Olivia Dillion, flanked by bronze medallist Fiona Meade (l) and runner-up Siobhan Horgan (r)

While some audio interviews are available to listen to [see link elsewhere on this site], heavy background noise means that we will instead provide a transcript of the post-race chats from Saturday�s women�s event. Irishcycling.com spoke to Olivia Dillon and Siobhan Horgan after the race, talking about how things played out and also their plans for the remainder of the season.

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Olivia Dillion, winner of women�s road race:

I was going for both, so was very excited to come out with this after winning the time trial. There was a good race in the time trial, it was pretty close, good to see a lot of people coming up and some strong competition. I didn�t know how it would go today, I definitely wanted to get away.

There was good racing out there, a lot of people were going for it.

Irishcycling: Louise Moriarty was away for a long time�

OD: Yes, Louise has been around, she is strong. But then we started to control it and a lot of people were helping in the chase. Once she came back a few moves went; I went off one of them and got away, then Siobhan bridged up to me a few miles from the finish. We worked together until the end as the bunch was pretty close by. I went for it after the hill, and just went all out.

IC: Were you confident in the sprint?

OD: Yes, but you never know what can happen. Siobhan is a great rider, she has a lot of experience and I just put my head down and went as hard as I could.

IC: Were you tired in the race? The time trial was on Thursday and so you don�t have much recovery�

OD: Yes, but I have been racing stage races thirty years, so there was no problem. It was a relatively short race, so I wasn�t too concerned about that. It was nice to have the day inbetween, though � that�s for sure.

IC: You are part of the Peanut Butter & Co team this year. Is it correct that it is trying to build up the US riders for the next Olympics?

OD: Yes, I am the only Irish on it. Kristin Armstrong is directing it. It has been a phenomenal experience. I got to Boston to race in Fitchburg (the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic) next week and then the Cascade Cycling Classic. Then I hope to race with the national team in Europe during the year. They just went to Holland and there is a few other races named, so we are going to go through the schedule and see what might work for me.

IC: What about the worlds � is that possible?

OD: I don�t know yet what is happening. We have got the whole criteria to go through, so we will see. I am having a good year so far. My team has been winning a lot in the states, so it has been a great experience.

IC: You�ve ridden the race today with your fingers bandaged together � I understand that you fractured a bone in your hand?

OD: Yes, I fractured the fourth metacarpal in my hand last Sunday. I�d like to say it was a crash, but I was playing with some kids and I slipped on wet grass and landed badly! It was pretty bad timing. But it showed up in a way that I was able to ride fine, the adrenaline usually kicks in and you don�t feel pain.

It wasn�t an issue getting out of the saddle..things were fine, it worked out.

IC: You have been based in the US for several years. When do you go back?

OD: Wednesday. My family just live 40 minutes from me, in Kiltimagh in Co. Mayo. That is where I grew up and my parents are there. It is nice to have this race locally.


Siobhan Horgan (second, former race winner):

Irishcycling: Have you been racing much?

Siobhan Horgan: I was doing a lot of racing in the early season. I got an infection in my arm, and then I was anaemic. So I took a break from racing for the past four weeks, and then I started back racing in a French Cup race. Then I did a race with the Irish team last week in Holland.

That went well, it was a good experience for the girls. I was going okay, but I was just unlucky with a mechanical problem. Having said that it, was a good opportunity to get a bit of speed into the legs.

IC: Were you worried when Louise Moriarty was away and got quite a big gap?

SH: I was, because nobody seemed to be chasing her. We had to try to organise a chase. Maybe about 8 girls started riding through then; I knew that we would probably get her back, as it was one versus eight. We were able to get her back.

After that, I saw Olivia go and she had a gap of maybe 20 metres. Nobody seemed to be chasing her, so I knew that everyone else must be suffering. I said this is the time to go, and I jumped across to her then.

We worked very well together and to be honest I am happy it was me or who her won it, because I felt that we were probably the strongest in the race.

There was a lot of marking early on, but that is to be expected in a national championships. I am used to that at this stage. I am just happy that we managed to get away with three or four kilometres to go, whatever way it was.

IC: Looking back at the finish, would you have timed the finish any differently?

SH: I would want to get a good jump on her to try to beat her in a gallop. She is used to racing in the States where there is a lot of crit races, so she would be used to sprints. I wouldn�t call that one of my stronger points. I was hoping maybe that I might get the jump on her, but she beat me well in the end.

IC: What is your plan now?

SH: I am staying around for the next week, then I am going back to France. I am still building up my form. My first race is on the 22nd of July, the Tour du Limousin. After that, I have a big racing period up until the end of August, so I would hope to do well in that period.

I will be doing 2.1, 2.2 races and the World Cup in Plouay. I enjoy that race very year. There is an opportunity to go to the World Cup in Sweden as well with my team, but I don�t think I will�I think I will be sensible this year.

I hope the world championships is possible. I hope I can have good form for then and I think I can have good form for the worlds.