Autumn Collins and Conor Murnane are new Irish elite women's and men's champions after their victories on Thursday night at the National Criterium Championships.
Collins (Awol O’Shea Racing Team) and Murnane (UCD Cycling Club) powered to victory at Limerick Racecourse in the championships promoted by Greenmount Cycling Academy.
In the women's race, Collins (23) bided her time until the end of the title race - 40 minutes and three laps - and unleashed her sprint early in the final kick to the line.
She saw off sisters, Aoife and Caoimhe O'Brien both Torelli Assure Cayman Islands Scimitar, just days after their 1st and 3rd placings at the National Road Series John Beggs Memorial.
Collins was given a late scare late in the contest when a three-rider breakaway got clear with two laps to go. However, they were brought back about 500 metres from the finish line.
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Limerick woman Collins, already a multiple national champion on the track, opened her winning gallop early and caught the others a little by surprise.
In the men's race, Murnane used his sprinting form to secure a coveted national title, when he just got the better of Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) on the line.
The 23-year-old UCD student has been in great form this year, taking victories at the Newcastle West Stage Race and in Mondello on Tuesday night, to name but two, of late.
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And while Feeley has been the most frequent winner on the home scene for the last couple of seasons, Murnane had the edge on him in the final dash to the line.
They were just ahead of the remains of the bunch, with Lorcan Daly of Killarney CC coming through to take the bronze medal.
The team prize in the men's race was won by All human-VeloRevolution; Feeley, Richie Maes and Mark Quigley scooping the gold medals.
In the women's race the team prize went to Torelli Assure Cayman Islands Scimitar; Caoimhe O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien and Jennifer Bates adding a nationals gold to their palmares.
More to come.
Thurs, Aug 19th: National Criterium Championships
Limerick Racecourse
Promoted by Greenmount Cycling Academy
Elite Men’s Podium
- Conor Murnane UCD Cycling Club
- Daire Feeley All human-VeloRevolution
- Lorcan Daly Killarney Cycling Club
Elite Men’s Team
- All human-Velo Revolution: Daire Feeley, Richie Maes, Mark Quigley
Elite Women’s Race
- Autumn Collins Awol O’Shea Racing Team
- Aoife O’Brien Torelli Assure Cayman Islands Scimitar
- Caoimhe O’Brien Torelli Assure Cayman Islands Scimitar
Elite Women’s Team
- Torelli Assure Cayman Islands Scimitar: Caoimhe O’Brien, Aoife O’Brien, Jennifer Bates
Masters Demonstration Races
Masters 40 Race
- Dermot Radford Club Rothaiochta Na Sionainne
- Darren Allison Raparee Cycle Club
- Declan O’Carroll Chain Gang Cycling Club
Masters 50 Race
- Greg Swinand Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo
- Tom Shanahan Limerick CC
- Derek Cullen Greenmount CA
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