France’s Noémie Abgrall (Ladynamips RVC) produced a commanding ride on Stage 4 of Rás na mBan, powering clear on the uphill finish at The Rower to win both the stage and the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains classification. The French national champion’s victory, coupled with 10 bonus seconds, was enough to dethrone Britain’s Amelia Cebak (Smurfit Westrock CT) and pull on the magenta jersey as overall leader.
Report
The 101-kilometre stage from Kilkenny City to The Rower played out in dry but blustery conditions, with early attacks stifled by a headwind. WV Breda took control approaching the first ascent of The Rower, with Abgrall cresting first to take maximum mountains points as the peloton whittled down to around 30 riders. Six kilometres later, Noor Dekker secured the intermediate sprint and with it the virtual race lead, her bonus seconds lifting her ahead of Cebak on the road.
The second climb, Coppenagh, saw Linda Kelly (Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission) launch a solo move that netted her the maximum mountain points, before being reeled in 15 kilometres from the finish. By then, Abgrall had mathematically sealed the QoM title.
The uphill finale in The Rower proved decisive. Team Ireland’s Esther Wong lit the fuse, before Abgrall’s teammate and two-time stage winner Océane Goergen set a fierce tempo that paved the way for the French champion. Abgrall delivered with a stinging final kick to claim victory, with Varvara Fasoi (Greece) second and Olympia Norrid-Mortensen(Torelli) third.
For Cebak, it was a bruising day: after working hard on the climbs, she could manage only 14th at the finish, slipping from magenta into fourth overall. Dekker now sits second, three seconds behind Abgrall, with Alice McWilliam (Team Phoenix) in third at four seconds after sprinting to fourth place on the stage.
Abgrall leads Dekker by three seconds, with McWilliam just one further back, ensuring the GC remains delicately poised. Tomorrow brings a double-header in Kilkenny: a 2.5km time trial around Kilkenny Castle in the morning and a one-hour, five-lap city centre criterium in the afternoon. With Cebak still within striking distance and the top four separated by only seconds, the 2025 Rás na mBan is set for a thrilling finale.
Results
Stage 4 Results (Kilkenny → The Rower, 101km)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Nat | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noémie Abgrall | Ladynamips RVC | FRA | 2h47’35’’ |
| 2 | Varvara Fasoi | Greece | GRE | s.t. |
| 3 | Olympia Norrid-Mortensen | Torelli | DEN | s.t. |
| 4 | Alice McWilliam | Team Phoenix | GBR | s.t. |
| 5 | Linda Kelly | Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission | IRL | s.t. |
| 6 | Esther Wong | Ireland | IRL | s.t. |
| 7 | Noor Dekker | WV Breda Women CT | NED | s.t. |
| 8 | Lotty Dawson | Brother UK/OnForm | GBR | s.t. |
| 9 | Bronwyn MacGregor | Greenmount Cycling Academy | NZL | s.t. |
| 10 | Aliyah Rafferty | Ireland | IRL | +5’’ |
General Classification after Stage 4
| Rank | Rider | Team | Nat | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noémie Abgrall | Ladynamips RVC | FRA | 10h17’50’’ |
| 2 | Noor Dekker | WV Breda Women CT | NED | +3’’ |
| 3 | Alice McWilliam | Team Phoenix | GBR | +4’’ |
| 4 | Olympia Norrid-Mortensen | Torelli | DEN | +8’’ |
| 5 | Varvara Fasoi | Greece | GRE | +9’’ |
| 6 | Amelia Cebak | Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team | GBR | +12’’ |
| 7 | Esther Wong | Ireland | IRL | +16’’ |
| 8 | Linda Kelly | Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission | IRL | s.t. |
| 9 | Bronwyn MacGregor | Greenmount Cycling Academy | NZL | s.t. |
| 10 | Lotty Dawson | Brother UK/OnForm | GBR | s.t. |
