McGreevy survives late scare to clinch U16 boys gold at National Champs

*Caleb McGreevy looks back, as Shane O'Brien rounds the final bend, after a near disaster in the final stages of the U16 boys race at the National Cyclocross Championships (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Caleb McGreevy should have been coasting around the last stretch of the course at the National Cyclocross Championships today, savouring about to win gold, but was instead sprawled on the ground and then scrambling to get back on track.

The VC Glendale rider rode a fantastic race in the U16 boys event, against very strong rivals, and put in a big final lap to pull clear of the man pushing him closest; Shane O'Brien of Fermoy Cycling Club.

However, as McGreevy rounded the second to last bend in Ballinasloe, disaster struck when he caught his bars in the tape marking out the course. Having been thrown over the bars and to the ground, he quickly got back to his feet and back on the bike, only to realise his chain was off.

Rather than wait and try to fix the problem - with O'Brien and Rian McCrystal (Bear Cycling) breathing down his neck - McGreevy decided to make a run for it, literally.

He grabbed his bike and sprinted to the line, still with a decent advantage in tact when he reached the chequered flag in the Ballinasloe Cycling Club promotion. He lifted his bike in the air, as much as in relief as celebration, as he crossed the line.

It was his first national title win since he won gold in the U12 MTB XC championships four years ago. And while he had been a regular visitor to the podium at youth championships, across the disciplines, in the seasons since then, he finally got his hands on gold again today.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

It was a tight contest, over three laps, at Fair Green, Ballinasloe. McGreevy and O'Brien were away very quickly from the starter's gun, with McCrystal and the likes of Conor Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) and Fionn Crinion (IMBRC) just behind.

McGreevy and O'Brien were very closely matched on the opening lap, with just a couple of seconds to separate them, while McCrystal was also squarely in the fight, some 13 seconds down on early leader McGreevy.

The second lap was a repeat of the first; McGreevy faster than O'Brien, but only a whisker in it. And while McCrystal relinquished a little more time, he was establishing himself clearly in the bronze medal position.

But on the third and final lap, McGreevy pressed clear, finally opening clear daylight on O'Brien and still with eight seconds in hand on the line despite his late run on two feet for gold.

McCrystal was 3rd at 34 seconds, followed by Regan, in 4th at 1:35. Crinion was 5th at 2:13 while Daithi Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) was 6th at 3:07.

U16 Boys