2025 Rás na mBan stage 3: Cebak takes magenta as Goergen doubles up in Mountrath
Ladynamips RVC’s Océane Goergen powered to her second stage win of the week in Mountrath, but it was Smurfit Westrock CT’s teenager Amelia Cebak who stole the magenta jersey, edging Team Phoenix’s Alice McWilliam by a single second after a dramatic day over The Cut.
France’s Océane Goergen (Ladynamips RVC) sprinted to her second stage win of the week in Mountrath, but the day belonged to Britain’s Amelia Cebak (Smurfit Westrock CT). The teenager’s second place finish earned her six bonus seconds, enough to move her into the overall race lead by a single second over compatriot and overnight leader Alice McWilliam (Team Phoenix).
Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Report
Stage 3 was built around one feature: the first-category ascent of The Cut in the Slieve Bloom mountains. After a ceremonial start in Portlaoise, the peloton faced 40 kilometres of attacking before the slopes of the climb loomed.
A break of 13 riders eventually forged clear, their gap stretching to over a minute before the road tilted upwards. With Danish rider Gertrud Riis Madsen (Team Aalborg Sparekassen) starting just 10 seconds off the race lead, she briefly rode as the virtual magenta jersey.
Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
The climb itself was brutal. Local favourite Linda Kelly (Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission) set a fierce tempo in the chase, with McWilliam also contributing. By the summit, the gap was reduced to 36 seconds and the lead group had thinned to eight. At the top it was Greece’s Eleftheria Giachou who crested first, collecting maximum points.
The mountain standings remain finely balanced: Noémie Abgrall (Ladynamips RVC) retained her IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains jersey with 15 points, but Riis Madsen has drawn level on the same tally, sitting second on countback.
The long descent and flat run to the finish kept the race alive. Riis Madsen grabbed a bonus second at the intermediate sprint behind Goergen, temporarily re-taking the virtual race lead. For much of the afternoon, the Dane was in pole position for magenta.
France’s Océane Goergen wins her second stage of the week. Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
But behind, alliances were forming. WV Breda, riding for Stage 2 winner Noor Dekker, joined forces with Ladynamips RVC to drive the chase. Despite having two riders in the break, Ladynamips opted to close it down, knowing Abgrall was still in with a GC shot. The junction was made with seven kilometres remaining, swelling the lead group to 35.
A late solo attack by Denmark’s Louise Norman Hansen briefly threatened, but she was reeled in inside the final three kilometres. That set up the drag to the line.
Goergen showed her class, powering clear for the win. Cebak’s second place secured six bonus seconds, vaulting her into the magenta jersey, while Gabrielle Fox (Greenmount Cycling Academy) finished third to take over the Best Irish Rider classification. Goergen’s victory also moved her into the lead of the Cycling Ireland Points classification, while Noémie Abgrall retained the Queen of the Mountains jersey, tied on points with Riis Madsen.
Amelia Cebak in the Race Leaders Jersey. Image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Stage 4 returns to County Kilkenny with a 101-kilometre route from Kilkenny City to The Rower, featuring three categorised climbs and another uphill finish. With Cebak leading McWilliam by just one second and Dekker and Goergen in close pursuit, the battle for magenta is finely balanced heading into the second half of the race.
France’s Océane Goergen (Ladynamips RVC) sprinted to her second stage win of the week in Mountrath, but the day belonged to Britain’s Amelia Cebak (Smurfit Westrock CT). The teenager’s second place finish earned her six bonus seconds, enough to move her into the overall race lead by a single second over compatriot and overnight leader Alice McWilliam (Team Phoenix).
Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Report
Stage 3 was built around one feature: the first-category ascent of The Cut in the Slieve Bloom mountains. After a ceremonial start in Portlaoise, the peloton faced 40 kilometres of attacking before the slopes of the climb loomed.
A break of 13 riders eventually forged clear, their gap stretching to over a minute before the road tilted upwards. With Danish rider Gertrud Riis Madsen (Team Aalborg Sparekassen) starting just 10 seconds off the race lead, she briefly rode as the virtual magenta jersey.
The climb itself was brutal. Local favourite Linda Kelly (Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission) set a fierce tempo in the chase, with McWilliam also contributing. By the summit, the gap was reduced to 36 seconds and the lead group had thinned to eight. At the top it was Greece’s Eleftheria Giachou who crested first, collecting maximum points.
The mountain standings remain finely balanced: Noémie Abgrall (Ladynamips RVC) retained her IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains jersey with 15 points, but Riis Madsen has drawn level on the same tally, sitting second on countback.
The long descent and flat run to the finish kept the race alive. Riis Madsen grabbed a bonus second at the intermediate sprint behind Goergen, temporarily re-taking the virtual race lead. For much of the afternoon, the Dane was in pole position for magenta.
But behind, alliances were forming. WV Breda, riding for Stage 2 winner Noor Dekker, joined forces with Ladynamips RVC to drive the chase. Despite having two riders in the break, Ladynamips opted to close it down, knowing Abgrall was still in with a GC shot. The junction was made with seven kilometres remaining, swelling the lead group to 35.
A late solo attack by Denmark’s Louise Norman Hansen briefly threatened, but she was reeled in inside the final three kilometres. That set up the drag to the line.
Goergen showed her class, powering clear for the win. Cebak’s second place secured six bonus seconds, vaulting her into the magenta jersey, while Gabrielle Fox (Greenmount Cycling Academy) finished third to take over the Best Irish Rider classification. Goergen’s victory also moved her into the lead of the Cycling Ireland Points classification, while Noémie Abgrall retained the Queen of the Mountains jersey, tied on points with Riis Madsen.
Stage 4 returns to County Kilkenny with a 101-kilometre route from Kilkenny City to The Rower, featuring three categorised climbs and another uphill finish. With Cebak leading McWilliam by just one second and Dekker and Goergen in close pursuit, the battle for magenta is finely balanced heading into the second half of the race.
Results
Stage 3 Results (Kilkenny → Mountrath, 104.4km)
General Classification after Stage 3
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