Womens International 5 day Stage Race

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The Ras na Mban is Irelands only all female international stage race fielding riders from France, USA, Holland,Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. This year I was picked to ride on the Ulster squad with Louise Fullerton (BRC), Maeve Savage (BRC), Mandy Collie (Team Basso T) and Amy Brice (Pheonix) ;D ;D ;D ;D. The race comprises of 6 stages in total all extremly tough and taking in the Kerry mountains.
Many of the girls riding here are full time pros riding in the continental circuit. The race pace of these girls would make some men cry!!!! With team managers, mechanics, food made for us and no work it is like a dream come true. All we have to do is ride the bike.
I will be posting every day as to how the team are getting on. I hope this will aspire more of the female members of Dromara to give racing at club level a go!

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Stage 1 was just designed to get us going! We done a procession of the village of Sneem then the stage started after a neutralised roll out. The stage was 35.69 miles in total and there were 53 starters. This stage was rolly and as I knew from last year I needed to get up to the front from the start. There were a couple of hairy moments from the beginning but everyone settled and we travelled well as a group . There were 2 climbs today -Molls Gap cat. 2, and Carraig na Gaoithe cat. 3. It was destined by no means to be an easy stage! I got dropped on Molls Gap from the peleton and formed a group with a rider from Look Mum No Hands, District Noord Holland, Irish National team and Maeve from CU .We worked well together to bring back time on the GC picking up some people as we went. It was hard work trying to keep the chaingang going over the hills but we managed and kept er lit right to the finish line. I felt as if I didn't really dig in and just took it easy and paced myself as I knew this was going to be a long race . Quite content with no real muscle soreness or exhaustion I got my recovery drink and chilled before dinner getting ready to lift the game for the next day

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As the average speed for stage 1 was 22.35 mph I knew I had plenty to give today. I was looking forward to getting stuck in and getting more confidence in sitting behind the pro's . We were transfered to stage 2 by Sox as it started in Waterville. Todays stage was 55.97 miles and would test us a little more with a cat. 3 climb - Micky Murphys hill, a prime after the descent, another climb cat.3 Geokaun mountain then rolly roads back to Waterville. From the off the CU girls were determined to get a good start and all jumped in behind the lead car to be at the front of the bunch. We all headed of to Valentia island . At the first climb i got detached from the main bunch but with the help of 2 other CU girls and some Dutch I got back on which was great I stayed with the main bunch right onto the island, constantly being aware of my position and glad that I had made it through 1 climb with the main bunch. When the 2 nd climb came my legs left me, I couldn't dig in....at this stage everyone EVERYONE had passed my and Voiture Balai was with me, I struggled on myself with "% miles to do....IT was like Sundays TT all over again. With SEVERE crosswinds I was struggling and loosing my mind!! What was happening? Last rider in with the broom wagon behind me. Feeling exceptionally sorry for myself Sean McNicol helped me off the bike and I had to hide my disappointment while the other girls were chatting about there experience. I really could not understand what was going on... I had 3 gels in me, 2 full bottles drank, plenty of brekfast but had nothing left Later when I went for dinner Jay burgess who I had went over and trained with in Scotland pre season ( Sandy Wallace - riding for Moving Ladies Holland) got me some vit. C and paracetamol and i steamed myself with Olbas oil hoping that the cold would shift. The girls made me hot drinks and I rested. Hoping to feel better for the next stage. The av. speed for todays stage was 20.89 mph and I was 7 mins down on the leader Oliver Dillion (pro rider) peanut butter & co. USA - Irish national champ.

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Stage 3 . Woke up felt like s***, couldn't even see. Doctor was called. Feckin kidney infection...not allowed on bike...not that I could of got on it any way In bed all day feeling sorry for myself. On anti biotics but staying down to help out with the team when I fell better. My Ras was over for another year, but I have to be motivational for the other girls and try to help them as much as I can. Mixed emotions today . This was the hardest stage covering some of the toughest climbs and descents. I was hoping that my training in the Alps and Pyrenees would have helped me here. It was 50.06 miles in total average speed 21.52mph. There were 3 climbs today cat.2 Knockanoughanish, cat.1 Healy Pass, cat. 1 Caha pass :Pwith some nice tunnels thrown in for fun. ;D ;D ;D ;D. All the girls finished safe and enjoyed it today. The legs are starting to tire slightly but I'm guessing the elite girlies have some more surprises left up there sleeve.

[johnmcg]

good report mary, hard luck on getting ill, hope u are better quick, keep ur chin up, hope to c u back on the road soon

[garybailie]

well done Mary, shame about the aul kidneys, great reports though!!! This board def lends it hand to havin a doctorate in english,