Stage Race Win for Emma Trott
Dutch based Brit Emma Trott concluded her 2009 continental programme by riding the SNEEM HOTEL RAS NA MBAN 3 Day/4 staged road race. Recording two stage wins and a fourth place to win on GC by 27 seconds, as well as claiming the point's jersey.
Emma was supported by three of her Moving Ladies Team in a field that included an Irish Development Squad as well as teams from Holland, Germany, UK and Irish Clubs. There was also a scattering of individual entries.
The race was based on Sneem and the quiet and picturesque roads of Co. Kerry. The opening stage was a 60km loop taking in the 6km climb to Molls Gap and the 4km climb to Letterfinish. After a parade lap of the town the race headed for Kenmare with the first climb after 35km. Trott attacked the group after 15km in the hope of stirring the race up, but having gained no more than 30 seconds the move was looking doomed to failure. This was however until she turned onto the climb to Moll's Gap where she established a lead of over a minute and sustained a gap which was never going to be closed. She ended the stage by soloing to the finish with a final gap of 34 seconds and plenty of time to enjoy the celebrations.
Her lead increased by a further 2 seconds, thanks to time bonuses, by winning the up hill sprint for stage 2 from the five leaders who established a 3 minute gap on the bunch on the second of four 17km laps which took in the 3km climb from Gortagowan to Letterfinish. Trott showed her true characteristics as race leader when despite being held up by a crash was able to bridge the gap to the leaders, which left so many people trailing.
The afternoon saw a short time trial stage which cut her lead to 28 seconds, which should have set up the final 90km road stage nicely. Unfortunately having helped her teammate Linda Ringlever claim the QOH jersey on the first climb of the day, 6km to Coomaciste, everyone sat back and enjoyed the magnificent views and unseasonal 23 degrees!
