Always a class act, David Montgomery came of age with a storming ride that saw him crowned a worthy national champion who can beat all comers (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
For the first time in over two decades there is a new name atop the elite men’s National Cyclocross Championships roll of honour after David Montgomery stormed to victory at the end of a tough contest yesterday.
The Chainreactioncycles man put on a classy display and was a deserving winner in a race watched by a huge crowd in Swords.
Montgomery – runner-up in the U23 race last year - started from the back of the grid but worked his way right into contention.
“There was a big crash at the start,” he recalled of the hectic first kilometre or so.
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“We went up the first hill (after the 850 metre straight stretch) and there was just a tangle of wheels.
The race for first is perhaps best captured in this photo by Toby Watson. Most of the riders rode up the climb on the early laps before dismounting a running as the effort began to take its toll later. But Montgomery had the legs to ride it all the way. In Watson's shot above, Montgomery is about to pass Glenn Kinning and ride away for the title. Kinning was the clear leader earlier, before Montgomery hunted him down for a couple of laps, then stayed with him for a period before dropping him.
“Everyone was pissing about, it was so mad, it was all over the place. I was completely held up.
“Alex Donald (Phoenix CC) went down hard and I literally had to go straight over the top of him.”
Despite that mishap, Montgomery put the power down and was given a time deficit of 16 seconds to pre-race favourite Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles).
“I had a bit of ground to make up but I rode hard for two laps to get him back.”
The pair would ride side by side for a spell during the midpoint of the race before ‘Monty’ went for broke.
In 'cross, the support crew is key on the day; from washing and changing bikes at the pit to getting reports of what's happening ahead and behind. On a charge, Montgomery had not problems making himself understood (Photo: Toby Watson)
“I think it was just the boggy bit around the back,” he said of his race-winning move.
“I went in front. It was so slow there. I think Glenn might have made a mistake and it was tough to get going because it was so boggy.
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“So I think he might have lost it a bit there and with the big steep hill he seemed to lose a bit there too. I just went for it."
He would take the bell for the final lap with around two minutes in hand, while his winning margin was 2:26 on a fast finishing Tim O’Regan.
And bronze medal man Kinning, who was only caught and passed by O’Regan at the top of the climb on the final lap, was 3:08 down on the new champion.
Montgomery battles the tough climb for the final time roared on by the crowd. The ramp was a savage feature that meant only the strongest figured in any of the races down for decision (Photo: Toby Watson)
They were time margins that put into perspective the quality of Montgomery’s ride.
And they suggest that had Robin Seymour (Expert Cycles) or last year’s winner Roger Aiken (Team ASEA) had ridden, the same man may very well have topped the podium.
While the new champion has been a classy rider for years off road, and has won good road races; he perhaps came of age yesterday.
And his clashes with Seymour and Aiken – if both stay with it – should be mouth watering prospects next year.
Top of the world; the new champion with O'Regan in the silver medal spot and Kinning the bronze medal winner (Photo: Toby Watson)
“It’s a brilliant win,” Montgomery said at the finish, getting emotional as he looked for his family in the crowd still panting from a terrific ride.
“I’ve been training hard and racing in the UK the last while has helped me.
“It was tough having no support or no friends over there. But the standard is massive.
“So it really pushes you on and that stood to me today.”
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