Tim O'Regan on his way to 4th place today, and outright victory in the North Dublin Cyclocross League (Photo: Kinning Cycles)
By Gerard Cromwell
Fifth place in the final round in River Valley was enough to give DID’s Timmy O’Regan overall victory in the High5 North Dublin Cyclocross League today, Sunday.
Having taken up the sport as a way of keeping fit over the winter four years ago, O’Regan has improved every season and took his first race victory in Portmarnock in early December.
“I started cyclo-cross about three or four years ago but last year I took it very seriously,” said O’Regan after today’s encounter.
“This year I kind of took a step back but I think it’s been a better approach for me. My head is in a better place.
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“Last year I was probably too strict on myself whereas this year I’m a little bit more balanced, where I’m enjoying it, but at the same time I’m still serious about it. I’m delighted with the win.
“I suppose two or three years ago, when I started, I never thought this day would come with the likes of Robin Seymour and Roger Aiken racing. Roger dominates up north and Robin dominates down here.”
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While Aiken and Seymour have yet to face off against each other, preferring to race locally, O’Regan has ridden both sides of the border this year and has fared best in fast dry conditions.
“I’ve raced three of the Ulster races. Two of them were bone dry and I placed third in them and the other one was a complete wash out with mud where I think I was ninth or tenth. But the second bike is crucial for those races.
“I think there’s a little bit more competition down south but the championships will probably come down to whoever makes the first mistake between Roger and Robin; whoever takes a corner too wide, has a puncture or whatever.
“I think Seymour is sharper this year and has upped his game a bit. I can’t see anyone other than those two winning it, but there are maybe ten of us fighting it out for third place.
“It’s good to see lads like Ronan McLaughlin and Connor McConvey doing it too because even though the lads on the road know they’re international level riders, they don’t have it all their own way with cyclo-cross.”
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The River Valley round was O’Regan’s last event before taking up a new pharmaceutical job in the UK next week but he will remain with the DID Dunboyne squad, flying home for the championships. And he also intends to ride as many of the bigger road races as he can next season.
“I’ll be based in Slough and I’ll probably do a lot of racing over in England next year but I’ll come home for the Rás, Tour of Ulster and Rás Mumhan. I’ll fly home for the cross championships too but I’ve no major expectations. I’d love a medal but a top 10 would be a result.”
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