By Shane Stokes
Double Paralympic gold medalist, and former national road race and time trial champion, Eve McCrystal has reflected on the current state of women’s road cycling in Ireland after a season in which new names have emerged to join the established riders.
McCrystal applauded the growth and the increase in the
quality of women’s cycling in Ireland, saying that there was a great strength
in depth at the national championships despite some notable absentees.
She finished 2nd to Joanna Patterson (The Independent
Pedaler) in last Thursday’s elite and masters’ women’s time trial and was sixth
in Saturday’s women’s road race.
The latter event was won by Imogen Cotter (Keukens Redant
Cycling Team) ahead of Megan Armitage (Team Rupelcleaning - Champion
Lubricants) and Linda Kelly (Barrow Wheelers). McCrystal was quick to give them
credit for their performances.
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“It was phenomenal, fair play to them,” she told stickybottle. “They were ahead of us, and they climbed really well. They’re super, and the strength in depth in Irish women’s cycling at the minute I think is really good. And we’re only going to get better from here."
McCrystal continued: “I was looking at the start list today and you could have picked seven or eight that could have possibly won. And there’s still a few riders missing that are at the European track championships.
“So, I think we’re in a good place. You’re looking at
that [start list], you’re missing riders, and you can see that anybody could
have won today. So for me that was, I think, the highlight of the weekend.”
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McCrystal said that she has been very busy since the gold
medal-winning Paralympics performances by tandem partner Katie-George Dunlevy
and herself, and that things have been very tiring since. However she said it
was important to take part.
“I wanted to show up this weekend. I wasn’t going to, but
I’m glad I did. And I didn’t do too bad! I wanted to be here, to be part of
women’s cycling. You know what, I had a great weekend. I’m glad I did come.”
She had been part of a group chasing the five leaders
heading onto the final lap of the 93 kilometre event. Cotter, Armitage, Kelly,
Maeve Gallagher (Castlebar CC) and former national champion Lydia Boylan
(unattached) were ahead but furious chasing behind saw the two groups merge.
However things split immediately again when the gradient kicked upwards.
“There was a big chase and then we got across just at the bottom of the climb,” McCrystal told Stickybottle. My heart was broken (because) then it split. But you know what, out of all the nationals that I’ve ridden, that was the most enjoyable race I’ve ever done.
“I don’t know why, I just absolutely loved it. Don’t get
me wrong, the climbs meant it wasn’t my type of course, but I’d good legs. I
wasn’t able to stay just with the pure climbers, which is fair enough, but I
enjoyed the descents.
“I loved working [hard]...you know, it’s kind of like a
race within a race to kind of get back to the group in front. I’ve never been
in that position before. I just loved it, I had a great time.”
Enjoyable racing aside, she said that she is encouraged
by how much the sport has progressed in recent years.
“That’s what it is about. I’ve been at Nationals now
since 2013, every single year, and it’s just getting better and better. And as
I said, there’s a good few women that could possibly have won. So I think we’re
in a good place, and it’s only going to get better.”
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