Darnell Moore in the closing stages, now on his own and about to carve his name into the history of the Irish road race championships (All photos by Sean Rowe)
Darnell Moore on his spectacular championships record
New Irish U23 road race champion Darnell Moore said he enjoyed a special day on Sunday at the championships when his legs felt fantastic.
The 21-year-old has gathered quite the collection of championship medals since taking the Irish elite hill climb title last autumn.
Early this year he added to that gold when taking victory in the elite men’s race at the National Cyclocross Championships.
Two weeks ago he collected bronze at the National Criterium Championships. And on Sunday he took silver in the elite men’s road race.
He also collected gold in the U23 category in the Eire Og CC-promoted championships in Sligo.
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He has achieved all of this while working full time. Moore has also, finally, broken though to the national set-up this year, gaining U23 Nations Cup selection.
Still digesting his ride at the weekend, he said everything line up for him. Indeed, he was aggressive from the start. And 170km later he was still off the front.
“It was just one of those days when the legs where just brilliant, definitely one of the best days I’ve had on the bike,” he said.
“I went into the race planning on getting up the road early; there wasn’t a move I wasn’t in all day.”
However, while he was clear repeatedly, it wasn’t until lap seven of 10 that the elastic snapped. He’d break clear in a four-man move and never be seen again.
With him was Conor Dunne, the Aqua Blue Sport pro who would run out the winner. Robert Jon McCarthy or JLT-Condor was also present.
And completing the move was Jamie Blanchfield of Panduit Carrick Wheelers. McCarthy and Blanchfield would drop back as Dunne and Moore pressed on.
Top down: Darnell Moore, left, in the lead group before the key attack, finishing alone for elite silver and U23 gold, looking pleased with his work afterwards.
And on the final lap Dunne attacked Darnell Moore, setting up a scenario where they would both finish solo in 1st and 2nd places.
“In the four-man move it was full gas,” Moore said of the escapees grabbing their chance.
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“I rode across to Robert with Jamie Blanchfield then Dunne joined us shortly after that,” he explained of the breakaway’s formation.
“We all started riding through full gas on the main road before the climb to get the gap.
“I was quite surprised that I ended up in a two-up for the remainder of the race from for the seventh or eighth lap. And I was kind of 50-50 about whether I should commit or not.”
But commit he did; Dunne paying tribute to amateur Moore afterwards saying he had ridden like a WorldTour pro.
However, that was after the race. Dunne had not been so charitable when he moved in for the kill on the final lap.
“I’d done a turn and Dunne attacked me with probably about 8k left,” explained Moore of the winning move.
“I tried to follow but I could have blown my lights very handy. So I just rode hard and steady."
Top down: Darnell Moore the U23 Irish road race champion’s jersey on Sunday flanked by Team Wiggins men. Winning the elite cyclocross championships earlier this year. Claiming the hill climb title at the end of last season, photo by Sharon McFarland.
He continued of his ride into the finish: “We had 2:35 at the time so I knew I could hold 2nd. But you never take the chance; you never know what could happen.
“So I just kept riding as hard as I could for the remainder of the race,” he added of holding on for 2nd and U23 gold.
He finished 1:01 down on Dunne on the line. But he was 2:22 up on the Team Wiggins duo of Mark Downey and Michael O’Loughlin who were 3rd and 4th.
Those time gaps meant Moore never wavered in the final section of the race. He held virtually all the time he had in hand over those behind when Dunne attacked.
And even Downey working with team mate O’Loughlin in the two-man pursuit saw them gain only 10 to 15 seconds on Moore.
The new U23 champion said when he was clear on the final laps the spectators were very supportive.
“I was getting a massive amount of support over the climb; I was getting goosebumps every lap, and it definitely drove me on,” he said.
“I’d say I was classed as the underdog. You could say being up against Conor Dunne was probably the reason for that support,” he added of his rival who rides in some of cycling’s biggest pro races, including last year’s Vuelta.
“I’m used to watching him on TV going up the road for a full day not riding through with him!
“It means a lot to me; that’s three different national champs jerseys I’m currently holding.
“And the U23 jersey is probably one of the hardest to get hold of especially with the quality of riders we have now.”
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