Having been the riders of the season so far, Dean Harvey (Spellman Dublin Port) and Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) underlined their supremacy at the seconds round of the Cyclocross National Series in Drombane, Thurles, Co Tipperary, yesterday.
Harvey has just come out of his first season at U23 level, which included a debut ride in Tour de l'Avenir and victory in the climbers' classification in Rás Tailteann, when also a member of the Irish team. He came into the 'cross season immediately his road campaign ended and his performances so far have really emphasised how far he has come in the last 12 months.
For her part, Doherty was an U16 on the road this year but her transition into the junior ranks for the 'cross season couldn't have gone any better. She has established herself as a regular winner at elite level on the mud and, still aged just 16 years, she looks like she has a very bright future ahead.
Advertisement
Doherty took off like a rocket yesterday and bult her victory on the time she took on her rivals on the first lap of five. She went around the course in 7:37, her fastest time of the day and by far the quickest lap time in the field through the race.
After that opening lap, she was already 27 seconds up on her main rival, Grace Young (All human-VeloRevolution). Doherty had also pulled out 41 seconds on Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group) and 55 seconds over Caoimhe May (Orwell Wheelers) back in 4th place on the first lap.
Doherty continued to put significant time into everyone else in the field, apart from Young chasing her in 2nd position. The gap between Doherty and Young grew by just two seconds on the second lap, with another 6 seconds added on the third lap and seven seconds on lap four.
Young put in a very strong final lap and closed the gap on Doherty by 14 seconds, though the win was already in the bag for the Belfast teenager out front solo for the entire race. She won by 29 seconds from Young with Roche 3rd at 2:26 and May 4th at 3:16. Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) was 5th at 3:28.
In the men's race, 19-year-old Harvey also put in a big opening lap to establish a lead and then never looked back on what was a muddy day in Co Tipperary. By the end of that opening lap of seven he was already 12 seconds up on former national champion Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles). Harvey also had 18 seconds on road, track and cyclocross international JB Murphy (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial).
Related News
Just 13 seconds behind Murphy, came Richard Barry (St Finbarr's CC) and road international Dillon Corkery (Verge Sport PI Cycles) - and it was Barry who would come through to overhaul Murphy and finish 3rd on the day.
Harvey put six seconds into Moore on the second and third laps before adding 24 seconds to his lead over his nearest rival on the fourth lap. However, Moore came back at him on the fifth lap, closing the gap by 13 seconds, before Harvey took back those gains - 13 seconds exactly - on the penultimate lap.
With the race already won, Harvey eased back a little on the final lap, with Moore keeping the pressure on and closing the gap by 11 seconds. However, Moore trailed winner Harvey by exactly one minute at the chequered flag.
Behind the winner and runner-up, Barry won the battle for 3rd place, and won it well. He was 1:59 down on the winner and 1:11 up on Murphy in 4th place. Corkery placed 5th, finishing with Murphy, while Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) rounded out the top six, some 4:04 down on his team mate Harvey.
In the men's junior race, national champion Liam O'Brien (Fermoy CC) excelled in the tricky conditions; getting clear on his own on the opening lap and driving it all the way to the finish over six laps of racing.
He emerged the winner by 2:25 over Joseph Mullen (Navan Road Club). Travis Harkness (VC Glendale) was 3rd, just two seconds down on Mullen. Cal Tutty (Dungarvan CC) raced to 4th place on the day, 3:29 down on O'Brien, while Tadhg Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) was 5th at 3:37.
The Masters 40 race was won by national champion Alan Bingham (Newry Wheelers) from Evan Ryan (Team Worc) and Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC). The Masters 50 race was claimed by recent European Masters Championships title winner Robin Seymour (Team Worc); the Olympian taking the victory from Des Woods (Newry Wheelers) and Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial).
At U16 level, David Gaffney (Dungarvan CC) was best in the boys race; winning from Curtis McKee and Ryan Daly, both Scott Bright Motor Group. The girls race was won by Faith Robinson (Bray Wheelers) from Kate Murphy (Sliabh Luachra CC) and Rhiannon Dolan (Cuchulainn CC).
For results, please follow this link.
