Conor McCann is one of the five riders picked on the Cycling Ulster team for the 103-mile Lincoln GP in England this weekend against the British pro teams (Photo: Toby Watson)
Cycling Ulster has selected a very strong team for the Lincoln GP, one of the hardest one-day races on the British calendar.
Two members of the team that represented Northern Ireland at the recent Commonwealth Games in Australia, Marc Potts and Marcus Christie, have been made in the team.
They are joined by Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles), Marc Heaney (ASFRA Racing) and Conor McCann (Inspired Cycling).
The race, one of the most coveted victories on the domestic scene in Britain is 103 miles. It takes in 13 laps of a circuit passing through Lincoln each time.
And the cobbled climb of Michaelgate each lap will soften up the riders’ legs.
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However, the five riders selected all rode the Tour of Ulster at the weekend where two of the stages with 111 miles and 98 miles.
And that should prove good preparation for the event. The Ulster rides will be part of a field that includes all seven British Continental-level teams and very strong elite teams.
Potts (Neon Velo) rode the track, road and MTB at the Commonwealth Games in Australia and it should be interesting to see how he gets on this Sunday.
Christie was 7th in the TT at those Games. Moore is the reigning hill climb and cyclocross champion and has been flying on the roads this season.
He has taken wins at the Tour of Ards and Waller Cup. And he was also selected on the Irish team for the ZLM Tour Nations Cup race in Holland last month.
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Watson has also excelled of late; his one victory so far this year, at the Wallace Caldwell, does not come close to his real worth.
He was one of the men of the race at the Tour of the North, claiming the climbers’ classification.
McCann has been very consistent this year and his having the best campaign of fledgling career.
He won the Spires GP at the start of the season and has been ever-present off the front and in the results since then.
Heaney’s stint racing in Belgium has brought him on. He was 2nd yesterday at the final stage of the Tour of Ulster.
And when selected onto the Irish U23 team for the ZLM Tour last month he rode very strongly.
As a unit, these five are formidable and should be able to cope well in Britain this weekend.
Maurice McAllister, Stevie McAllister and Calvin Moore will accompany the team in a support capacity.
Cycling Ulster road commission Chair, Patrick Withers, said he was delighted the team was travelling.
“The road commission set out our plans this season to try and provide riders with an opportunity to compete in events outside of our regular domestic calendar,” he said.
“The Lincoln GP is a high level event with an international field. We have a strong and experienced team for this event.
“(The team) includes riders who are current national champions and have represented Ireland at international level.”
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