Magenta Jersey extends lead at top of the General Classification.

Stage Three Race Report Rás na mBan 2024 - Griffin Doubles Up in Gorey

Paris Olympian Mia Griffin continued her run of success at this year’s Rás na mBan, sprinting to victory in Stage 3 into Gorey, Co. Wexford this afternoon.

Griffin, wearing the magenta leader’s jersey, took the victory ahead of American Heidi Franz (Monarch Racing) in second, with Dutch rider Noor Dekker (JEGG DJR Academy) coming home in third.

The maximum time bonuses secured by Griffin at both the finish and intermediate sprint resulted in her extending her lead at the top of the general classification to 12 seconds over DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK teammate Caoimhe O’Brien.

The day started in the warmest conditions seen at this year’s race so far, with riders assembling at the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny City for the 104 kilometre route to Gorey, in Rás na mBan’s first visit to Co. Wexford. The undulating profile featured 1206 metres of elevation gain and two categorised climbs, in what was sure to be a tough day out for many tiring legs.

The first hour of racing was punctuated by a series of short-lived attacks, with the peloton remaining largely intact until a long uncategorised drag which preceded the intermediate sprint after 38 kilometres. Griffin took the maximum three bonus seconds at the sprint, followed once again by sisters Aoife and Caoimhe O’Brien, who picked up the remaining two and one bonus seconds respectively.

Another flurry of attacks immediately followed, with Canadian Anabelle Thomas eventually forcing a gap by powering clear in the most significant break of the day. The Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie rider established a margin of over one minute on the chasing peloton, before finally being reeled in at the base of the second category ascent of Sliabh Buí to end her 27 kilometre solo foray.

Once on the 3.3 kilometre long climb, featuring a maximum gradient of 18.6%, the main bunch exploded into multiple groups, with only a reduced bunch of favourites and jersey wearers left at the front of the race by the top.

In a continuation from the previous days’ mountains classification contests, IVCA Wicklow 200 QOH jersey wearer Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) once again went head-to-head with 2023 overall winner Manon de Boer (NWVG-Uplus), with the Dutch rider prevailing to narrow Lee’s lead to just two points. Third place was taken by Franz, recently selected to represent USA at the upcoming World Road Race Championships, followed by Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei’s Katy Hill in fourth.

The run-in to the second and final categorised climb of the day to Ballymore was dominated by the strong attack of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK’s Frankie Hall and Primeau Vélo Groupe Abadie’s Jazmine Lavergne, both sitting at 16 seconds overall going into stage three.

The duo rapidly opened a gap of one minute, surviving Franz’s pushing of the pace on the Ballymore climb to maintain a 34 second advantage over the top, with Hall taking the maximum QOM points ahead of Lavergne.

Team Ireland, JEGG-DJR and Dan Morrissey all put riders to work on the front of the chasing group, finally succeeding in closing the gap to the leading pair with just five kilometres remaining.

Repeating the playbook from the previous two stages, DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK took control at the front of the lead group in the closing stages, once again setting up the sprint for magenta jersey Griffin, who duly delivered the victory to extend her lead overall.

Griffin’s victory also widens the gap at the top of the Cycling Ireland Points and Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider classifications, with teammate Caoimhe O’Brien also adding a second to her lead at the top of the Sport Ireland Best Young Rider standings.

Rás na mBan Stage 3 Results - Kilkenny - Gorey (06/09/2024)

1. Mia GRIFFIN Das Hutchinson Brother UK -13 2h50'36''
2. Heidi FRANZ Monarch Racing -6
3. Noor DEKKER JEGG DJR Academy -4
4. Aoife O'BRIEN* Ireland -2
5. Marine LENEHAN Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei
6. Caoimhe O'BRIEN* Das Hutchinson Brother UK -1
7. Abigail MILLER* Tofauti Everyone Active
8. Robyn CLAY* Das Hutchinson Brother UK
9. Mari PORTON* Tofauti Everyone Active
10. Manon DE BOER NWVG-Uplus

General Classification after Stage 3 - Kilkenny - Gorey

1. Mia GRIFFIN 52 Das Hutchinson Brother UK 7h22'18''
2. Caoimhe O'BRIEN* 51 Das Hutchinson Brother UK +12''
3. Robyn CLAY* 55 Das Hutchinson Brother UK +23''
4. Heidi FRANZ 135 Monarch Racing
5. Abigail MILLER* 182 Tofauti Everyone Active +25''
6. Noor DEKKER 94 JEGG DJR Academy
7. Aoife O'BRIEN* 13 Ireland +26''
8. Manon DE BOER 1 NWVG-Uplus
9. Katy HILL 215 Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +27''
10. Marine LENEHAN 211 Dan Morrissey Primor by Pissei +29''

* = YOUNG RIDER CLASSIFICATION

For Full Results - click here

Tomorrow sees the return of the popular stage from Kilkenny to The Rower, featuring three categorised climbs and 1,041m of elevation gain over the 101 kilometre route.

Stage Three Race Preview Rás na mBan 2024

For the first time in its 18 year history, Rás na mBan ventures into Wexford. The 104.2km stage of the race will leave from the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny and travel through Kiltealy and Bunclody, taking on two Queen of the Mountain challenges at Sliabh Buí and Ballymore, before heading for the finish line in Gorey.


Stage 3 looks to be one of the more challenging routes of the race, with riders faced with 1,206 metres of climbing over 104.2km. With rarely a flat moment in sight, the race profile undulates throughout, before the first QOM opportunity of the day.

The General Classification is led by Mia Griffin, with teammate Caoimhe O’Brien tied on the same time. Griffin will wear the magenta jersey on stage three having achieved the best combined finishing position over the first two stages.

The pair hold a 10 second advantage over their DAS Hutchinson Brother UK teammate Robyn Clay. Abigail Miller has climbed to 4th on the General Classification at 12 seconds, with 2023 Rás na mBan Champion Manon de Boer in 5th at 13 seconds. However, the top contenders won’t be able to let up at any point during the stage with 23 riders all within 16 seconds.

O’Brien leads the Sport Ireland Best Young Rider jersey after two days having edged her teammate Robyn Clay out of the jersey. Clay will wear the Cycling Ireland Points Classification jersey for stage 3 on behalf of points and overall race leader Mia Griffin.

The race for the Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider is also led by Griffin and O’Brien, with third placed Marine Lenehan set to wear the jersey on stage 3.

DAS Hutchinson Brother UK’s Lucy Lee has furthered her lead in the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains race with Manon de Boer trailing her by 4 points. Stage 3 features two categorised climbs. Sliabh Buí will have 9 points on offer for the first rider across the line as a category 2 climb, with 7 points for the 2nd rider, 5 for 3rd and 3 for the 4th.

Ballymore village features a category 3 climb with 5 points for the first rider, and 3 for the 2nd, across the line. Both offer de Boer the chance to reverse the positions with a potential total of 14 QOM points on offer.

The intermediate sprint at 38.8km in Kiltealy will offer riders the chance to gain valuable time bonuses which may make all the difference in the general classification battle. O’Brien’s 2nd in the intermediate sprint on stage 2 is what brought her level with overall race leader Griffin.

The weather forecast is for warm and dry conditions and riders will face moderate headwinds throughout the course. The first riders are expected to arrive in Gorey between 13:59 and 14:28.