Class act: Seymour shows his delight at winning his last gold in Dublin three years ago, but he will not be on the start line tomorrow to hunt for a 19th elite 'cross title.
After defending champion Roger Aiken (Team ASEA) last month revealed on stickybotttle he would not be riding tomorrow’s National Cyclocross Championships in favour of saving himself for the road season, it looked like 18-time winner Robin Seymour (Expert Cycles) would be a bigger favourite than ever.
The form book said Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) would push him closest in what would be a north-south battle.
However, 24 hours out from the showdown, Seymour has announced a cold he has been suffering from for the past few days has progressed to a chest infection and he has withdrawn.
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It blows the men’s race for gold wide open.
And Kinning, who was one of the few men regarded as capable of winning even before Seymour’s exit, must now be favourite.
The men who between them have dominated the National Cyclocross Championships for over 20 years are both out of tomorrow's race in Swords, north Dublin.
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In truth, there are around 10 riders now capable of taking a medal.
As a result, the race could be one of the best ever despite the absence of Seymour and Aiken, who has won the title for the past two years and taken it four times in total.
“There will be no 2015 'cross champs for me this year,” Seymour confirmed.
“The mid week cold has developed into something else; five months of training ‘cross and floating through the races this year and it comes unravelled in the last week.
“I've ridden 22 cross champs in the last 23 years and have been healthy more or less for them so not a bad innings.”
We’ll have more later.
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