Paddy McKenna, left, goes so close to mugging Simon Lambert on the line for the gold medal at the National A3 Road Race Championships (Photo: Dave Coleman - Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
Runner-up by a whisker at the National A3 Road Race Championships yesterday was a delighted Paddy McKenna of Emyvale CC.
However, when he looks at the replay of the sprint the Monaghan man will perhaps feel he could have won, given how tight the margin was.
He also came from very far back in the bunch to motor past all but one of the men ahead of him; gold medallist Simon Lambert of Wexford Wheelers proving the only fly in the ointment.
McKenna was way down the field as the riders turned left and the steep hill up to the finish yawned out in front of them. But he insisted that was more by design than an accident.
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“I’m delighted to get a silver medal,” he said.
“It’s my first major race so I’m happy enough to get second. It was close in the finish; about half a wheel. It came down to a sprint and I was a shave away from gold so I’m happy.”
McKenna, left of centre with illuminous yellow bike and bar tape, tucked nicely into the bunch as the race neared a close yesterday (Photo: Dave Coleman - Dc Images)
The race was a rather negative affair with very little sticking aside from an early four-man break that pulled out no more than a minute.
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Perhaps the most dangerous move came from Craig Arrigan of South Dublin CC; the first year U23 rider taking flight with a couple of laps to go, clearly with the effects of a good ride in the Suir Valley Three Day still in his legs.
However, he would be caught very close to the finish, setting up the drag race up the final incline that settled the race.
“I came around the corner in 15th or 20th and saw a few up ahead,” said McKenna.
“I went up the hill well and kept moving up, or maybe it was guys dropping off. I went for the sprint but it wasn’t to be.
“I’ve been going well in A3 races all year and in time trials as well so I really fancied my chances. The hills were steady for the first few laps, it was kind of cagey.
“But there was a lot of attacking on the back straight and the technical bit there were boys were trying to get away as well.
“Overall it was a good championship course, a hard course but that’s what you want.”
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