There's some real quality, including reigning and former champions, in the field for the National Criterium Championships 2018. Above, Mark Dowling winning the title two years ago from Philip Lavery and Gareth McKee in Banbridge (Photo: Toby Watson)

Preview Irish cycling National Crit Champs 2018

Marc Potts won the title last year and Mark Dowling in 2016 and 2015. And both are back for a shot at the National Criterium Championships 2018.

One of the most coveted wins in Irish cycling will be decided on Friday evening in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Promoted by Lakeside Wheelers, the men's race is for national medals. The women's race, with a solid 16-strong entry, is a demonstration event.

That means it doesn't carry championships status, but it will in the years ahead.

Having ridden internationally on the track for much of the last six to nine months, Potts will be fancied to win again.

He has a huge engine, an impressive turn of speed and the ability to attack over and over; all key attributes for crit riding.

But Mark Dowling, who like Potts is also riding unattached this year, will be hard to beat. He got the better of Philip Lavery and Gareth McKee in 2016 in Banbridge.

Three to watch: Marc Potts, Dillon Corkery, Conn McDunphy.

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Lavery, now a Strata 3-VeloRevolution rider, has medalled in road championships many times.

He was 3^rd in the elite road race championships – behind Matt Brammeier and Nicolas Roche – in Clonmel in 2012. And that also brought him the U23 gold medal.

And he took silver in the elite event in Carlingford the following year; Brammeier winning again.

A very fast and aggressive rider, he should never be bet against in this kind of racing.

Another man to watch, and like Lavery a former Continental level rider, is Paidi O’Brien. He won in Cork in 2013; his first elite national title.

He is now riding for Gerard-DHL and it has seven men in the race. Teenager Dillon Corkery is among them and is another potential winner.

Caldwell Cycles Omagh also has a strong line-up in the race; Darnell Moore probably its best shot at the title.

Another team that jumps off the start list is Viner-Caremark-Pactimo. And though he is not a cirt specialist, Conor Hennebry can win on any terrain.

Darragh Zaidan (Arcane CT) is a strong ride whose track craft and speed can transfer to the road and bring him a big result.

The Holdsworth Pro Cycling team has Conn McDunphy and Damien Shaw in the field; either one of whom can win gold.

Others well worth a punt include Richard Maes (Killarney CC), Dermot Trulock (Lucan CRC) and David Montgomery (Unattached).

Also well worth watching are Ben Walsh (Vitus Pro Cycling), Eoin O’Connell (Blarney CC), Chris Reilly (Bohermeen CC) and Paul Forristal (Scott Orwell).