Curtis McKee (Spellman Dublin Port) became the first Irish winner at the UCI-ranked Verge Cross Clonmel a couple of weeks ago, one in a number of results that prove the 16-year-old has really hit the ground running in the new cyclocross series.
Today, McKee took the elite race at the opening round of the UIster Cyclocross Series, even though he has just stepped up to junior racing, having been an U16 rider on the road this year.
And just behind him today at the Breffni Wheelers Cycling Club promotion in Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan, was cyclocross national elite champion, Dean Harvey of Trinity Racing. And the gap back to Harvey - and some of the very best juniors in the country right behind him - was not small.
McKee claimed victory - after seven laps of racing, over 55 minutes - but 1:43 from Harvey. Then came two of the stand-out junior performers on the road this year - Cameron Henry (Inspired Cycling) and Conor Murphy (Caldwell Cycles) in 3rd and 4th at 2:41 and 3:15 respectively.
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Harvey competed deep into the road season this year and was part of the national team at the World Road Championships in Zurich at the end of September. He was making a return to cyclocross today, after a post-season break, and will still need some time to find his off-road legs; as will the likes of Henry and Murphy.
However, though McKee has more cyclocross in his legs in recent weeks - including winning the junior race at the opening round of the Cyclocross National Series in Falls Park in September - his win today over Harvey is one he will savour.
Lots more to come.
Men's Race | Round 1 Ulster Cyclocross Series
- Curtis MCKEE Jnr Spellman-Dublin Port 55:18
- Dean HARVEY VC Glendale 57:01
- Cameron HENRY Jnr Inspired Cycling 57:59
- Conor MURPHY Jnr Team Caldwell Cycles 58:33
- Graham BOYD McConvey Cycles 59:29
- Glenn KINNING M40 Kinning Cycles Cycling Club 1:00:08
- Sean FEENEY Team WORC 1:01:01
- Javan NULTY Un-Attached Leinster 1:01:11
- Lee HARVEY Spellman-Dublin Port 1:02:17
- Pj HYNES M50 Bellurgan Wheelers 1:02:40
- Declan MCENTEE M50 Emyvale CC 1:03:17
- Jonny ADAMS McConvey Cycles 1:03:20
- Frank MCDERMOTT M40 Oldcastle CC 1:04:35
- Jason HENRY M50 Inspired Cycling -1 lap
- Barry CONVERY M50 Newry Wheelers CC -1 lap
- Sean LUNDY UCD Cycling Club -1 lap
- Colm MCGARVEY M50 EPIC MTB Expert Cycles -1 lap
- Peter MORRISON M50 Velo Cafe Magasin -1 lap
- Eric DOWNEY Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club -1 lap
- Callum MCCAFFREY Jnr SAXUN - EXTRUSAX- PRIMOTI -1 lap
- James ALEXANDER McConvey Cycles -1 lap
- Chris BYRNE M50 Park Wheelers -1 lap
- Jay MCCAULEY M50 Strabane Lifford Cycling Club -1 lap
- Gerard CRAIG M40 VC Glendale -1 lap
- Barry Paul DUNNE M40 Kildare Cycling Club -1 lap
- Richard LENEHAN M40 Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC -1 lap
- Johnny MCCABE M60 Cuchulainn CC -1 lap
- David MCKEE M50 VC Glendale -1 lap
- Niall James MURPHY M50 Lakeland -1 lap
- Ashton MOORE Strabane Lifford Cycling Club -1 lap
- Michael O'REILLY M50 EPIC MTB Expert Cycles -1 lap
- Sean MCCOURT M40 VC Glendale -1 lap
- Gavin CLARKE M40 Banbridge CC -1 lap
- Darren MCCANN M40 Dromara Cycling Club -1 lap
- John LORD M40 Breffni Wheelers -1 lap
- Gareth ROBINSON M50 Dublin Wheelers -1 lap
- David MEREDITH M50 EPIC MTB Expert Cycles -1 lap
- David Neil ARMSTRONG M50 VC Glendale -1 lap
- Joe HENRY M50 Velo Cafe Magasin -1 lap
- Kevin MCDOWELL M60 Un-Attached Ulster -1 lap
- Enda BAKER M40 Breffni Wheelers -1 lap
- Colm MITCHELL M40 Square Wheels -1 lap
- Eamon LONEY M50 Un-Attached Ulster -1 lap
- Steven FRANZONI M50 Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC -1 lap
- Lukasz OLEKSIEWICZ M40 Team WORC -1 lap
- Stephen O'HALLORAN M40 Moynalty Cycling Club -1 lap
- Jon HILDITCH M40 Dunloy CC -1 lap
- Ciaran CAMPBELL M50 Square Wheels -1 lap
- Mark GORDON M50 Newry Wheelers CC -1 lap
- Bernard MACKLE M40 Square Wheels -2 laps
- Peter RIMMER M50 Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar CC -2 laps
- Matthew MOLLOY M50 Virginia Triathlon and Cycling Club -2 laps
- Oliver LOGAN M40 Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club -2 laps
- Derek PATTERSON M60 null -2 laps
- Michael HAMILTON M50 Un-Attached Ulster -3 laps
- Francis QUIGLEY M60 Foyle CC -3 laps
