Kate Richardson takes Rás na mBan despite late crash in Kilkenny

Alba Development Road Team's Kate Richardson overcame late drama to secure overall victory at Rás na mBan in Kilkenny City this afternoon.

The Scottish rider was caught up in a crash on the wet roads with six laps to go, resulting in a mechanical and two bike changes before she was able to re-join the main bunch on the following lap.

Richardson recovered well to finish ninth on the stage, one place ahead of nearest overall challenger Lieke van Zeelst of The Netherlands.

Both contenders finished together in the main bunch, who came in three seconds after stage winner Maddie Leech of Cams-Basso. The British rider's final kilometre attack was enough take a deserved stage win ahead of a peloton led home by Team LDN – Brother UK duo Lucy Lee and Tiffany Keep.

Richardson takes Rás na mBan lead after stage 5

The rain clouds passed just in time for the afternoon’s final stage six, but the still wet city centre roads led to several crashes in the hectic criterium race.

Richardson was one of several riders caught up in the drama, with Team Ireland’s Lara Gillespie also coming down in the same incident. Gillespie remounted quickly, and was able to regain contact with the peloton within half a lap thanks to huge efforts by teammates Eve McCrystal and Kelly Murphy, who paced the double stage winner safely back into position.

The magenta jersey wearer initially took a teammate’s bike after her own suffered a mechanical in the impact, before an Alba Development Team helper was able to swap Richardson onto her spare bike.

In accordance with the rules for criteriums, riders disadvantaged by crashes or mechanicals are able to take a lap out and re-join the group they were in when the incident occurred, which Richardson was able to avail of just