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Last Updated: Jan 31st, 2008 - 16:25:03 |
Sealing her win with second place on the final stage, Noord Holland junior rider Marit Huisman today emerged as the overall victor in the 2007 ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan.
The Dutchwoman finished just behind final stage victor Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) in the 20-rider gallop to the line in Kilcullen. She had started the day level on time with Anika Werhelt but with the SRM & Chaka NRW rider finishing fifth and thus missing out on the bonus seconds, Huisman ended the international race three seconds clear.
German rider Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) finished third on the stage, picking up a bonus second and moving ahead of Werhelt by virtue of her better stage placings. She thus finished second overall in the three-day event.
Each of the stages finished in sprint finishes and time gaps were consequently very tight overall. Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC), Werhelt and Kathrin Hammes (SRM & Chaka NRW) were fourth, fifth and sixth in the sprint. Rudd’s consistency saw her finish the race as best Irish rider in sixth overall, just behind Hollendung and Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) in the overall standings.
Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) and Orla Hendron (Orwell Dundrum TC) were ninth and tenth overall.
The final stage took the riders over a tough parcours and with six categorised climbs lying along the 91 kilometre route, there was plenty of hard racing. Many riders tried to go clear, with the Irish Development team being particularly aggressive. Indeed the green jerseys were constantly on the attack during the weekend, showing that they had little fear of their more experienced overseas competitors. It’s a good sign for the future.
Double Irish TT record holder Wilson was involved in the most dangerous move of the day, attacking alone after 40 kilometres of racing and being joined by four others, namely Anne de Wildt (Selection Noord Holland), Orla Hendron (Orwell – Dundrum Town Centre), Josien van den Heerik (Moving Ladies) and Christy Ver Kerk (Team Bostik).
They opened up a 35 second gap and while Hendron punctured out of the move and de Wildt, van den Heerik and Ver Kerk were eventually absorbed by the bunch, Wilson forged on ahead and soloed to a 30 second lead on the last of the three Dunlavin-circuit laps. She was eventually caught after 24 kilometres out front. Others tried to go clear but everything came down to that final 20-rider gallop, where Huisman made sure of her final victory.
How it happened:
52 riders lined out for the start of the third and final stage of the ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan, a hilly 88 kilometre race which would take them from Kilcullen to Dunlavin and onto a testing 24 kilometre circuit there. The riders faced three laps and then a return to finish in Kilcullen, making for a tough day’s racing and one which was sure to shake up the general classification.
Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) started the day exactly level on time with Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW), holding the race lead by virtue of her win on Friday’s first stage. Yesterday’s stage two victor Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar) was one second back, while Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) was five seconds down.
Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways) was best placed of the Irish in fifth, six seconds in arrears, and level on time with 42 others. The small time gaps meant that Huisman’s jersey was a target for many riders, explaining why she looked nervous before the start.
There were no significant moves before the riders reached Dunlavin, approximately ten kilometres into the race, but the long drag out of the village put some under pressure. Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) beat Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) and Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) to the top, taking the first Queen of the Hills points, and over that prime line there the peloton was fragmented into several groups.
There was a regrouping over the top but many riders had lost their place on the front, giving an early indication of the selective nature of the course. Those who were only slightly adrift had the chance to rejoin on the long, gradual descent towards the junction with the Baltinglass - Blessington main road, after which the race headed north along this route and headed towards the village of Hollywood.
Fiona Meade (Irish Development Team) and Geertje Pouderoijen (Moving Ladies) attacked en route to there and opened a ten second lead. Elaine Cawley (Castlebar CC) got across, but the move was brought back after about 23 kilometres of racing.
Once past Hollywood the riders turned left and began the draggy road to Dunlavin. This was constantly undulating and put the bunch under more pressure on the lead up to the second Queen of the Hills prime there. Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies) was first to the top, beating classification leader Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) and Nicole Pieters (Selection Noord Holland).
The riders raced on to Dunlavin and once through the town, they began the third Queen of the Hills climb. Wegemund showed she meant business when she sprinted to a clear prime win at the top, beating Van Vliet, Hollendung and the rest of what was a large front group.
A number of attacks were fired off on the descent. Wilson went clear after 40 kilometres of racing and was joined by four others, namely Anne de Wildt (Selection Noord Holland), Orla Hendron (Orwell – Dundrum Town Centre), Josien van den Heerik (Moving Ladies) and Christy Ver Kerk (Team Bostik). They opened up 25 seconds, the biggest advantage thus established on what had been a very controlled weekend of racing. This continued to grow, going out to 35 seconds.
