Paul O’Reilly has said a top 10 at the National Cyclocross Championships on Sunday would be a good result for him and to get a medal would simply be amazing. But don't rule him out of pulling off a huge result (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Paul O’Reilly has said that for him to win the National Cyclocross Championships this weekend, everyone else will need to have an off-day and everything will need to go right for him.
The UCD CC man won last weekend’s Pi 2 Cyclocross Race in Cork but the event lacked most of the big contenders he’ll face in Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down, on Sunday.
“For me to win on Sunday, all of the top guys and more will need to take a sick day,” he suggested.
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However, his remarks can perhaps be seen as false modesty as O’Reilly is currently in the top five riders in the country and even beat off road legend Robin Seymour just before Christmas.
Enjoying the moment after winning in Kilruddery following a close battle with Seymour in November (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“There’s been so many riders on form recently and each one must be given respect,” continued O’Reilly, who has recently switched from Fixx Rouleurs to UCD CC for 2016.
In rattling off the names of those he counts into the equation for victory on Sunday he mentions Roger Aiken (Team ASEA), Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles), Sean O'Tuathail (Bray Wheelers), Graham Boyd (Xmtb McConvey Cycles), Robin Seymour (Team Worc) and David Montgomery (An Post Chainreaction).
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“They’re just some of those I’ll need to watch, so for me even a top 10 would be super,” he added.
The races this season have been largely dominated by a select few, with Aiken and Kinning to the fore in Ulster, though O’Reilly has been one of a handful of winners in Leinster.
Like all of the other contenders, O'Reilly will need to be strong and technically sharp - not to mention a bit lucky - to get a result this weekend (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Absent for most of the season has been defending champion Montgomery and the battle between his youth and the experience of many of the other top guns should make for an excellent contest in the main event.
“My form has remained the same but to win the nationals takes a super rider and a perfect day,” offered O’Reilly on the strength on depth of the group of favourites.
“I’ve had a couple of DNFs so luck definitely will have a big part to play as well on Sunday.
“To get a medal would simply be amazing because this isn’t really that big a target for me.
“My big goal is the road season. It’s been a very long year, I've been racing since last February and I'm feeling it now!”
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