Lydia Boylan was crowned national champion last year following a thrilling contest in Omagh but knows she faces an enormous task to repeat the feat tomorrow in Kilcullen (Photo by Stephen McMahon, Sportsfile. Homepage photo by Jimmy McElroy)
Lydia Boylan is aiming to defend her national championships road race title tomorrow but faces a huge challenge as a strong field of 45 riders will assemble in Kilcullen to do battle.
The Team WNT rider claimed a memorable race in Omagh last year for the biggest win of her career after sprinting home first ahead of small front group of top favourites.
If she was marked closely last year she’s won’t get an inch this time around and as is often the case, that opens the door for others to slip away in moves.
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2014 champion Fiona Meade (Blarney Stone CC) is racing again this year and is always a danger if the race comes to the sprint given her fearsome kick.
Nobody will want to take her to the finish.
Scott-Orwell Wheelers clearly mean business too as they have entered a seven-strong outfit that includes Aideen Keenan, Michelle Geoghegan, Rachel Glandon, Yvonne Doran, Ciara Kinch, Orla Hendron and Emily Brick.
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They’ll obviously be keen to get as many riders as they can into the breaks while those who don’t will very much be on policing duty behind, marking any moves that try to go across.
Kinch was out front solo for a good spell last year and could have fared much better had someone – or a group, joined her up the road.
Eve McCrystal (ASEA-Wheelworx) was dejected after her runner-up spot in the time-trial on Thursday and having been beaten to bronze (in the road race) in a photo finish 12 months ago she too will be out to medal.
Susie Mitchell (Sundrive Track Team) is coming into the race full of confidence after her fabulous Stephen Roche GP victory on Tuesday night but given it’s her first time doing the nationals, it might come a year too early for her.
One woman who is absolutely flying right now is Anna Turvey, the recently-recruited Scottish woman who is now eligible to ride for Ireland.
The Tyneside Vagabonds CC woman tore the field to shreds in the time-trial on Thursday night, winning by over three minutes so by virtue of that she starts as the red-hot favourite.
Claire McIlwaine and Julie Rea will fly the flag for Phoenix CC while Lydia Gurley of Aerocoach should be in the mix having finished second last year to Boylan.
Racing starts tomorrow at 9am where the riders will complete three laps of a 31-kilometre circuit.
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