Chris McGlinchey has cemented his reputation as one of the best, and most versatile, riders on the Irish scene with victory in the elite men's race today at the National Cyclocross Championships.
The 27-year-old went into the title race at Palace Demesne, Armagh City, as the favourite to take the title and he didn't disappoint; prevailing after a head-to-head battle with Sean Nolan (Evo Pro Racing) from the first lap.
It was a big victory for the former downhill champion rider as he had come close to a national title before, both in cyclocross and on the road, and survived a late mini crash today on the final lap.
Back in 2017 he won silver in the elite men's race at the National Road Championships in 2017 in Co Wexford behind WorldTour pro Ryan Mullen. And at the cyclocross nationals two years ago he again had to be content with the silver medal; this time behind David Conroy. He was also 3rd in 2017 in Co Down.
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But today McGlinchey had his day, winning in wet and muddy conditions to finally take that promotion to the top step at a national championships in what is effectively his second cycling career.
How it unfolded
The start of the race saw an absolute charge across the first couple of hundred metres, on tarmac, onto the course proper. It was Sean Nolan (Evo Pro Racing) who got the best start and got ahead.
However, when he hit the first off-road section - deep and slippy mud - he opted to stay on his bike while some of his rivals jumped off and ran with their bikes on their back.
Chris McGlinchey (Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus) led the charge running and was closely followed by Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles), also running.
That difference in approach yielded very different results, with McGlinchey and Moore overhauling Nolan and then distancing him, as they continued to run for very long sections of the course.
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That leading duo pulled away from the others near the front of the race on the opening lap, before McGlinchey began to distance Moore and pulled clear solo. Behind him, Nolan was continuing to ride strongly and by the end of the first lap he was in 2nd, having overtaken Moore.
At the end of the opening lap of six McGlinchey led solo and had 11 seconds in hand on Nolan, with Moore in 3rd at 17 seconds.
It looked at that point those three would fight it out for the medals as Dean Harvey - the first-year U23 rider with Spellman Dublin Port - was 49 seconds back in 4th. Then came Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) and Glenn Kinnning (Kinning Cycles) in 5th and 6th, riding together some 56 seconds down on lone lead McGlinchey after the first lap.
The order of the top three was the way it stayed on the second lap, and for most of the third lap. However, on that third lap Nolan gradually clawed his way back up to McGlinchey, eventually joining him at the front of the race.
Just before the halfway point in the event, it was very much a case of 'game on' - Nolan showing McGlinchey he was up for the fight as the duo exchanged the lead a couple of times in the latter stages of the 2.7km course on that eventful third lap.
Nolan pitted before McGlinchey on the third lap, rejoining his rival after changing bikes. At the second pit stop, McGlinchey changed bikes and Nolan put in a visible effort to put McGlinchey under pressure.
It looked like a master stroke and an important juncture in the race. Not only did Nolan pull clear, but he opened the gap and McGlinchey could not get back to him. All the while, Nolan on his bike through many of the sections where McGlinchey ran; their differing approaches making for a fascinating dual.
Going up the finishing drag to completed lap four and start the penultimate lap, Nolan looked very strong, but McGlinchey was only a few seconds back and the race for the gold medal was far from over. Indeed, just into that fifth lap, the McGlinchey caught Nolan and there were two at the front again; getting close and exchanging elbows at times.
Almost immediately McGlinchey caught Nolan he attacked him, while running, up an incline early on the fifth lap; both riders beginning to look tired, though there was nothing between them - a gap of just a few seconds opening up.
However, very gradually that gap began to open and it looked like McGlinchey was in the driving seat, as Nolan was definitely losing ground; the gap going over 10 seconds. Behind those two leaders, Moore was in 3rd place, Harvey in 4th and Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) in 5th.
Going out onto the last lap, the title was McGlinchey's to lose as he had an advantage of well over 15 seconds and that's the way it stayed; McGlinchey taking the title from Nolan and Moore, with Harvey in 4th place.
Then came Richard Maes (All human-VeloRevolution) in 5th from Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) in 6th. Niall Davis (Biking.ie) was 7th, with Darragh McCarter in 8th, Richard Barry (St Finbarr's) in 9th and Tim O'Regan (All human-VeloRevolution) in 10th.
