Gaby Homer takes another Irish title after hard-fought racing in Dublin

*Gaby Homer, in the red and white of Rupelcleaning-Champion, on her way to being crowned Irish elite omnium champion on the Sundrive Road velodrome in Dublin at the weekend (Photo: Matthew Lysaght)*

Gaby Homer (Rupelcleaning-Champion) has been crowned Irish omnium champion for 2021 after prevailing in very competitive racing at the weekend on the Sundrive Road velodrome in Dublin.

Homer (20) adds her new omnium crown to the individual pursuit and scratch race titles she took in the elite championships two years ago.

While she put up a very strong performance across the four events that make up the omnium - tempo, scratch, elimination and points races - it was Cleo Harvey of Dublin Wheelers who went into an early lead when she won the scratch race.

Harvey claimed that win ahead of Homer and Caoimhe O'Brien (Weston Homes-Torelli). And it was the same three women who filled the podium in the tempo race; O'Brien winning that one from Homer and Harvey.

Caoimhe O'Brien in the blue of Weston Homes-Torelli in full flight in the title race; a rider who is making rapid gains and is one to keep a very close eye on (Photo: Matthew Lysaght - Cycling Ireland)

The elimination race went to Homer, helping her extend her lead in the competition, with the impressive O'Brien in 2nd place and Jennifer Noonan, based in France this year with UVCA-Troyes, taking 3rd.

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Claire Ni Reachtagain (Sundrive Track Team) may not have gotten into the top three in the first three events, but the strong campaigner was among a group of women within striking distance of the podium ahead of the points race. And she made the most of that to get onto the final podium and take bronze.

Homer went into that points race with 116 points to O'Brien's 114, with Harvey next on 108. Those top three were followed by Susie Mitchell (Sundrive Track Team) on 100 points, Neenan on 98, Deirbhle Ivory (UCD CC) on 84, Deborah Madden (Sundrive Track Team) on 82 and Ni Reachtagain on 80.

Cleo Harvey rode a fantastic omnium and while the Dublin Wheeler missed a nationals medal by the smallest of margins, even a minor improvement in the points race will lift her into contention in the future (Photo: Matthew Lysaght - Cycling Ireland)

Race leader Homer took 33 points in the points race, cementing her place on top of the rankings and confirming her gold medal. O'Brien - who is proving one to watch on track and road - scored 26 points, ensuring she took the silver.

Ni Reachtagain scored 30 points, which was significantly more than her rivals for the last place on the podium. She got away on her own in the points race and gained a lap; collecting sprint points along the way and 20 points for the lap gain.

And that 25 points tally - collected during her powerful all-in attack - lifted her into 3rd place. That meant she won the bronze medal by just two points ahead of Harvey, who failed to score in the points race.