Former Irish road race and
TT champion, and double Paralympic champion, Eve McCrystal has win the Meath
Grand Prix today, which is part of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series.
McCrystal (43), riding with Bellurgan Wheelers, finished alone after creating the breakaway on the opening lap and then attacking it on the final climb of the road, promoted by Navan Road Club.
Irish junior road race champion Aoife O'Brien (Torelli Cayman Islands Scimitar) was one of the two juniors to make the breakaway - along with Erin Creighton of McConvey Cycles - and it was O'Brien who emerged best of the chasing group behind McCrystal in 3rd place.
Gabriele Glodenyte (UCD Cycling Club), one of the most improved riders of the season so far, got up for 3rd place; a great result after signaling her new status on the women's scene by winning the women's race at the Gorey Three Day over the Easter weekend.
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The women's field, of juniors and seniors, tackled 3½ laps of the circuit in Dunshaughlin for a total race distance of 82km.
“It was fast and rolly and
the bunch was together until the first climb. It was a short, sharp climb so I
just kinda went hard up it,” winner McCrystal said.
“That split the bunch and
then there was maybe six or seven of us and we rode. I attacked a few times to no
avail.
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“Then the last time up the
climb at the back end of the course I went again and got a gap and rode home to
the finish. It was a lovely course; it was nice coming in with the tailwind on
the motorway, I enjoyed it.
“It’s great to be back and
in our group we have two juniors, which is great. It was a hard race and everybody
worked really hard to get the gap and hold the gap.
“That was a huge field of
women today and I think that’s what’s so important for everybody to see; that
it’s growing and growing.
“And the level is growing and growing and pushes someone like me, an older one, to try and keep on top of the juniors and keeping pushing on. It was a great day.”
More to follow.
