Dean Harvey has underlined his status as one of the hot favourites to win gold at next weekend's National Cyclocross Championships after taking his fourth win at the Cyclocross National Series in Portadown, Co Armagh, today.
However, Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) went very close to beating Harvey today and sending a clear signal that his form is building towards the nationals, where he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with as another potential winner.
Harvey, who began his first season with UCI Continental team Trinity Racing a week ago, was the winner in all four rounds of the series and so takes the overall victory in the inaugural men's series.
Today he won by just six seconds ahead of Rafferty, with Kevin McCambridge (Trinity Racing) taking 3rd at 5:48 in the Velocity Racing Club promotion at Cyclocross NI in Portadown.
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Harvey got the best start in the seven-lap race and while Rafferty was much slower out of the traps, that soon changed as he was faster over all of the next five laps, except the final passage of the circuit. And while cyclocross newcomer McCambridge put in a good ride for 3rd place, it was a two-horse race out front from the very early stages.
At the end of the opening lap, Harvey already had a lead of 16 seconds over Rafferty and that time loss so early is something Rafferty will need to address if he wants to keep his gold medal hopes alive at the nationals next weekend.
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On the second lap today, Rafferty took back six seconds on Harvey, followed by another eight seconds on the third lap and three seconds on lap four as he closed right in on the lone leader.
That meant with two thirds of the race completed, and two laps remaining, Harvey and Rafferty were effectively together at the front. And while they were equally matched on the penultimate lap, Rafferty just one second faster and leading the race, Harvey was eight seconds faster on the final lap to win.
After Rafferty in 2nd and McCambridge 3rd, just three more riders finished on the same lap as the winner. Jamie Meehan (Spellman Dublin Port) continued his run of form of late with 4th place, just 30 seconds down on 3rd place finisher McCambridge.
A further 25 seconds back, Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) placed 5th while Lee Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port) placed 6th at 8:58.
In the overall Cyclocross National Series, Dean Harvey claimed victory with his 100 per cent record; four wins from four rounds this season. He topped the table on 240 points with McCambridge in 2nd place on 200 points and Meehan taking the final spot on the overall podium with 141 points.
Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) was 4th on 137 points, with Lee Harvey 5th on 128 points and Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) placing 6th on 110 points.
