TQ Two Day - NE

Ireland, October 5-6, 2002

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Stage 1 - October 5: Sports Link Airport Rd, Santry Road Race, 64 km

Defending champion comes out firing

By Tommy Campbell, Irish Independent, Evening Herald, Sunday Independent

Dutchwoman Ester van der Helm scored an easy sprint win in the first stage of the TQ Papers International Two-Day cycling event held near Santry. Van der Helm won the corresponding event last year and on today's display will be hard to dislodge.

She and her team mate Sharon van Essen were part of the quartet that got clear of the pack after 6 of the 8 laps were completed on a wind swept course which proved difficult for the majority of the competitors. At the finish van der Helm and her breakaway companions had close on three minutes, which should ultimately decide as to where the trophy will be displayed for the next year. Ireland's Louise Moriarty is also very much in contention finishing on the same time as the stage winner.

Results

1 Ester van der Helm (Holland)        1.47.09
2 Stephanie Gronow (Germany)
3 Louise Moriarty (Ireland)
4 Sharon van Essen (Holland)
5 Inge Klep (Holland)                    2.59
6 Mary Boyd (Team Letchworth, UK)
7 A. Butler (Surrey, UK)
8 Susan O'Mara (Ireland)