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Published 21:12 10 Sept 2014 BST
Updated 07:31 18 Dec 2014 GMT

Todays Stage 1 covered a relatively short 61km from the race headquarters in at the Inn at Dromoland to Ennis. After a short neutralized (non-racing) section, the flag dropped to signal the start of racing at the An Post office in Quin.
The pace was high from the start and it was lone escapee Anne Ewing, a Scot riding for same team as the eventual stage winner, that led the bunch by approx. one minute through Tulla. However, she was brought back on the day's only climb to count toward the IVCA Wicklow 200 Queen of the Mountains competition, the category 2 Maghera. Top points were taken at the summit by Helene Gerard of the French DN Bretagne team. She will wear the Purple Jersey on tomorrow’s stage.
The field was well spread out after the climb but the two leading groups joined up again soon after, which meant that a hectic bunch sprint was the outcome outside the Community College in Ennis. Van Kessel used her impressive turn of speed to edge out American Tayler Wiles, guesting on the Dublin DID Electric Cycle 4 Life team, and the first Irish rider over the line, Fiona Meade of Team Munster.
Van Kessel will wear the An Post Pink Jersey of race leader on tomorrows scenic Wild Atlantic Way stage over 112km from Loop Head to Ballyvaughan.
Stage Result:
1st Femke Van Kessel (NED) - WV Breda - Manieu.nl
2nd Tayler Wiles (USA) - Dublin DID Electrical Cycle4Life RT
3rd Fiona Meade (IRL) - Team Munster
If you can’t make it to Co. Clare, Her.ie will be updating you from the race on these very pages, with the help of Ronan Fox, a Race Official with An Post Rás na mBan. He is always with the race leaders and is best placed to report on the top action of the day!
You can also follow the action on Facebook or Twitter.