Ben Healy “disappointed” not to be awarded Irish elite TT title in Limerick | Sticky Bottle

Ben Healy on his way to the U23 gold medal in Co Limerick yesterday. While he praised new elite champion Conn McDunphy, Healy said he did not realise he was only eligible for the U23 medals (Photo: Sean Rowe)

Ben Healy has said while he was very pleased to win the U23 TT title at the National Road Championships race in Co Limerick yesterday he was disappointed not to be awarded the elite title.

Both Healy (Trinity Racing) and Kevin McCambridge (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) were fastest of the combined
elite and U23 field.

However, though Healy (20) and McCambridge (18) beat the elite
riders, they were awarded gold and silver in the U23 category only, rather than
gold and silver in the elite race.

Cycling Ireland told stickybottle the elite TT and the U23 TT were separate races and that U23s in the field were effectively only riding their race and so were not included in the elite race result and not eligible for medals in that category.

By having two separate races, two sets of UCI points are available. That means Ireland can earn more ranking points, towards international championship qualification, than if the elite and U23 categories in the Irish TT championships were combined.

*Ben Healy is notching up some impressive results and will hopefully secure a pro contract in the years ahead (Photo: Sean Rowe)*

Healy told stickybottle he was disappointed but he also stressed the new elite champion Conn McDunphy (CC Nogent Oise) had put in a fantastic ride to win that title in the Newcastle West Wheelers promotion.

McDunphy (23) took the elite victory from Nicolas Roche
(Team Sunweb) and Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport).

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In the U23 category, Healy won gold from McCambridge with
Mitchell McLaughlin (Zappi Racing Team) taking the bronze medal.

“The
elites TT was one of my goals I set out at the start of the year to achieve because last year I wasn't far off,” Healy said.

“I felt I had made big improvements over the winter so to not get it (the elite title) when I set the fastest time of the day on the same course is pretty disappointing.”

*Kevin McCambridge has seen his racing opportunities diminished due to Covid-19 but he 18-year-old's development is continuing at pace if his ride yesterday is anything to go by (Photo: Eamon Doody)*

Healy said it was
not clear to him when he entered the race that as an U23 he was entering a
category rather than a combined elite and U23 race.

However, he added
Cycling Ireland had done a lot for him in recent years and while he was
disappointed he was also looking forward to the road race tomorrow.

That will be a
combined elite and U23 race in which the U23 riders will be eligible to win the
outright title. Healy was hopeful he could win that event.

He has enjoyed
some very good form of late as he rode strongly with his Trinity Racing team at
the Baby Giro, won by his team mate Tom Pidcock.

Healy also went on to ride Ronde de l'Isard, where he won the final stage in the high mountains; adding that major win to his stage victory of last year in Tour de l’Avenir.