Dillon breaks free of the field

OLIVIA DILLON claimed her second stage win of this year’s An Post Rás na mBan with a stunning show of strength in yesterday’s third stage of Ireland’s premier stage race for women.

The race leader and reigning champion copper-fastened her lead at the top of the general classification with a 45km solo ride into Kenmare to take victory on the 80km ‘queen’ stage of the five-day event.

Dillon, the US-based Irish team leader went clear with Queen of the Mountains classification leader Linda Ringlever on the second climb of the day, the first category Healy Pass.

With 35km completed, the duo had a narrow 25-second advantage over a group of four riders when Dillon attacked her Dutch rival and forged ahead to take victory by almost two minutes.

Today, the riders face four laps of a circuit based around Sneem village for a total of 66km followed by a 3.1km time trial in the afternoon.