Kilkenny local rider Griffin and Das Hutchinson Brother UK dominate 2024 Rás na mBan.
Six stages across five days saw Mia Griffin crowned first
Irish Rás na mBan winner since 2013.
Griffin’s win on Stage 1 saw her take the magenta leaders
jersey, and hold onto it for the remainder of the race. A second place on Stage
2 and another win on Stage 3 saw the Das Hutchinson Brother UK rider lead the field
by 12 seconds, ahead of teammates Caoimhe O’Brien and Robyn Clay.
Dutch rider Noor Dekker was in the top 10 for most of the
race, but put in an immense performance in the individual time-trial, taking
the stage win and driving herself up the standings. A second-place finish on
the final stage was enough to cement her place on the podium as she took second
place.
2023 Rás na mBan winner Manon de Boer was never going to go
down without a fight and a Stage 4 win, followed by a second place on Stage 5
saw the NWVG-Uplus rider jump up the GC rankings, and ultimately finish third.
Das Hutchinson Brother UK’s strong and consistent performance
throughout the week saw them take the Team General Classification. With Mia
Griffin delivering them stage wins on Stages 1 and 3, Caoimhe O’Brien also gave
the UK outfit a stage win on Stage 2, before Lucy Lee solidified their place
atop the team standings with a win on Stage 6. Dan Morrissey Primor By Pissei
and Team Ireland took second and third place respectively.
Das Hutchinson Brother’s riders also took 1, 2 and 3 in the
Points Classification, as Mia Griffin, Robyn Clay and Caoimhe O’Brien topped
the standings.
The Queen of the Mountains Classification was ultimately a
two-way battle for the duration of the race. Das Hutchinson Brother UK’s Lucy
Lee took an early lead on the first stage, but the monumental climb on Stage 2,
The Cut, blew the field wide open. Lee held onto the QOM jersey on Stages 2 and
3, before Manon de Boer took possession on Stage 4. NWVG-Uplus rider de Boer held
on to the top spot in the competition until the end.
Irish rider, racing with Das Hutchinson Brother UK, Caoimhe
O’Brien took home the Young Rider Classification ahead of Canadian Anabelle
Thomas with Primeau Velo Group Abadie in second and Robyn Clay in third.
The prize for Best Irish Rider went to overall race winner
Mia Griffin, with team-mate Caoimhe O’Brien second, ahead of Dan Morrissey
Primor by Pissei rider Marine Lenehan.