Alan Bingham credited his wife’s support as a major factor in being crowned Irish champion at the weekend. And he said Anthony Doyle pushed him all the way (All photos by Toby Watson)
A fantastic competitor on the road and off it; Alan Bingham made no effort to hide his delighted at winning the Masters 40 title at the National Cyclocross Championships.
The Newry Wheelers man was a convincing winner after overhauling and then attacking a super strong Anthony Doyle (VeloRevolution).
In the end the race was relatively tight; Bingham getting the verdict from Doyle by 17 seconds, with Bray Wheeler Sean O Tuathail only among six seconds back to take the bronze.
Robin Seymour, the biggest legend of the discipline was just outside the medals this time around. He and Team Worc team mate Evan Ryan claimed 4th and 5th.
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The field in the Masters 40 race was the biggest of any race on the De Ronde Van Cork-promoted championships at Fota Island.
While Bingham ran out the delighted winner – as his victory salute demonstrates – he was given a pre race scare when he blew a tub right before the off.
And when the race for underway he made a mess of his start; was unable to get his foot into the pedal he was passed by many riders.
Stressed from his puncture and then have given himself a gap to close to get back to the front of the race, he told stickybottle he had to tell himself to calm down and not panic.
He quickly got back up to the front runners, though Doyle had gotten a great start and was out front on his own.
“I could see that the few boys in front of me were riding hard to get back to him,” Bingham said of the chase after Doyle at the end of the opening lap.
“They burnt out one by one and with two laps to go it was down to three of us, Sean O'Tuathail, Robin and Myself with Zippy off the front.
“So coming to the start-finish I made my first move, attacking hard into the headwind. And I rode across to Anthony myself.”
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Doyle may have been beaten for the gold, but he rode a brilliant race. O Tuaithal was thrilled with the bronze; a great achievement from a very large and competitive field.
And that was how it stayed for a long section of the race; Bingham and Doyle out front and out of trouble riding towards gold and silver.
But going onto the last lap Bingham put in a dig that was to prove the winning of the race.
“I was feeling strong and kept the power down,” he said of the last section of the penultimate lap of five.
“Crossing the start-finish I was passing traffic when I got the bell. All I could think was ‘an eight minute effort is all you need to do’,” he explained of realisation he might just have it in the bag.
Fight for gold all the way
But behind him, Doyle wasn’t letting the title go easy. Despite his strong start he dug in to press Bingham.
“Zippy was closing slightly around the twists,” the eventual winner said of the last lap. “I took the power off there because I was more interested in being in full control.
“So as soon as I got over the bridge I got the power down again and could see the gap opening again.
“The spectators at the bridge were amazing; the bells, whistles and my name being screamed at me definitely gave me another boost.
“And then as I crossed the boards for the last time I thought to myself ‘I could do this!’”
“Then passing the pits the excitement from my coach Barry Monaghan's shouts was driving it home that I might just do it.
“And as I got to the finishing straight and saw no sign of Zippy it hit me that I was finally going to do it. The feeling was amazing.
“All I could think of when I crossed the line was ‘where is my phone I need to ring home and tell Sabrina’. Only for her tolerance of bikes around our house I would never be in this position.”
He added his support crew on the day and Newry Wheelers had also been of huge assistance and encouragement to him.
National Cyclocross Championships 2019
Fota Island, Co Cork
Promoted by De Ronde Van Cork
Sun, Jan 13: Masters 40 Race
- BINGHAM, Alan Newry Wheelers CC 41:17
- DOYLE, Anthony STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Tea 41:34
- ÓTUATHAIL, Seán Bray Wheelers 41:40
- RYAN, Evan Team WORC 42:10
- SEYMOUR, Robin Team WORC 42:10
- KEANE, Kevin St. Tiernans Cycling Club 42:43
- O'FARRELL, Peter Team WORC 42:44
- WOODS, Trevor STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Tea 42:49
- MCGARVEY, Colm EPIC MTB / Expert Cycles 42:57
- MCCARTER, Paul Donegal Bay Cycling Club 42:59
- MCKINLEY, Drew Newry Wheelers CC 43:01
- O'DONOHUE, Aaron Team WORC 43:08
- CULLEN, Alan Park Wheelers 43:10
- CLIFFORD, Patrick STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Tea 43:19
- O'NEILL, David Inspired Cycling 43:49
- TAYLOR, Jonathan Carn Wheelers 43:55
- SHEILS, Gary Newry Wheelers CC 44:14
- HENRY, Jason Inspired Cycling 44:16
- CODY, Alan Scott Eurocycles.com 44:28
- MULHEARNE, Hugh Panduit Carrick Wheelers 44:29
- CONVERY, Barry Newry Wheelers CC 44:36
- DEMPSEY, John Panduit Carrick Wheelers 45:10
- BROWNFIELD, Raymond North Down CC 45:11
- CREIGHTON, Damien Ballina Cycling Club 45:24
- ARMSTRONG, David Neil Dromara Cycling Club 45:35
- MCDERMOTT, Frank Oldcastle CC 46:00
- LAPIERRE, Don Blarney Cycling Club 46:01
- DALY, Daniel Phoenix CC 46:17
- BOYLE, Edmund Phoenix CC 46:20
- DEBARRA, Tadhg Comeragh CC 46:29
- MCCARTHY, Brian MBCC 46:41
- DONOHUE, Garry TEAM BIKEWORX Celbridge 46:50
- COWAN, Richard Dromara Cycling Club 47:02
- TRAVERS, Don Banbridge CC 47:03
- KEOGH, Cormac Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC 47:19
- DALY, Paddy Scott Eurocycles.com 47:25
- QUINLAN, Niall EPIC MTB / Expert Cycles 47:33
- KIRWAN, Martin Comeragh CC 48:04
- LEAHY, Colin Killarney Cycling Club 48:12
- MULDOWNEY, Gareth Clondalkin CC 48:19
- REGAN, Fearghal Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC 48:22
- COLLINS, PJ Collins Cycle Centre Race Team 49:12
- MULLOWNEY, Owen Blarney Cycling Club 49:33
- O'CONNOR, Michael Killarney Cycling Club 49:40
- WALSH, Sean De Ronde Van Cork CC 49:55
- CROWLEY, Aidan STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Tea 50:15
- O'CALLAGHAN, Ciaran Cork Triathlon Club 50:26
- MCCARTHY, Brian MBCC 50:29
- BREEN, Pat Tipp Wheelers 50:45
- O'BRIEN, Des Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 50:55
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