Leinster have announced their five-woman line-up for the 2013 Rás na mBan starting in Ennis on September 11th.

Isabel Cogan (DTC Orwell Wheelers), Fiona Guihen (Navan RC) Róisín Kennedy (Adamstown) Eve McCrystal (Garda CC/Richies) and Fran Meehan (Aqua Blue) will represent the eastern province in this year’s five-day event.

Three of the team have already represented Leinster at the Bedford 3-Day in England in May, and they are joined by one of Orwell Wheelers’ strongest climbers, Isabel Cogan, for the six-stage event in Clare.

While Fran Meehan has concentrated primarily on her role as a tandem pilot on the national Paralympic squad in recent times, earning two Paralympic medals in London, she has dovetailed that commitment with a road racing programme and secured a top-10 finish for Leinster on day two of the Bedford 3-Day. She also won the Mullingar GP In June.

Eve McCrystal also rose to the occasion in Bedford with a top ten finish in the individual time trial. Her impressive time trialling this year saw her take bronze in the year’s National Championships TT in Carlingford and she has won a number of races on the women’s calendar.

Róisín Kennedy is one of the most experienced riders in women’s racing in Ireland and is currently joint-second in the Women’s Classic League standings. She has consistently placed throughout this year’s season in the National League as well as the North Down GP, Mullingar GP and Corkagh Park Women’s Races.

Fiona Guihen is already very familiar with the route of stage one of Rás na mBan, having won Rás Clár earlier this year, which took place on the same circuit. She has represented Ireland at Rás na mBan previously and will pilot at the Paracycling Road World Cup and World Championship in Canada in August.

Isabel Cogan is one of the best climbers on the women’s circuit and clinched a top-10 place at the National Championships and won the Boyne GP. In just her second Rás na mBan she will be one to watch on the hills of Clare this September.

Team
Isabel Cogan
Fiona Guihen
Róisín Kennedy
Eve McCrystal
Fran Meehan

Manager: Mags Donnelly