Women's Cycling Ireland

Wow, what a few days at Rás na mBan! Six tough stages across five days.

When the route was announced in July race organisers said they were bringing the race to a number of new locations and creating new and exciting challenges for the riders. After five days of racing, riders can confirm they were indeed challenging. The feedback each day post stage was first and foremost that the race was hard.

The opening stage was “hectic” due to an early crash splitting the latter half of the peloton to pieces. With about 40 riders up the road, those on the wrong side of the crash were forced to chase in small numbers, making the task of catching back to the bunch particularly challenging for the opening day of a five day race.

The team dynamic evolved as the week progressed, with the riders reporting they were able to work together a bit more on stages two, three and four ahead of the main climbs. The final day featured a double header, with a short sharp 2.5km time trial around Kilkenny Castle with a few technical turns, before turning the team’s attention to the afternoon Crit race.

Abi Conway jumped 15 places on GC since 2025, finishing in 21st. Mia Smith finished an impressive 31 places higher than 2024. In her Leaving Cert year, Aoife O’Donovan maintained her fitness and raced well to finish in a similar position to last year’s performance. While Ellen Ní Cleirigh, who identifies as a sprinter, put in a strong overall performance on a course which certainly favoured the climbers. In her first season of road racing, Rachel Newell stepped up to her first stage race and took everything the opening stages threw at her in her stride.

The team was supported by Michelle Geoghegan as manager, Airida as soigneur and Adrian as mechanic. The Commission also had incredibly valuable support from who kindly supplied us with a race vehicle for the week!

📸 Sean Rowe

*Trail Sisters Festival*

Last day to enter - Wednesday 9th of September

LADIES MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY AT GLENCULLEN ADVENTURE PARK. Sept 12th

- Uplifts or coaching in the morning, in the afternoon
- Prizes to be won on all trails
- Yoga, Sauna, Gizzlys burgers & Camping available
- All ladies, all levels welcome

Scan for more info!

Stage 1 is done and dusted, with all of our riders home safe after an exciting opening stage of a challenging week of racing. Team Denmark’s Alma Rasmussen took a solo win, narrowly holding her lead over the bunch, with Irish riders Aoife O’Brien and Erin Creighton completing the podium.

Aoife O’Donovan was our first rider home, arriving with the main bunch at just 25 seconds behind the stage winner. She was very closely followed by Abi Conway and Mia Smith. Both Rachel Newell and Erin Ní Cleirigh were unfortunately caught up in an earlier crash. While we’re happy to report that they were both uninjured and back on the bike quickly, it did result in them ending up in a chase group a little further back on the road.

Feedback after today’s stage ranged from “that was hard,” to “I really enjoyed that,” although all was said with smiles.

Tomorrow they take on a hilly 97km from Gorey at 11AM. Let's go! 🏁

The final round of the 2026 Women’s Commission Corkagh Park league took place last night.

After 9 weeks of racing, the final round took place as an elimination style race. This meant that after 10 laps (or 20 odd minutes) there was a sprint every second lap and the last rider across the line was eliminated from the race.

A different type of tactics was needed for this type of race but it made for an exciting race for both riders and spectators.

In the end Caoimhe Fitzgerald Carolan showed the improvement she has made since she started racing only a few weeks ago and pipped Fiona Guihen on the line in the final sprint.

Well done to all riders, not just tonight's but everybody that joined us over the summer.
Overall league standings:
1: Ellen Ní Cleirigh - Longcourt
2: Claire Ní Reachtagain - Sundrive
3: Fiona Guihen

Most improved rider across the league: Aoibhe Reilly - Bohermeen.

Many thanks to all the different clubs who hosted a round of the league for their support. We hope to see you all back on track again in 2027!

For those of you who want just one more race around Corkagh Park before the summer’s end, or an opener ahead of Rá na mBan next week, Longcourt WRT will host a Women’s Crit this Saturday 29th of August at Corkagh Park.

The race will also double as the prize-giving for the Women’s National Series. Entries can be found at Cycling Ireland.

Entry for this closes this evening to allow organisers to make a call on numbers so if you intend on riding please enter ASAP

We’re running a race!

Women’s only Saturday racing, with the view that next year we return to running women’s open road races.

This event is the prize giving for the national series as well.

Looking forward to seeing you all for some racing coffee and cakes!

9am open track

10am racing - entry link in bio

There was issues with sign on for tonight's round which has now been resolved

Tomorrow, August 25th, is the final round of the Women's Commission Corkagh Park League!

Many thanks to Longcourt WRT for playing hosts for the final round! To enter go to: https://eventmaster.ie/event/nolPCplH0v before 5pm Tuesday evening. Link in our bio 👆 Entry Fee: €5.

This is a Women only race, with A & B races either separate or combined with handicaps, starting from 7:15PM in Corkagh Park. If you're new to cycling, this is a great opportunity to try racing on a closed circuit. If you're a more experienced rider, you'll be challenged with a harder handicap to see if you can catch the riders in front!

Non-Cycling Ireland members can purchase a 10 euro event licence to race.

Prizes for the National Series will also be presented at the Corkagh Park on the 29th of August at the Corkagh Park Women's Crit hosted by Longcourt CC.

Get those entries in ASAP!

Enter at: https://eventmaster.ie/event/EG2Df4EF74

We’re running a race!

Women’s only Saturday racing, with the view that next year we return to running women’s open road races.

This event is the prize giving for the national series as well.

Looking forward to seeing you all for some racing coffee and cakes!

9am open track

10am racing - entry link in bio

After a summer of dry and warm races the Women’s Commission Corkagh Park league was due a wet one and we got one this week!

It didn't deter the 11 riders that took to the start line in their respective groups though and we once again had some fun, intense and tactical races. The B’s set off first, followed by the A’s and the last to leave the start line were the A+ riders - Sundrive teammates Eimear Moran and Claire Ni Reachtagain.

After a few laps where the gaps were static, the real racing started and the prime lap led to Heather Jameson deciding to take a chance and make a break from the other B riders and try to stay away solo. Shortly after the A’s, A+’s and remaining B’s regrouped, but despite working together they couldn't close the gap. Leaving Heather out in front on her own with 3 laps to go.

Although the chasers managed to reduce the gap, she held out for a solo victory.

The bunch sprint was won by Claire Ní Reachtagain from Orla Hendron. Thanks to the Irish Veteran Cyclists Association - IVCA for hosting last night's race and to Joe Daly Cycles for sponsoring prizes. The Cycling Ireland snoods and Kinetica spot prizes were a nice and welcome surprise on a wet evening.

Next week is the last round of the series, which means that after the race we will have a few extra prizes for the overall league winners and there may be other goodies too!

Overall winner and prime: Heather Jameson - Swords

Top 3 A:
1st Claire NiReachtagain - Sundrive Track Team
2nd Orla Hendron - Orwell Wheelers CC
3rd Clodagh Molyneaux - Bohermeen Cycling Club

Top 3 B:
1st Heather Jameson - Swords
2nd Ellen Carroll - Pulse Tri
3rd Aoife Kelly - Orwell Wheelers CC