Mia Griffin recorded an impressive result in France on Friday, placing ninth on the second stage of the Tour de Belle Isle en Terre/Kreiz Breizh Elites Dames stage race. She finished towards the front of the main bunch at the end of the lumpy stage to Ploumagoar, crossing the line in the same time as the winner Anna Henderson (Team Jumbo-Visma Women).
Her Ireland teammate Alice Sharpe was similarly prominent, finishing 12th. Megan Armitage, Caoimhe O'Brien and Imogen Cotter also finished in the main bunch.
The 133 kilometre stage was the final leg of the two day race. Sharpe finished best of the Irish riders in the general classification, ending up 22nd, four minutes and nine seconds behind overall leader Henderson.
Armitage was a further 59 seconds back in 23rd. They, along with O’Brien, Cotter, Griffin and Lucy O’Donnell were part of the Ireland squad in the 2.2-ranked event.
Meanwhile, although Nicolas Roche only returned to Europe from Japan on Friday morning, he will be in action again on Saturday. The Irish pro cyclist is set to contest the Clasica San Sebastian in Northern Spain with his Team DSM squad.
Roche competed in both the road race and time trial in the Tokyo Olympics. He did a considerable amount of work to help his first cousin Dan Martin take 16th in the first event, and then placed 28th in the Olympic time trial.
The Clasica San Sebastian is one of his favourite events of the year. Roche has placed fifth, eighth, ninth and tenth in previous editions.
This time around he has an added incentive as he is in his final year with Team DSM and is still chasing a pro contract for 2022.
Following the Clasica San Sebastian, the 37 year-old will compete in the Tour of Poland between August 9th and 15th. He normally rides the Vuelta a España in August but is not part of the lineup this season.
Tour de Belle Isle en Terre/Kreiz Breizh Elites Dames, France (2.2)
Stage 1, Callac to Pontrieux (Thursday): 1 Anna Henderson (Team Jumbo-Visma Women) 124.2 kilometres in 3 hours 8 mins 46 secs, 2 P Georgi (Team DSM), 3 A Koster (Team Jumbo-Visma Women), 4 F Mackaij (Team DSM) all same time, 5 S Andersen (Team DSM) at 53
Other: 22 A Sharpe (Ireland) at 4 mins 9, 23 M Armitage (Ireland) at 5 mins 8, 51 I Cotter (Ireland) at 6 mins 13, 76 M Griffin (Ireland) at 13 mins 32, 78 C O'Brien (Ireland) at 14 mins 38, 81 L O'Donnell (Ireland) at 16 mins 39
Stage 2, Saint-Connan to Ploumagoar: 1 Anna Henderson (Team Jumbo-Visma
Women) 133.6 kilometres in 3 hours 23 mins 47, 2 G Verhulst (Team Arkéa), 3 S Andersen (Team DSM), 4 F Mackaij (Team DSM), 5 M Van Der Duin (Drops - Le Col) all same time
Other: 9 M Griffin (Ireland), 12 A Sharpe (Ireland), 29 M Armitage (Ireland), 39 C O'Brien (Ireland), 45 I Cotter (Ireland) all same time,
DNF: L O’Donnell (Ireland)
Final overall standings: 1 Anna Henderson (Team Jumbo-Visma Women) 6 hours 32 misn 33 secs, 2 F Mackaij (Team DSM), 3 A Koster (Team Jumbo-Visma Women), 4 P Georgi (Team DSM) all same time, 5 S Andersen (Team DSM) at 53 secs
Other: 22 A Sharpe (Ireland) at 4 mins 9, 23 M Armitage (Ireland) at 5 mins 8, 48 I Cotter (Ireland) at 6 mins 13, 66 M Griffin (Ireland) at 13 mins 32, 69 C O'Brien (Ireland) at 14 mins 38
