2025 Rás na mBan stage 4: Abgrall conquers The Rower to seize overall lead

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.

Featured image: Lorraine O’Sullivan

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’’

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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.