Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing) and Doireann KIlleen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) were best in the main events at the final round of the National Cyclocross Series on a bitterly cold day in Co Louth today.
Though some parts of the country were covered in snow, it was rain and very cold temperatures that greeted the riders who braved the elements at the McCrystals Track in Jenkinstown, making for some very challenging conditions.
Just one week away from the National Cyclocross Championships in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, today's race offered a last opportunity for those with their eyes on medals to hone their form ahead of the big season finale.
Harvey, who has taken a more conservative approach to his cyclocross racing this season, showed no signs of lacking condition due to taking on fewer events of late. And though he was matched on the opening two laps, of seven, by Tadgh Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial), he soon began to pull away.
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It was Killeen who got the best start, though only by a few seconds, and Harvey had closed the gap by the end of the second lap.
With that duo out front, they were being chased hard by former national champions, Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) and David Montgomery (Spellman Dublin Port), with Olympian and Masters 50 rider Robin Seymour (Team WORC) also in the hunt.
The third lap was where Harvey began to make his presence felt, putting in the fastest lap of the seven-lap event. He went around the course in 7:46, opening a gap of 23 seconds over Killeen, the series leader.
Harvey then continued to open the gap on every lap, not faltering despite the very tough wintry conditions. And by the finish he had 1:33 in hand on Killeen, who was comfortable in 2nd place.
Moore won what became a close battle for 3rd place, finishing 4:37 down on Harvey and just 11 seconds up on Irish cyclocross's more decorated champion, Seymour, in 4th. Montgomery was 5th, at 5:23, with Richard Barry (St Finbarr's) in 6th, at 6:47.
Just three other riders - of 21 in the field - finished on the same lap as winner Harvey. Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles) placed 7th at 6:50 with Tim O'Regan (All human-VeloRevolution) in 8th, at 7:17, and Michael Collins (Newcastle West CC), placing 9th at 7:38.
Though Harvey won today, and won it well, Killeen has enjoyed a great season to date and can go into next weekend's championships with every right to think he can come away with a medal.
In the women's race - the seniors combined with the juniors and masters riders - Killeen ran out a clear winner. But unlike Harvey in the men's race, Killeen got out of the traps much stronger than her rivals right from the gun today.
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By the time she had completed her first lap, of five, she was out front on her own, leading by 10 seconds from former national champion, US-based Maria Larkin. Just behind them, one of the emerging riders of this season, Elena Wallace (Harps CC), was already 34 seconds down on the leader. Stephanie Roche (Scott Racing IRL) was in 4th, but adrift of the top three.
Larkin has been dominant at times in Ireland, when she has made her trips from the US to race here. But, though she looked very strong from the start today, her challenge faded a little after that as Wallace came through to pass her.
After a nightmare on the second lap, where she dropped a minute to Wallace and 1:16 to Killeen, Larkin came storming back with the fastest lap of anyone in the race, clocking exactly nine minutes on the third passage of the circuit.
However, the time lost on the second lap represented a major problem for Larkin. And with leader Killeen and 2nd placed Wallace continuing to pound away ahead of her, Larkin settled into the 3rd place position.
At the head of affairs, Killeen continued to put time into Wallace on every lap and at the finish had 1:27 in hand for victory. Larkin finished in 3rd, at 2:13, and may be a contender for medals at the nationals next week if she rides, and depending on who else is in the field.
Today, the junior men's race - with just three riders in the field - went to Hugh Óg Mulhearne (ASVILLEMUR CYCLISME). He was 6:44 up on Oliver O'Shaughnessy of host club Bellurgan Wheelers. Ashton Moore (Strabane Lifford Cycling) was 3rd at one lap.
The Masters 40 race was won by Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles) by 57 seconds from Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC) with Ronan O'Flynn (Orwell Wheelers) in 3rd at 1:02.
Alan Bingham (Inspired Cycling) came away with the Masters 60 race win. He was run close by Declan McEntee; the Emyvale CC man just 13 seconds down. Jason Henry made it a 1-3 for Inspired Cycling, at 1:00.
Johnny McCabe (Cuchulainn CC) won the Masters 60 race by 5:20 from Kevin McDowell (Unattached Ulster), with Terence O'Neill (EPIC MTB) 3rd at one lap.
In the U16 races, the boys event was won by Rian McCrystal (Bear Cycling) by 47 seconds from Shane O'Brien (Fermoy CC), with Conor Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) 3rd at 1:10.
The girls event was won by Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers). She was 16 seconds up on 2nd placed Emer Heverin (All human-VeloRevolution), with Aoife Craig (VC Glendale) 3rd at one lap.
The U14 boys race was won by James Cunningham (Team WORC) from Tomás Connolly (Orwell Wheelers) and Rory McCool (Square Wheelers). Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) was best in the girls race, from Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) and Ciara O'Connor (Drogheda Wheelers).
For full results, follow this link.
