Scotland’s Kate Richardson overturned a five-second deficit to overnight leader Lieke van Zeelst in dramatic fashion in Sunday morning’s stage five time trial around Kilkenny Castle.
The Alba Development Rider’s blistering effort means she is now level on time with Van Zeelst, but leads the Rás na mBan Overall Classification by virtue of finishing 5.13 seconds faster than the Dutch rider in the race against the clock. The extra 0.13 of a second gained is what separates the pair in the battle for the magenta jersey. Richardson’s outstanding performance also secured a second stage win of what has been a highly consistent week for the Scot.
Cams-Basso’s Maddie Leech finished with the second fastest time on the technical 2.5 kilometre course, less than one second behind Richardson. Team Ireland’s Lara Gillespie continued her run of excellent form, crossing the line just two seconds down in third place, in a fiercely contested time trial held in miserable conditions.
Richardson heads into this afternoon’s final stage six criterium in Kilkenny now in possession of all the jersey classifications available to her, with Cycling Ulster’s Amelia Tyler retaining her lead of the Kilkenny County Council Best Young Rider competition.
The final Criterium stage gets underway in Kilkenny city centre at 1.30pm.
View all stage results here (PDF download)
