Welcome to stickybottle’s ‘live updates’ coverage of the junior road race at the National Road Championships from Yellow Furze, Co Meath.
The race is being fought out over a distance is 117km, with the riders completing four laps of the 25.3km main circuit followed by one passage of the 9.4km smaller lap before the big finish.
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Follow us for blow-by-blow coverage from what is going to be a great day of racing, with the women's senior and junior races to come later today and the men's event unfolding tomorrow, Sunday.
Junior National Road Race Championships Live Updates
- Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) takes bronze in a two-up sprint from Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC), some 2:06 down on the winner. James Armstrong (VC Glendale) was 5th at 2:42 and Toby Sweetman (VC Glendale) 6th at 3:02.
- And Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) has won, a fantastic ride after a nervous early bike change. Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) has just finished for silver at 1:22. Condon is 'on the map' after today. He was out there for so long and yet he traded blows with 'The Beast' for the longest time.
- Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) has 1km to go on his own, he is going to do the double after also winning the TT on Thursday. Murphy has now about 1 minute on 2nd placed Condon. And poor James Armstrong has been caught by two chasers, who we understand are Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) and Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme).
- We are behind Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) in the car now - he's pushing on very well with 2km to go, though he is looking behind to check for chasers, but they won't get him.
- Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) looks powerful on his own at the front. He is powering along and gold is assured, barring incident. Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) remains 2nd on the road, also on his own. It looks like gold and silver are both settled. We only have about 3km to go now.
- This could end in a broken heart for James Armstrong (VC Glendale). He is on his own, 3rd on the road, but the two chasers are closing in fast - they are only 36 seconds behind him now. We have 5km to go.
- We are now just onto the last lap - that 9.4km last lap. Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) leads Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) by 32 seconds. And there is 1:05 between Murphy and Armstrong, who is 3rd on the road. Behind Armstrong, the closest chasers are at almost one minute. Those chasers are Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) and Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme); two very good lads, as is Armstrong.
- The photo below captures the three leaders just as James Armstrong (VC Glendale) is about to be distanced by Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing).
- So the front three-man group has now completely split. Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) leads by 15 seconds from Rory Condon (Zappi Racing), with another 17 seconds back to James Armstrong (VC Glendale). Murphy's chain/gears were slipping a bit earlier, but hopefully he is going to be OK.
- And now Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) has attacked Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) again. For the first time, Murphy has got ahead on his own. He is now about five seconds clear of Condon.
- James Armstrong (VC Glendale) was about to catch Conor Murphy (Caldwell) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing), but then Murphy attacked, covered by Condon, and the gap to Armstrong shoots out again. And that's been the pattern. But Armstrong is like a dog with a bone - the 'grinta' is clear to see with this kid. He is seeing stars but he's also seeing himself on the podium at the end of this race.
- Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) are attacking each other at the front of the race. Murphy is the more accomplished and more "feared" rider of the duo, but Condon is definitely up for taking the fight to him. Condon is coming of age today and he has no fear of Murphy, he's giving it back to him.
- James Armstrong (VC Glendale) is still off the back of Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) with 100km done of this 117km race. Armstrong is about 10 seconds back.
- On the second climb on the final passage of the large circuit, Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) pushed the pace in the three-man breakaway, but he was matched all the way by Rory Condon (Zappi Racing). James Armstrong has been slightly dropped, he is fighting to get back on. He's only about five seconds back, but it is very, very hard now - deep into this race.
- At the front of the race, the three leaders are still working really well - big ups to James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) who have been away for a long time, since joined by Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles).
- 85km done in the first two hours of racing...
- We are onto the fourth and final passage of the 25.3km lap. On the first climb of that lap, James Armstrong (VC Glendale) was slightly distanced up front by Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles). But Armstrong then got back on. Meanwhile, about 40 seconds behind the three leaders, Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) slightly distanced Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) on the climb, though they then came together again.
- The photo below is Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) and Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC). Just ahead of them, in the distance, are the three leaders - James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles). The gap between these two small groups is now 39 seconds. So it looks like Byrne and Walls are not closing, but we'll see what happens.
- With 40km to go, James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) are clear at the front. They have 34 seconds on Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) and Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC). And the bunch is now two minutes behind the three leaders.
- The stronger riders in the peloton are trying to get away. On the attack off the front of the peloton are: Max Fitzgerald, Jack Woods, Toby Sweetman and Philip O'Connor. But I think it's over for them, I think.... However, we have 40km to go.
- Now we have a gap of 1:35 between the three leaders - James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) - and the peloton. Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) and Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) are still not across to the three leaders. James Matthews of Banbridge is caught by the bunch. We have 74km completed.
- The three leaders have 1:15 on the peloton with 67km completed, with Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) and Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) still about halfway across. James Matthews (Banbridge) is solo ahead of the bunch, putting in a big effort. He's putting in a big effort and he's the most stylish rider off the front (sorry to the others!!).
- Two riders have attacked the bunch and are trying to catch the three leaders. The two chasers are Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) and Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC).
- Weather update... It's still tipping down with rain. The breakaway lads are working VERY well and they now have one minute on the 20-man peloton.
- We have 55km done and three leaders now have 55 seconds! James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) looking good up front but there is still a long way to go.
- Toby Sweetman and Luca Holmes dropping off back of the bunch to team cars. They drop back into the cavalcade, get sorted (probably for food/drink) and come back to the bunch again. Good to see them moving around like that with confidence.
- With exactly 50km of this 117km race completed the three-man breakaway has a gap of 38 seconds on the 20-rider peloton. The three attackers are James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles).
- The bunch stayed together on that second climb on the course - the riders still in there are the strong boys in this race today, of course. The three men up front still have over 35 seconds.
