Annalise Murphy has continued to impress in the cycling world after making headlines from a thrilling day of racing at Round Two of the Road National Series.
With the Kay Stratton Memorial race staying together in the opening 50km, it was Murphy who drove the pace up the Nadd Climb.
The Sailing Olympic medallist found herself alone over the top of the climb and kept up an infernal pace on the descent and final 35km to build a lead of over three minutes.
Annalise Murphy Impresses Again As Paul Kennedy Takes Victory In Road National Series Round Two
Full report after an exciting day’s racing ⬇️https://t.co/X8XLQ9f6g8 pic.twitter.com/84yOXHTHUs— Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) April 28, 2024
Mary Corless and Jennifer Neenan completed the podium in second and third respectively, finishing strongest of a group of five chasers that also included junior overall leader Kate Murphy, Nicola Lynch and Abi Conway.
Annalise Murphy's performance solidifies her lead in the Senior Women's category following her victory in last month's Des Hanlon Memorial.
As well as defending the jersey, Murphy is looking forward to racing in other disciplines such as Cross-country Mountain Bike and Track in the coming months: "A great race today and a great course, really nice to have a tailwind for the final 30km. It was a light women's field, there's lots of women racing in Ireland and we just need to get them doing these races, so I'll definitely be getting more people to get into races. I got away on the climb and ended up doing a near 40km Time Trial on my own - which I haven't done in a long time! I'm feeling good at the moment and I'm just trying to enjoy it."
"I'm actually going to do a little mountain biking at the Cross-country National Series. I'm looking forward to TT National Championships, Road National Championships and also on the track. I feel like I'm doing loads of cycling and probably don't have the
time to do it all. I'm enjoying it."
Annalise Murphy coming through with the life advice 🙌
👩🏫Sport teaches you lots of things, how to win, how to lose, and most importantly how to bounce back when the water gets choppy.
📺Watch her FULL interview here-https://t.co/AVOvoWheVG#Irishsailing #AnnaliseMurphy pic.twitter.com/AnpweNySXH— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) October 25, 2023
RESULTS
Kay Stratton Memorial
Annalise Murphy - Longcourt Hotel - NCW Wheelers
Mary Corless- Challenge CC
Jennifer Neenan - UCD Cycling Club
Nicola Lynch - Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club (Foreign)
Kate Murphy - Sliabh Luachra*
Abi Conway - Westport Covey Wheelers
Ellen Ni Cleirigh - Longcourt Hotel - NCW Wheelers
Rhiannon Dolan - TC Racing*
9. Sophie English - TC Racing*
*: Junior rider.
The full overall rankings are available here.