Hendron punctured out of the break after 48 kilometres of racing, shortly before they began the next Queen of the Mountains climb. The remaining four broke up before the top, with Wilson forging ahead to take the points. Van den Heerik, de Wildt and Ver Kerk hung on to take second, third and fourth but were gobbled up by the peloton soon afterwards.
Wilson is the Irish time trial holder at 10 and 25 miles and she used that solo ability to good effect to retain a 22 second lead at Dunlavin. This went up to over 30 seconds by the time she took the penultimate Queen of the Hills prime; behind, Wegemund led Van Vliet and the rest of the chasers over the top.
The main bunch split on the hill and a 20-strong front group pressed ahead. Wilson was 18 seconds clear of these turning onto the main Baltinglass - Blessington road for the final time, and this advantage continued to be eroded. She was finally caught after 64 kilometres of racing.
Very soon afterwards more riders came back up to the peloton. This increased the front group size to 38 and things settled down, making a bunch sprint looking more likely.
Van Vliet beat Wegemund and Hollendung to win the final Queen of the Mountains prime, and then shortly afterwards the riders raced into the outskirts of Dunlavin and then turned right for the final run in towards the finish at Kilcullen. That final climb did some damage and meant that the front group was down to approximately 15 riders.
Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg) attacked with approximately five kilometres to go but she was recaptured. Others tried but there was to be no avoiding the third big gallop of the race, ensuring that the final placings would be determined by where the contenders finished in the sprint. Huisman and Werhelt had started the day tied on time while Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar) was just a second further back. Bonuses of five, three and one seconds were up for grabs, so the finishing positions would be absolutely crucial.
First to the line was Katrin Hollendung, the Coogee Saar rider who started the day six seconds back. Huisman was second and this made sure of her overall victory. Schuler netted third and with Werhelt out of the bonuses in fifth, the former finished level on time but moved to second overall by virtue of her better stage placings.
Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC) finished fourth in the gallop and ended the race as best Irish rider overall in sixth. Huisman’s consistency saw her take the points jersey ahead of Werheit and Schuler, while Wegemund beat Hollendung and Van Vliet in the mountains competition.
(longer report later, with quotes)
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ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan:
Stage 3, Kilcullen - Dunlavin - 3 laps of a 24 kilometre circuit – Kilcullen:
1, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 91 kilometres in 2 hours 39 mins 21 secs
2, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland)
3, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar)
4, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC)
5, Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW)
6, Kathrin Hammes (SRM & Chaka NRW)
7, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg)
8, Linda Ter Beek (Team Bostic)
9, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies)
10, Orla Hendron (Orwell Dundrum TC) all same time
Queen of the Hills 1:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 6 pts
2, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) 5
3, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 4
4, Nicole Pieters (Selection Noord Holland) 3
5, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 2
6, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) 1
Queen of the Hills 2:
1, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 5
2, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 4
3, Nicole Pieters (Selection Noord Holland) 3
4, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 2
5, Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg) 1
Queen of the Hills 3:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 6
2, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 5
3, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 4
4, Nicole Pieters (Selection Noord Holland) 3
5, Geertje Pouderoijen (Moving Ladies) 2
6, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) 1
Queen of the Hills 4:
1, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) 5
2, Josien van den Heerik (Moving Ladies) 4
3, Anne de Wildt (Selection Noord Holland) 3
4, Christy Ver Kerk (Team Bostik) 2
5, Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg) 1
Queen of the Hills 5:
1, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) 6
2, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 5
3, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 4
4, Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg) 3
5, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 2
6, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 1
Queen of the Hills 6:
1, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 5
2, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 4
3, Kathrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 3
4, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) 2
5, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 1
Team:
1, Charlottenburg, 7h58'03"
2, Noord Holland, 7h58'03"
3, Moving Ladies, 7h58'03"
4, Team Bostic, 7h58'47"
5, Coogee Saar, 7h59'31"
6, SRM &Chaka NRW, 7h59'31"
Final general classification:
1, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 5 hours 39 mins 28 secs
2, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) at 3 secs
3, Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW)same time
4, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) at 4 secs
5, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) at 8 secs
6, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC) at 9 secs
7, Kathrin Hammes (SRM & Chaka NRW)
8, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies)
9, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team)
10, Orla Hendron (Orwell Dundrum TC) all same time
Points:
1, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 27 pts
2, Anika Werheit (SRM & Chaka NRW) 24
3, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) 23
Queen of the Hills:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 46 pts
2, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 31
3, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 29
4, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) 17
5, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 11
6, Nicole Pieters (Noord Holland) 9
County rider:
1, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/BDBC)
Team:
1, Charlottenburg, 16 hours 58 mins 51 secs
2, Noord Holland
3, Moving Ladies, both same time
4, Team Bostic, at 44 secs
5, Coogee Saar, at 1 min 28 secs
(Full results available from Irishcycling.com home page)
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8/9/07 SCHULER WINS, NO CHANGE OVERALL
Having finished sixth on the opening stage, Desiree Schuler of the Coogee Saar team tasted success on today’s second leg of the ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan when she beat Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW) and race leader Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) to the line.
Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team) was best of the home riders in fourth, edging out Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) and best county rider Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways) in the uphill finish.
Werhelt was also second yesterday but while the bonuses saw her end the day level on time with overnight leader Huisman, the latter’s stage victory yesterday gives her the edge. She retains the pink jersey heading into tomorrow’s stage, which also starts and finishes in Kilcullen.
“Today was easy enough, but we were told that the sprint was at 65 kilometres after the start…it was actually 55,” the Dutch junior said. “My legs were good so it was a pity…we think that we could have won. I didn’t actually realise it was the finish until I saw the flag. My team-mate said sprint, sprint!”
She took the lead when she proved quickest in the sprint which concluded yesterday’s 30 mile circuit race. “That was pretty good,” she said, when asked what the experience was like. “Early on my legs didn’t feel very good but later on I felt better. We decided to sprint for the Queen of the Hills then (she won the third and fourth primes) and my team-mates were working for me. The finish was very good, my team-mates were leading the group and set me up for the sprint, so it was nice.”
Things are very tight heading into tomorrow’s concluding 55 mile stage, the toughest of the race. Huisman and Werhelt are level on time, Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar) is one second back, while Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) is a further four seconds down. Rudd, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) and Wilson are fifth, sixth and seventh overall and like the rest of the field, are just five seconds away from the race lead. It sets things up for a very exciting finale.
(more later)
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ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan
Stage two, Kilcullen -Athy - Castledermot – Kilcullen (45 miles):
1, Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar) 64 kilometres in 1 hour 41 mins 27 secs
2, Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW)
3, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland)
4, Heather Wilson (Irish Development Team)
5, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar)
6, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways)
7, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies)
8, Kathrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar)
9, Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg)
10, Mandy Milow (Charlottenburg) all same time
Queen of the Hills 1:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg), 5 points
2, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar), 4
3, Marit Hulsman (Noord Holland), 3
4, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies), 2
Queen of the Hills 2:
1, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 4 pts
2, Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheeler Dundrum Town Centre) 3
3, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 2
4, Katrin Hollendung (Team Coogee Saar) 1
Queen of the Hills 3:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 4
2, Katrin Hollendung (Team Coogee Saar) 3
3, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies) 2
4, Nadine Krpal (Charlottenburg)1
Queen of the Hills 4:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 4
2, Katrin Hollendung (Team Coogee Saar) 3
3, Paus Berdienke (Team Bostik) 2
4, Désirée Schuler (Coogee Saar) 1
Team:
1, Cogee Saar, 3 hours 10 seconds
2, Charlottenburg
3, Irish Development team
4, Noord Holland
5, SRM & Chaka NRW
Overall after two stages:
1, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 3 hours 10 seconds
2, Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW) same time
3, Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar) at 1 sec
4, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) at 5 secs
5, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways) at 6 secs
6, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar)
7, Heather Wilson (Irish Development)
8, Caroline Van Peteghem (Coogee Saar)
