We may be more used to the sight of Linda Kelly on a tandem, piloting Katie George Dunlevy to Worlds and Paralympic gold, but the paracycling international was competing as a solo rider long before teaming up with current tandem partner.
Kelly (Spin the Bean p/b Coffee) first hit the headlines by taking bronze in both the elite TT and road race at the 2021 Nationals. And she claimed another TT bronze two years ago.
Last night she secured her best result in an elite title race, taking TT silver behind Kelly Murphy and said, though she would have loved to land the gold, she believed her silver represented progress.
"Obviously I'm disappointed, but at the same time I’m happy because I was amongst a strong field of girls there, all the names there are strong riders," she said of finishing between winner Murphy and 3rd placed Mia Griffin (Roland), splitting those Olympian team pursuit riders.
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However, Kelly said she was pleased for Murphy, who clocked a time of 33:06 on the 25.4km course in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, in an average speed of 46.042kmph. That was 14 seconds up on Kelly in 2nd and 1:32 up on Griffin. Lucy Bénézet Minns (Lotto Ladies), who won the junior title race last year, was 4th in her first elite championships, 1:42 down.
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Caoimhe O’Brien (Cynisca Cycling) was 5th at 2:21, with Eileen Burns (Ballymena Road Club) 6th at 3:12, Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) in 7th at 4:02 and Aine Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) in 8th at 6:08.
"I was so close, but I'll get there eventually," Kelly said of what was a great ride. She adding it confirmed her form was where it needed to be as she prepare for her biggest goals of the year - the Worlds in Paris and the World Cup campaign - with tandem partner Dunlevy.
Having riders like Olympians Murphy and Griffin in last night's field, as well as those other riders competing with European pro teams, really helped to motivate her.
"But usually I just get into my own zone," she said. "For a TT, I have (a routine) I'm used to, such as my warm-up and even the routine I have day beforehand. And then when I get to that start line, I’m just in my own zone and I know what to do. TT is my favourite discipline, so I like to suffer once I get into that zone and I keep going.
"I was just focusing on keeping aero and looking at my power and speed to make sure that was all fine. I knew we'd have a head wind out and tail wind back so you're pushing that bit more on the way out.
"But you're still pushing on the way back. You're passing bikes as well and you're just keeping it going until the distance is done and you've given it your all."
