Harvey wins battle with Rafferty, Roche also victorious in Louth

*Eventual race winner Dean Harvey leads the men's field in the early stages at McCrystal Park, Co Louth, today (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Stephanie Roche and Dean Harvey have won the main events at the final round of the Big Red Cloud Series in Co Louth today. Harvey, competing for the first time as a Trinity Racing rider, took the verdict in the men's race from Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon), who seems to be stepping it up as the National Cyclocross Championships approach.

In the women's race, Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group), 6th at the nationals last year, took a confidence-boosting win today ahead of Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale) and Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial).

In the four-lap women’s event, Roche began building her race-winning lead on the opening lap; gaining nine seconds on Harkness as a big gap already began to open between those two and the rest of the field. Onto the second lap, Roche put another 30 seconds of daylight between herself and Harkness, with that gap growing by a further 21 seconds on the penultimate passage of the McCrystal Park circuit in Jenkinstown.

While Roche looked like she had the victory sewn up as she started the final lap, there was no easing off in the finale. She put in the fastest lap of the race to run out the winner by 1:43 from Harkness, with Killeen 3^rd at 3:47. Leah McCarthy (Team Giant Dublin) placed 4^th, and was just pipped on the line by Killeen for the final spot on the podium.

*Dean Harvey and Darren Rafferty battled it out at the front in the men's race at the Big Red Cloud Series today (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Niamh Stephens (Team Giant Dublin) took 5^th place, at 4:29, while Helen White – the reigning Irish Masters road race champion riding with Stamullen Road Club – rounded out the top six, some 6:53 down on race winner Roche.

In the men’s race, while Harvey was victorious yet again, the man in 2^nd place looks like he is getting closer to him as the season edges towards the nationals. Still, it was a clear win by Harvey today; the Trinity Racing rider crossing the finish line 20 seconds ahead of Rafferty, but having eased back on the final lap.

As was the case in the women’s race, the eventual winner and runner-up in the men's race opened a gap at the front on the opening lap. Kevin McCambridge (Trinity Racing) – who has tackled cyclocross for the first time this season – quickly slotted into 3^rd place behind them.

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There was nothing to separate Harvey and Rafferty on the opening lap and on the second lap, of seven, that scenario was repeated; the leading duo going out onto the third lap together. However, Harvey then hit his rival with the fastest lap of the race – 8:02 – and pulled ahead of Rafferty by almost 20 seconds.

The gap between the leading duo continued to grow on the fourth lap, but only by three seconds as former junior cyclocross Irish champion, Rafferty, almost matched Harvey, the man of the season to date.

But on lap five, Harvey stole another 21 seconds. Though Rafferty closed in a little on Harvey on the penultimate lap, the gap appeared too big, at about 40 seconds, to overhaul. On the last lap, Harvey appeared to ease back a little while Rafferty finished very strongly, equaling his fastest lap of the race.

The winning margin at the chequered flag was 20 seconds and while Harvey was a clear winner, Rafferty did enough to keep alive the prospect of a genuine battle at the upcoming championships. Of the 27-rider field today, 3^rd placed McCambridge was the only man to finish on the same lap as Harvey and Rafferty; finishing at 3:39.

Then came a trio of junior riders fill 4^th through 6^th places; Joseph Mullen (Navan Road Club) in 4^th, Irish junior road race champion Oisin Ferrity (Caldwell Cycles) in 5^th and Adam Rafferty (US Colomiers) in 6^th place.