9, Linda Van Vliet (Moving Ladies)
10, Kathrin Hammes (SRM & Chaka NRW) all same time
Points:
1, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland) 18 pts
2, Anika Werhelt (SRM & Chaka NRW) 18
3, Desiree Schuler (Coogee Saar)15
4, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways) 11
5, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg) 8
6, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar) 8
Queen of the Mountains:
1, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg)
2, Katrin Hollendung (Coogee Saar)
3, Marit Huisman (Noord Holland)
4, Paus Berdienke (Team Bostik)
5, Linda van Vliet (Moving Ladies)
Team:
1, Coogee Saar, 9 hours 48 secs
2, Noord Holland
3, Charlottenburg, both same time
Other:
5, Irish Development team
6, Orwell Dundrum Town Centre
9, Swords
Underage events:
Under 16:
1 mile TT:
1, Jessica Laird (XMTB) 3 minutes 7 secs
2, Rachel Withers () 3 minutes 20 secs
3, Heather Beirne (Navan Avonmore) 3 minutes 21 secs
4, Fiona Guihen (Navan Avonmore) 3 minutes 24 secs
5, Ailbhe Ivory (Bray Wheelers) 3 minutes 37 secs
6, Ciarán Long (Bray Wheelers) 3 minutes 37 secs
Road race:
1, Jessica Laird
2, Rachel Withers
3, Heather Beirne
4, Fiona Guihen
5, Ailbhe Ivory (Bray Wheelers)
6, Ciarán Long (Bray Wheelers)
Overall:
1, Jessica Laird, 24 pts
2, Rachel Withes, 20
3, Heather Beirne, 16
4, Fiona Guihen, 12
5, Ailbhe Ivory, 8
6, Ciarán Long, 4
Under 14:
TT:
1, Clare Oakley () 3 minutes 21 secs
2, Laura Casey () 3 minutes 23 secs
3, Rachel O’Brien (Navan Avonmore) 3 minutes 39 secs
4, Emily Loughran (Bray Wheelers) 3 minutes 45 secs
5, Aimee O’Gilby () 3 minutes 56 secs
Road race:
1, Clare Oakley
2, Laura Casey
3, Rachel O’Brien
4, Aimee O’Gilby
5, Emily Loughran
Overall:
1, Clare Oakley, 20 points
2, Laura Casey,16
3, Rachel O’Brien, 12
4, Aimee O’Gilby, 8
5, Emily Loughran, 4
Under 12:
Time trial:
1, Caoimhe Ivory (Bray Wheelers) 4 minutes 22 secs
2, Kelly Colton (Emyvale) 4 minutes 29 secs
3, Isabel Loughran (Bray Wheelers) 4 minutes 40 secs
Road race:
1, Caoimhe Ivory
2, Kelly Colton
3, Isabel Loughran
Overall:
1, Caoimhe Ivory, 12 pts
2, Kelly Colton, 8 pts
3, Isabel Loughran, 4 pts
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7/9/07 HUISMAN WINS STAGE ONE OF RÁS NA MBAN
Marit Huisman (Selection Noord-Holland) sprinted to victory on stage one of the ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan in Kilcullen today. The five lap, thirty mile race stayed largely together and came down to a bunch gallop at the end.
Huisman was quickest, beating Anika Werheit (Team SRM & CHAKA NRW), Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg), Caroline van Peteghem (Team Coogee Saar) and Irishwoman Kate Rudd (Cycleways) to the line. The rest of the peloton finished in the same time.
Apart from Rudd, there were four other Irishwomen in the top twelve. They were Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre, 7th), Valerie Considine (Usher IRC, 10th), Fiona Meade (Ireland Team, 11th) and Francine Meehan (Ireland, 12th).
The ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan continues tomorrow with a 45 mile race beginning in Kilcullen, passing through Athy and Castledermot and finishing once more in Kilcullen.
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ABM Construction/Sneem Hotel Rás na mBan
(also supported by the Irish Sport Council)
Stage one, Kilcullen (5 laps of a 6 mile circuit)
1, Marit Huisman (Selection Noord-Holland)
2, Anika Werheit (Team SRM & CHAKA NRW)
3, Lydia Wegemund (Charlottenburg)
4, Caroline van Peteghem (Team Coogee Saar)
5, Kate Rudd (MyHome.ie/Cycleways)
6, Désirée Schuler (Team Coogee Saar)
7, Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers Dundrum Town Centre)
8, Ilona Meiring (Selection Noord-Holland)
9, Katrin Hollendung (Team Coogee Saar)
10, Valerie Considine (Usher IRC)
11, Fiona Meade (Ireland)
12, Francine Meehan (Ireland) all same time
(55 starters)
Did not start:
Karen Graham (Bray Wheelers)
Alex Dobbs (Bray Wheelers)
Carolin Opitz (Charlottenburg)
Alexandra Janke (Team SRM & CHAKA NRW)
Christina Luedtke (Team SRM & CHAKA NRW)
IrishCycling.com Information
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2008 Shane Stokes,
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