racing 11:55:27 1:05:20
34 HAMMOND Claire TW1 Racing 12:19:30 1:29:23

Queen of the Mountains Classification

Woodstock (cat 1)
1 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 12
2 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 10
3 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 8
4 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 6
5 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 4

Queen of the Mountains Classification Overall
1 GRINCZER Natalie Brother UK Fusion RT 43
2 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 41
3 STEELS Claire Brother UK Fusion RT 36
4 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 24
5 PATCH Molly Brother UK Fusion RT 12
6 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 12
7 GALLAGHER Maeve National Team Ireland 12
8 TINDLEY Jo Velo Performance 9

YOUNG RIDER OVERALL
1 KNIGHT Josie National Team Great Britain 10:50:13
2 SHACKLEY Anna National Team Great Britain 10:50:23 0:10
3 BACKSTEDT Elynor Storey Racing 10:51:27 1:14
4 GALLAGHER Maeve National Team Ireland 10:51:59 1:46
5 TACEY April Brother UK Fusion RT 10:55:44 5:31
6 GILLESPIE Lara National Team Ireland 10:57:31 7:18
7 MATHISEN Silje Team Region TeVeBU 10:58:25 8:12
8 ELLIS Isabel Storey Racing 10:58:47 8:34
9 LUTRO Amalie Team Region Sør 10:58:51 8:38
10 BENT Olivia Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:00 8:47
11 ENEVER Sophie Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo 10:59:08 8:55

Points Classification
1 KNIGHT Josie GBR 10 10 10 30
2 BACKSTEDT Elynor STO 1 9 5 9 24
3 STEELS Claire BFU 9 4 9 22
4 MATHISEN Silje TVB 7 5 10 22
5 LUTRO Amalie SOR 10 8 18
6 GILLESPIE Lara IRL 3 8 7 18
7 SHACKLEY Anna GBR 5 8 4 17
8 GRINCZER Natalie BFU 6 7 13
9 GALLAGHER Maeve IRL 7 6 13
10 ELLIS Isabel STO 5 6 11
11 TINDLEY Jo VPF 1 6 3 10
12 JOHNSON Ione ONF 2 7 9
13 HOLL Jenny GBR 8 1 9
14 FELDMANN Pernille Larsen SOR 9 9
15 SHARPE Alice IRL 8 8
16 FLATAAS Marie VIC 3 4 7
17 TACEY April BFU 2 1 2 5
18 MCDERMOTT Ellen TNH 5 5
19 BENTLEY Olivia TW1 4 4
20 PATCH Molly BFU 3 3
21 CALLANDER Rhona GBR 3 3
22 BOYLAN Lydia TAM 2 2
23 CLAFFEY Maire UCD 1 1

General Team Classification
1 Brother UK Fusion RT BFU 32:32:58
2 National Team Great Britain GBR 32:40:42 7:44
3 National Team Ireland IRL 32:42:00 9:02
4 Storey Racing STO 32:49:07 16:09
5 Team Region TeVeBU TVB 32:54:03 21:05
6 Jadan-Weldtite Vive le Velo VLV 32:56:43 23:45
7 CK Victoria VIC 33:05:12 32:14
8 Velo Performance VPF 33:06:27 33:29
9 Team Noord-Holland TNH 33:10:32 37:34
10 National Team Slovakia SVK 33:20:48 47:50
11 Cycle Team onForm ONF 33:31:15 58:17
12 Torelli-Assure-Madison TAM 33:32:09 59:11
13 Team Region Sør SOR 33:34:31 1:01:33
14 TW1 Racing TW1 33:49:08 1:16:10
15 Cycling Ulster ULS 33:49:57 1:16:59
16 LIVawol Spok’d U23 LIV 33:52:32 1:19:34
17 UCD Cycling UCD 34:02:24 1:29:26
18 TC Racing TCR 34:11:36 1:38:38
19 Cycling Leinster LEI 34:27:51 1:54:53
20 Team IOM IOM 34:32:59 2:00:01
21 Women’s Cycling Ireland WIR 34:58:14 2:25:16