Sean McKenna leads Ken Tobin this year on the Mondello track that has proven so popular with riders from around the country (Photo: David Ryan Photography)
There are still a number of places available for this Thursday’s National Criterium Championships in Mondello, Co Kildare, the organisers have advised.
Cycling Ireland regulations mean only 60 can ride the event and that number has not yet been reached on the pre-entry system after a technical glitch meant some riders were unable to enter.
However, the organisers have warned while entries will be taken on the night, there is no guarantee there will be enough places for all of those wishing to enter on-site.
The Kildare-based Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC stepped in to promote the race at the last minute, in much the same way Blarney CC did last year, and an exciting contest looks to be in store.
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Last year's criterium title winner, Paidi O'Brien taking Rás Cill Mocheallog on Sunday in Co Limerick and showing he is in great form ahead of his title defence on Thursday (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Paidi O’Brien is the reigning champion after he won a thrilling battle in Cork 12 months ago and the Osbourne Meats-Edge Sports man will be hard to beat this time around; his latest victory coming just last weekend in Limerick.
Last year he beat Martyn Irvine (UnitedHealthCare) and Mark Dowling (Polygon Sweet Nice) after the trio escaped midway through the race.
The in-form Dowling, now back racing with DID Dunboyne, will return to try and improve on his 2013 silver; though O’Brien has the better sprint which can often prove the key to success in these short all-out affairs.
Other notable fast men who could be in the mix are the VeloRevolution duo of Aidan Crowley and Anthony ‘Zippy’ Doyle.
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Mark Dowling has won the Suir Valley Three Day and Kerry Group Rás Mumhan this year, but as well as being a top climber he is also very strong in criterium racing and was runner up in the championship event in Cork last year (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Suir Valley Three Day criterium stage winner Ken Tobin (McNally Swords CC), Robin Kelly (Aquablue), Paul O’Reilly (Fixx Rouleurs), Paddy Clarke and Jason Prendergast (both Liquidworx-Fitscience) have all shown good form of late and could spring a surprise.
The UCD CC team will also have a strong line-up again, with any one of their number likely to be in the mix.
Colm Cassidy and Eoin Morton are two powerhouses, though for whom the fast flat course will perhaps not best suit.
Ian Richardson and Sean McKenna could pull the rug out from under the most established sprinters, but they would need to get clear in a breakaway, which will be hard on the Mondello circuit.
The track is not the traditional criterium race setting, but the venue has proven very popular with riders throughout this season and last, with the increasingly popular Bikeworx Series attracting big names and numbers on a regular basis.
The course for Thursday’s title decider with be a shorter tighter lap than that which is normally used in Mondello; a factor that will only make the racing harder and should suit O’Brien and Dowling.
Racing gets underway at 6.45pm sharp and as the track is booked up until 6pm on the day of the event, there will be no support race prior to the championship showdown.
The event will cater for A1, A2 and A3 riders. Those wishing to register can do so here.
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