Mia Griffin wins opening Rás na mBan stage for second year in a row

Irish rider Mia Griffin has won the opening stage of the Rás na mBan for the second year in a row.

The 25-year-old, who was part of Team Ireland's track cycling team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, stormed to victory in Callan, in her home county of Kilkenny.

She crossed the line at the end of the bunched sprint ahead of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK team-mates Robyn Clay and Caoimhe O'Brien in second and third.

This year's Rás start saw 100 riders from 14 countries assemble at the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny City for the 74 kilometre-long opening stage, with one categorised climb preceding two finishing circuits around the town of Callan.

As the stage approached its conclusion, Griffin led into the final corner and opened up the sprint from the front, with no other rider able to match her power in the closing metres, repeating her feat from the 2023 edition.

Along with securing the overall leader's magenta jersey, the Glenmore native's victory also ensured that she holds the lead at the head of the Cycling Ireland Points and Kilkenny County Council Best Irish Rider classifications, while Clay is topping the Sport Ireland Best Young Rider standings.

Thursday's second stage will see the riders head into Co Laois for a 104-kilometre stage from Portlaoise to Mountrath, featuring the testing climb of The Cut in the Slieve Bloom mountains.