Maria Larkin followed up her National Cyclocross Championships victory in Armagh earlier this month with her second appearance at the World Cyclocross Championships in the US yesterday and said it was a fantastic experience.
With a smaller field than usual – due to Covid-19 and the expense and time involved with traveling to a US Worlds – just 30 riders took the start line. It meant there was no place to hide and Larkin finished in 30th place on the day.
For the Chicago-based Mayo rider it was something of a home Worlds and one she clearly savoured on the day, though she had mixed feelings about her final result.
"It was amazing. Not just my own race itself, I felt like I had a good race and I didn't make any mistakes, I had fun but the atmosphere was incredible,” she said.
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“I'm not super happy that I was at the back or that I was in last position but when you look at the number of women that are out there, there's 30 women on the line and it's the best thirty women in the world and that's the race that it is.
“I couldn't be more pleased with my handling. I didn't feel like I made any mistakes. The climb was just a killer but I felt good overall. I was happy and then I kind of had mixed bag feelings just because of where I was in the field.
“The atmosphere was just incredible, my ears were ringing. The cheers coming up the climb, there was cheers for Ireland up the stairs, it was just incredible."
Cyclocross coordinator for the Cycling Ireland off-road commission and Worlds team manager, Paul Birchall, said all of the Irish riders in action on the opening day of competition yesterday were pitted against the best in the world.
“They didn't hold back for a moment and earned huge support from the very enthusiastic crowds who came out to watch the racing,” he said. “All eyes will be on Liam (O’Brien) and Travis (Harkness) who race the junior men's World Championships (on Sunday)."
