Philip Deignan leads Sam Bennett in the elite road race in Carlingford in 2013 when Matt Brammeier won. A total of six road race titles are on offer this coming weekend (Photo: Toby Watson)
Preview Irish road race champs course Wexford
By Brian Canty
The course for the National Road Race Championships events taking place on Saturday and Sunday in Wexford may see more riders than usual in contention at the end of the contest.
It is impossible to bet against those riders racing abroad. However, the rolling rather than hilly course may produce more tactical racing with a surprise outcome.
Unlike other years when the roads were perhaps lumpier, this year’s course doesn’t really have the punishing gradients.
That’s not to say the course is easy. But those who regularly race in excess of 160-170 kilometres will have a huge advantage.
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It’s an 18.95-kilometre circuit the organisers Wexford Cycling have gone for. And the main event, men’s elite and U23 race, on Sunday, starting at 11am, features nine laps.
Lydia Boylan takes the elite women's title from Eve McCrystal in Co Kildare last year (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The race often follows a familiar pattern; an early period of attacks after which a breakaway goes and stays away to contest the finish.
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Or at the very least, that ‘winning’ break is trimmed when the stronger riders emerge and leave the others looking at each other behind.
Solo attacks from the winning break have been seen in recent years with Ryan Mullen winning in that manner in Multyfarnham in 2014, Damien Shaw in 2015 and Nicolas Roche last year.
The women's race is also on Sunday and they will do 5 laps of the same course for 97 kilometres.
The Wexford course has a number of long straights and that often makes things harder for those wanting to get away.
It has been won in recent years in a sprint frrom a select group and given the lack of any significant ramps that group may be bigger this time around.
The opening six kilometres of the course is pretty much pan-flat as it heads north out of Wexford along the R741.
For the remainder of the lap it rolls gently, though there is a 900-metre stretch of draggy uphill after 10.4 kilometres.
It could well be here where a blistering attack after a few laps will see a decisive move go.
In all, there’s only 149 metres of elevation gain per lap which means a combined total of 1,341 metres.
That may sound easy, if there is any such thing racing; but given the pace the race will be run at, very few will have the stamina to shape proceedings after four hours of racing.
The final three kilometres should be a thrilling spectacle as the race comes into the town and finishes.
A sweeping left-hander with 800 metres to go could be a perfect place for a late attack if a small group comes to the line; something that could suit Matt Brammeier.
A day before the main events on Sunday is the Masters 60 - 3 laps for 56km. Also on Saturday, the Masters 50 consists of 5 laps for 97km and Masters 40 event is 6 laps, for a total race distance of 117km.
We will have a full preview of the various contenders in each category before the action rolls off on Thursday with the various time-trials
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