- We are on the second climb on the course and it's definitely the harder of the two. Philip O'Connor (Dungarvan CC) is in trouble again on the climb, off the back of the small peloton. O'Connor is a great rider but his form just doesn't seem to be with him today, and that happens. It's a shame, as he's one of the best riders in the country. You never know, he may get back on and surprise us later. Sometimes riders just go through a bad patch.
- We have three riders clear by 35 seconds - James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) - ahead of a 20-man peloton.
- In the first hour of racing we have 42.5km covered.
- Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) is now just about to catch the two leaders. He has closed a lot of gaps so far in this race. When he hits the front of a group you can really see the power he packs. He's more a 'bunker buster' of watts than a 'bazooka'. The kid is a beast. But one swallow doesn't make a spring, as they say - there are plenty of other riders in here who will fancy their chances today.
- James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) have 30 seconds on the peloton and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) is the middle - 15 seconds behind the two leaders.
- And now Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) has attacked the bunch and gone after James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing).
- James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing) now have 37 seconds on the bunch with 36.5km done.
- We're now on the first climb of the lap on the second passage of that lap. A two-man breakaway has gone clear - James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing). And that duo is going strong up front, they instantly have 30 seconds on the bunch - two very strong lads.
- We have 34km done so we are onto our second lap of four of this 25.3km circuit, which will be followed by one passage of a smaller 9.4km lap before the finish.
- However, just as we shared those names in the breakaway, the remains of the bunch caught them, so it's all back together for now - about 25 riders.
- The breakaway men are: Darragh Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme), Hugh Óg Mulhearne (Asvillemur Cyclisme), Adam Matthews (Banbridge CC), Jack Woods (Crabbe Dstny), Maximilian Fitzgerald (JEGG-DJR Academy), Matthew Walls (Lucan Cycling Road Club), Luca Holmes (Molenspurters Meulebeke), Callum McCaffrey (Saxun-Extrusax-Primoti), Curtis McKee (Spellman Dublin Port), Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), James Armstrong (VC Glendale), Toby Sweetman (VC Glendale) and Rory Condon (Zappi Racing).
- Murphy has effectively dragged a small group across to the breakaway. Names in two minutes…
- Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) has lined out the peloton and closed down the breakaway, which had 24 seconds at one point. He has split the peloton in two. Murphy is now in a group of four just off the back of the breakaway.
- Conor Murphy is now coming back and he's onto the group of O'Connor; a large group now that it was. Several small groups came together to create a 'peloton' of about 20 and O'Connor and Murphy are in that. Murphy is now towing this group along.
- That climb did A LOT of damage. About 10 riders were dropped. But ahead of them, the bunch has split into several small groups. Philip O'Connor (Dungarvan CC) is one of those who has dropped back a bit - not dropped, rather in one of the groups towards the back of the race.
- We have 19km done and we are on the second climb. The bunch has split properly, about six men out the back and the bunch is split. Eight riders are still ahead - that group started by Jack Woods - still has about 10 seconds.
- Conor Murphy of Caldwell Cycles - a man who has won UCI-ranked TTs and road races in Europe as a junior - is having an issue. He's dropped out of the bunch for a bike change. It wasn't a puncture, he was shouting for a bike change.
- We've had a crash in the bunch. Peter Quigley of Foyle CC - winner of the Shay Elliott junior race this year - has gone down on a straight section of road. But he was moving about when we passed - so it's a racing incident, nothing more. But he did look like he'd gone down quite hard. Collins from Newcastle West almost hit him, but stayed upright. However, Collins had to stop and unclip and one of his team mates went back for him and they got back on very, very quickly. The Limerick lads are tight, good to see.
- Jack Woods (Crabbe DSTNY) has been attacking off the front. He got a gap and others are going across - this is the first proper move of the race.
- We've had a small number of riders dropped - three or four - since the start. The race is in the 50-60km per hour zone most of the time. One of the lads who was distanced was Conor Kelly of Caldwell Cycles. However, he must have had an issue with his bike as he's come storming back into the peloton, not a bother on him.
- We are on the first incline, of two, on the lap. The bunch is still all together, and we're 9km into the race now. And this incline is snotty enough. It's not exactly a mountain, but you'll feel that in the legs, especially after a couple of laps. It's a false flat at the top too - perfect launch pad for an attack later. It just continues that little bit longer that you'd hope if you're under pressure/on the rivet/about to slip into a body bag!! Though it's a bit early for that yet!!
- Pace eased back a bit and one early notable fact is some of the favourites are sat at the back of the bunch since the start. Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles), who won the junior TT title on Thursday night, is one of those taking a back seat for now. Matthew Walls (Lucan CRC) - silver in the TT - is also at the back, as is Jack Woods, the very tidy rider from Crabbe DSTNY.
- We were chatting to McKee before the start and he said he'd pick up a bug, maybe on the plane coming home from Belgium. Nut he was hoping he'd be OK for today. And he's looked frisky at the start, a good sign.
- And, yes, as expected, McKee has been caught and it's all together again with about 5km completed.
- The bunch has responded to that attack by McKee - a road and cyclocross international who is having a great season as a first-year junior. He went on a run early in the campaign, won five races in no time and has more recently been in Belgium topping up his form.
- First attack, right after the start is from Curtis McKee of Spellman Dublin Port. The bunch has stalled and let him go a bit and he's gotten about 10 seconds.
- We are just rolling out from Yellow Furze in Co Meath, the rain is falling - a light drizzle - and we'll be officially starting very, very shortly. The riders were all quiet, looking a bit nervous on the line, but we're in for a great race!
