John Buller (Amicale Cycliste Bisontine) has claimed gold in the elite men's race at the National Criterium Championships in Kells, Co Meath, today. He adds the title to the U23 gold he took in the National Road Race Championships last year.
This evening in the criterium championships, promoted by Moynalty Cycling Club, Buller did not wait for a sprint - his favoured scenario. Instead, he powered clear of the opposition on what was a very short and tight course.
He claimed a solo victory after going clear just over 20 minutes into the race, which was run over 50 minutes and three laps. French-based Buller then showed great strength in opening his lead and having the legs to claim the victory after keeping his long-range moving going.
Behind him, Luke Smith of promoting club Moynalty CC took the sprint for the silver medal. Team Ireland Rás Tailteann rider Paul Antoine Hagan (Banbridge CC) underlined his growing reputation with bronze, his first medal in an elite championships.
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Buller - still aged just 23 years and based in France this season - was clearly delighted with his victory and new Irish champion's jersey and gold medal.
"I'm pretty stuck, to be honest. What can you say when you're coming here without a jersey and you're going home with a new national champion's jersey?"
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Buller, a powerful rider who excels at sprinting but went long tonight, said this evening's title race was one that had been on his radar for some time.
"The National Criterium Championships is one I've wanted for years. I can remember my first year racing at senior level it was in Banbridge and ever since I've wanted to chase that jersey. So it's finally nice to get my hands on it."
Buller added he took nothing for granted on the night, noting the strength in the field that he was up against.
"On the Irish scene here, you always know the strongest guys are going to be there for the end," he said, adding runner-up Smith was familiar to him since his youth and junior days.
He said other riders like Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles), Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport) and the "strong" Smith were always going to mount a serious challenge.
"I just wanted to put them on the back foot early and, yeah, I pulled it off," he said of gaining his advantage with two thirds of the race remaining.
Buller said when Rás Tailteann winner Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) attacked and got a gap he went after him. When he caught Feeley he passed him and kept going on his own, pulling out his winning gap.
"I ended up on my own after maybe 15 minutes and I knew 'oh this is a long night if I'm going to be out here on my own'. But I just got stuck in and I knew I had the legs and I never doubted myself."
