Irish cycling's annual, gladiatorial, pro Vs amateur battle is set to play out in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, tomorrow when the men's road race at the National Road Championships unfolds. This year's title decider takes place at a time when the sands are shifting on the Irish road scene - sooner and faster than most would have expected.
It's tempting to say new riders are now "emerging" but the truth is their emergence is already complete. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) and Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) have enjoyed career breakthroughs in recent months. Archie Ryan (Jumbo Visma Development) smashed through last year, but is injured at present.
While those riders have been in the ascendency, the biggest name of all in Irish cycling, Sam Bennett, is undergoing a period of prolonged turbulence in his career. He has been left out of the Bora-hansgrohe team for the Tour de France again this year.
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He now faces a battle to regain his position as a top tier sprinter in the World Tour, for whom Grand Tour selections are automatic and wins inevitable.
Bennett would love to claim the title again tomorrow. But unlike 2019, when he was crowned Irish champion in Derry City, he arguably needs the champion's jersey this time around. He is back home for the title race with Bora-hansgrohe team mate, Ryan Mullen, and they make for a formidable pairing.
Mullen won the elite men's TT on Thursday night, deposing last year's winner Healy. Afterwards he spoke of his delight at having won the title - his sixth TT crown - and hoped Bennett could win the road race tomorrow so both would return to the pro peloton as Irish champions.
If they can remain incident-free in the road race, they have a great chance of taking gold. However, they are far from unbeatable - especially in unpredictable championship racing. Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) has not yet returned to racing after his 7th place finish at the Giro and he will not be on the start line tomorrow. Ryan is currently building his condition after his injury-related lay-off and he is also absent.
However, Healy and Rafferty will not fear taking the fight to Bennett and Mullen. If Healy has enough in the tank, after a break from racing after the Giro, where he won a stage, he may prove too much to handle for even Bennett and Mullen.
And once Rafferty is recovered from his recent 2nd place finish at the Baby Giro - and his U23 TT winning ride on Thursday evening - he too is definitely capable of winning. The 19-year-old is a real danger man, especially as he will be racing on home roads - with extra motivation and local knowledge.
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The reigning champion, Rory Townsend, will also not be easily beaten. He raced from the front last year before winning solo. And even in a sprint from a group, he can put it up to Bennett. Townsend is competing for Bolton Equities Black Spoke, a ProContinental team, this season and has been riding very well in Europe.
He has just completed the Baloise Belgium Tour, where he took 7th on one stage and finished 16th overall. Townsend won Trophée Groupama Paris Val de Loire earlier in the season and will definitely fancy his chances of winning tomorrow. Jesse Ewart (Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team) was one of the animators of last year's title race in Kanturk, before fading a little to 6th, and is definitely capable of a medal tomorrow.
Last year's runner-up, Cormac Mcgeough (Canel's Zerouno), recently won a stage and held the yellow jersey at Tour de Beauce in Canada and can also go into the title race with plenty of confidence.
Closer to home, there are plenty of riders who have been racing on the domestic scene this year who can put it up to the professionals and Conn McDunphy (Lucan CRC) is perhaps at the front of that queue. He has won several major races in Ireland this year - and also rode very well in the US earlier in the season. A former elite TT champion, he goes into this year's road race as a potential winner.
Daire Feeley of All human-VeloRevolution was runner-up to Mullen two years ago and while he suffered a crash during the Rás that sidelined him for a time, he is on the comeback trail. Usually, he would be hotly tipped for a medal.
However, the question this time around is whether he has had enough time to recover from his crash and return to top form. Feeley will have Mark Dowling, Mitchell McLaughlin and Jamie Philips for team mates on Sunday; a formidable quartet that can combine to take a medal on their day.
Speaking of Rás Tailteann, this year's race winner, Dillon Corkery (CC Etupes), will fear nobody tomorrow. He rode an exceptional Rás to dominate the final stage and ride into the yellow jersey. Last weekend he was 5th overall at Tour du Pays de Montbéliard (2.2); a result that says he is ready for battle.
Other senior riders who can make an impact include Thursday's TT bronze medal winner George Peden and his PB Performance team mate Gareth O'Neill, as well as Lindsay Watson (Powerhouse Sport), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC) and Leo Doyle (ARBO – Headstart ON Fahrrad).
In the combined U23-elite men's race, the U23 field is notable for its strength in depth. While Rafferty has been the star performer this year, the Trinity Racing duo of Dean Harvey and Kevin McCambridge have the legs to make the elite or U23 podium, as could Aaron Wade (Cortizo Aluminium Team).
Other U23s to watch include: Ewan Warren (Brocar Ale), Jamie Meehan (Brocar Ale), Odhran Doogan (Team Caldwell Cycles), Patrick O’Loughlin (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) and Liam Crowley (UCD Cycling Club).
