Here's a great collection of photographs for us from last evening's National Criterium Championships in Cork city, shot by Michael Meade.
The hay was out and the roads were closed for what always promised to be a great title race promoted by Blarney Cycling Club (Photo: Michael Meade)
When you see a rider like Aquablue's Olan Barrett getting it tough, you know it's fast and there's no let-up (Photo: Michael Meade)
Martyn Irvine is World No 1 and World Champion on the track. Making a comeback after a very nasty crash, he took silver on the night and looks to be in very good shape (Photo: Michael Meade)
Who knew they had double decker buses in Cork? (joke - Ed). Paidi O'Brien may be the star turn in the Planet Tri team, but the other lads are well able to dish it out too (Photo: Michael Meade)
Advertisement
Winner of the National Junior Road Race title last year, Liam Corcoran (left) was in the thick of the action, as was eventual 4th placed rider Simon Ryan (Photo: Michael Meade)
The really strong men swarming at the head of affairs. From left to right: Paidi O'Brien, Mark Dowling, Chris Reilly, Martyn Irvine and John Lynch (Photo: Michael Meade)
Unitedhealthcare professional Irvine (leading) was well marked but that didn't stop him starting the winning move of the night after around 30 minutes of the title race run over 50 minutes +3 laps (Photo: Michael Meade)
Last weekend's Wexford Two Day winner John McCarthy is nicely tucked in behind this Cobh rider as the field lines out (Photo: Michael Meade)
Paidi O'Brien (leading) may be a very good sprinter, but he's never been a man to sit in and is always an honest and aggressive competitor (Photo: Michael Meade)
Related News
Over the past few seasons, Martyn Irvine has grown into one of the masters of Irish cycling; Ireland's most celebrated rider on the track, one of our best road riders, and a man with still plenty to come (Photo: Michael Meade)
Irvine appears delighted to be racing again after coming back from a crash in the early part of the season. He made the most of his outing last night; attacking as often as he could and making the podium (Photo: Michael Meade)
Irvine, O'Brien and Dowling: When this trio got together they were never going to be seen again - three men with bags of natural ability who are all well used to riding hard and winning races (Photo: Michael Meade)
O'Brien's win was all the more remarkable considering he crashed early on - we can see the evidence of that spill just below his left knee (Photo: Michael Meade)
O'Brien has won so many races he wouldn't be able to name them all. He's been on countless Irish teams and raced on the Continent for years. He decided to come home the year before last after having been in Belgium for a number of seasons with the An Post-Sean Kelly team. And he's one of a small number of riders who have continued to race at home after they gave up the life of full-time bike rider abroad. But all of that experience and foreign travel and racing aside, the look on his face here tells us two things; firstly, he's still loving his bike and, secondly, no matter what you've done in your career, there's nothing quite like winning a national title (Photo: Michael Meade)
Get up out of that; the lads enjoy their moment (Photo: Michael Meade)
O'Brien (centre) was keen to enjoy his first senior road title with Irvine (left) and Dowling (right). He'll be a worthy wearer of the National Criterium Champion's jersey next year (Photo: Michael Meade)
Close today, but not cigar: Martyn Irvine is the man who this year gave us all an afternoon we'll never forget, winning a silver and gold at the World Track Championships in the space of an hour. Mark our words, the best is yet to come (Photo: Michael Meade)
Topics
