Danny Boy 2 Day Stage Race

^{Limavady, Northern Ireland, 2-3 July 2005}

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From  George Boyd - Race Organiser

FAT BIRD FLIES

Helen Wyman of the English based Team Fat Birds won the Zeal Optics Danny Boy International 2 Day in Northern Ireland in a close fought battle with Belgium’s Katleen Vermeiren of Team Merida.  With the final result likely to depend on prime bonus seconds going into the final stage nothing was sure until the final sprint of the day.  After withstanding severe pressure from Vermeiren, who won both primes and the final stage, a delighted Wyman finally secured the race win by just six seconds.

Wyman, who in 2004 was ranked 3^rd in the world cyclo-cross rankings, finished just six seconds ahead of Belgian Katleen Vermeiren with Cycling Ulster – Womenscycling.net Team leader Wendy Houvenaghel 3^rd.

British national 10 and 25 mile time trial champion Houvenaghel showed her pedigree when she won the opening time trial stage in some style giving Commonwealth Games selectors yet more to think about for next year.  However, she lost the yellow jersey in the afternoon’s 80km road race with the sprinting power of Wyman earning her bonus seconds on the two primes.  Stage 2 victory went to Katleen Vermeiren, who was clearly making her mark on the race with her attacking style of racing and obvious sprinting ability.

The race had to be settled in the final stage and with two sets of bonus seconds available the overall race win was possible for several riders.  True to form Vermeiren attacked hard throughout and won both primes and the overall stage win.  However Wyman remained in control taking second on each occasion.  This was enough to secure overall victory.

Wyman was delighted, she was very quick to acknowledge her team mates hard work throughout to support her.  The 24 year old commented “It was a hard course today, but I enjoyed the stage.  I have a good team and we were working to a plan to hold the yellow jersey.  We knew time bonuses were important for me to hold on to the lead and it worked out well.”

Katleen Vermeiren was delighted with second overall.  She also won two stages and the points classification.  Riding for Dutch Team Merida she said, “We had a good team race but we needed to get more time bonuses on the first stage.  The team worked very hard for me and I could ask for nothing else from them.”  She went on to say,  “Our team would like to thank all the people of Limavady for making our team’s first visit to the Danny Boy race special, and perhaps next year Team Merida can come back to try and win.”

The organisers would like to make a special mention of two Cycling Ulster – Womenscycling.net riders who announced their retirement from stage racing.  Anne McFarland and Anne Paul.  Both have been great athletes for some time. 

We would particularly like to wish Anne McFarland good luck in her last big race in the world masters.  She finished 11^th overall.  Anne is a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer who is a true inspiration to everyone who meets her.

Photos

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Final General Classification

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