Hannah Barnes of the DID Electrical team sprinted to victory on the Fixx Coffee Stage One of An Post Rás na mBan in Ennis, this evening.
Barnes, the reigning British Circuit Race champion, used her impressive finishing kick to fend off noted sprinters Roxane Fournier (Trek Norway) and Christine Majerus (Luxembourg) for stage honours at the end of a fast 56km of racing.
The 20-year-old from Northamptonshire was never far from the action and her fearsome kick also propelled her to the lead of the IVCA Queen of the Mountains competition following two ascents of category three and category climbs during the stage.
A record 103 riders signed on at Glór in Ennis for the 8th edition of the event and the 27th year of women's international racing in Ireland.
The pace was relentless from the start with riders soon releasing the nervous tension with a series of vicious attacks that failed to produce significant breakaways but had the effect of whittling down the peloton.
Christine Majerus took the points at the top of the category three ascent of Tulla after 13.5km and the bunch had shed 40% of the riders by the second category climb of Maghera where Barnes scored enough points to take the early lead in the mountains competition.
Barnes' stage victory also means that she leads the National Dairy Council Points competition.
The lead group split over the top and a sustained period of chasing ensued as riders tried to get back in contention and the presence of some favoured riders in the second group helped their cause.
Late solo attacks from last year's runner-up Lydia Boylan (Ireland) and Jenny Fay, riding with Bike Aid.De came to naught as did a very threatening four-rider move of reigning champion Kamilla Vallin (Rytger), Veronique Fortin (DID), Coralie Demay (DN Bretagne) and Laura Massey (Abergavenny RC).
The group was all together exiting the sharp left hand bend with 500metres to go and Barnes was ideally placed in fifth position as the sprint started.By the line she had more than a bike length advantage over Fournier with Majerus third.
Afterwards Barnes admitted that she was keen to stay out of trouble in the closing kilometres and was delighted at her enduring form after a long season.
"I haven't done much road racing recently so it was great to take the win," she said. "I tried to stay out of trouble towards the end as we came back into town.
"I was fifth through the last turn and in a good position for the sprint.
"I think we can defend the jersey. I have a good team around me."
For full results and up to date information visit Ras na mBan Website