Travis Harkness (Spellman Dublin Port) went up against Caldwell Cycles team mates Conor Murphy and Darnell at the second round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series in Co Tyrone today.
In what proved to be a very competitive men's race, Moore flew ahead of Murphy and Harkness in the first half of the race, from the two young riders clawed him back, setting up a fantastic final.
In the women's race, Greta Lawless (Team WORC) did not face such a stern test, with the second-year junior getting ahead earlier and going on to win by over four minutes.
On the first lap of five, Lawless was already pulling ahead of her nearest rivals, Elena Wallace (Harps CC) and Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles), with the junior almost one minute ahead by the time she went out on the second lap.
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And from that point, Lawless was relentless; continuing to squeeze on the pedals in Windmill Park, Dungannon, and winning the Island Wheelers-promoted race by 4:25 over Wallace, with Newell 3rd at eight minutes.
In the men's race, it was former national cyclocross champion, Moore, who got the best start; pulling well clear of eventual winner and runner-up, Harkness and Murphy.
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Moore is obviously in good 'cross form as he continued to pull away through the first four laps of the seven-lap race, though two late punctures ultimately derailed his bid for victory.
At that point - with four laps done and three to go - Moore was 15 seconds up on Harkness and 31 seconds clear of Murphy.
Junior riders James Armstrong (VC Glendale) and Cameron Henry (Inspired Cycling) were also in the mix, Armstrong in particular doing very well to match the eventual podium riders in the first half of the race.
However, both Harkness and Murphy took back a lot of time on leader Moore on the 5th lap, though Moore then redoubled his efforts with a great ride on the penultimate lap to.
Going out onto the final passage of the circuit, Murphy led the way from Murphy and and then Harkness, though the top three were covered by just 10 seconds.
And on the last lap it was Harkness who had the extra gear, coming from 3rd place to pass Murphy and Moore and win the day with an epic push on the final lap; putting 13 seconds in Murphy and 36 into Moore.
In the end, Harkness won by six seconds from Murphy - after 52 minutes of racing - with Moore 3rd at 30 seconds. Then came young Armstrong and Henry, 5th and 5th, followed by Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) in 6th.
