Podium

What a day, eh? Streets of Dublin closed so we can put on a good demonstration of women’s cycling at it’s best. Fiona Meade (St Finbarr’s) took the win, from Wendy Bates (Lakeside Wheelers) and Joanna Hickey (Usher) in third.

With female cyclists turning up from all necks of the woods, the public got a good demonstration of aggressive cycling from the women, when 40 girls lined out on the streets of Dublin for their first ever City Centre Crit.

It has been roughly 20 years since the city’s roads were closed for a cycle race, and we were delighted to get the opportunity to hold a women’s race prior to the men’s crit, which is part of the Halford Cycle Series.

The circuit was by no means easy (cobbles, hills and tight corners, the order of the day), and the competition was tough, despite some of our top riders having to miss the buzz – due to National Team duties in Holland.

Although the first two laps were to be neutralised, the itching legs on the girls and the crit nerves couldn’t be controlled, and from go the race was on, with the poor motor bike left for dust! A group of about ten riders established an early lead – in such a short race this was the critical break.

The pace was high, the the riding technical – coming to the line Cork’s Fiona Meade made the first move, outsprinting the field with the turn of speed she is known for, up and coming Wendy Bates from Mullingar put in a super effort to get second ahead of in form Joanna Hickey from Usher Irish Road Club (Dublin). UCD’s Cait Elliott, taking a break from her off-road world, was squeezed out of the medals in fourth place.

Super racing from everyone – including the mother and two daughter team who completed the gruelling circuit.

As always Brendan Culleton stepped up to take photos of this unique moment for women’s cycling, and provided the photos below. Photos can also be found on the new irish cycling photos website HERE and report by Marian Lamb, including photos HERE