The senior men's race at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin served up a nail-biting finish, on a dirty day for racing, with Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions) and Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) duking it out on the final lap only for a delighed Ronhaar to prevail.
Behind the two leaders, who finished just two seconds apart after trading the lead on the final lap, Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles) - an amateur Irish rider who works full time - stepped up in the pro field. The former national champion - in cyclocross, road and hill climb - got inside the top 20 on the day, finishing 5:52 down on the winner.
Chris Dawson, Ireland's MTB Olympic hopeful, was just one place behind Moore, at 7:11, with Kevin McCambridge (Trinity Racing), in 22nd at 9:21. Other Irish riders who also lined up today - no mean feat considering the level - were Paul O'Reilly, Richie Barry (St Finbarr's CC), Ronan O'Flynn (Orwell Wheelers) and Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC). Those four filled places 23rd to 26th respectively and were roared around the course, despite the rain that made the main events a mud bath.
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In hindsight it was a shame no Irish team was entered into the men's event especially as Moore, Dawson and McCambridge finished on the same lap as the winner. Though their performances were really appreciated by the thousands of spectators who made the trip to the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbottstown today, a few green jerseys in the senior men's race would have been the icing on the cake.
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⚡️A sprint finish from Pim Ronhaar sees a double victory for the @Baloise_Trek Lions in Dublin at the @UCIcyclocrossWC!
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Still, the second edition of this fixture was a roaring success, even if the crowds were perhaps a little smaller than last year when Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) proved such a big draw.
Today it was superstar in the making that made the early running, 21-year-old Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) turning on the power and skills through the mud - sandpit and small climbs dotted along the course - to go into an early lead. He continued to work away at the front for almost four laps. He had company in the shape of Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) for the first two laps, though a gap opened between them at that point.
On that fourth passage of the course, that small advantage Nys had eked out was nullified, with Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) getting across to him and bringing eventual winner Ronhaar across the gap. That leading trip soon became six; Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon), Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) and Jens Adams (Athletes for Hope) joining the leading three.
However, while the six-man group split and came together again on the penultimate lap, it was the final passage of the circuit where the definitive action unfolded. Rohnaar pressed on impressively, with Sweeck digging deep to eventually match his move off the front and Iserbyt slipping back to 3rd.
In what prove an exciting finale, Sweeck - who had only caught Rohnaar deep into the last lap - made a move, pulling out a small gap out front. However, Rohnaar then came back at him and had took much in the sprint, leading into the final corner leaving Sweeck unable to hold him.
Men's Elite Race
1 RONHAAR Pim Baloise Trek Lions 0:57:17
2 SWEECK Laurens Crelan - Corendon 0:02
3 ISERBYT Eli Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal 0:20
4 WYSEURE Joran Crelan - Corendon 0:28
5 ADAMS Jens Athletes for Hope 0:37
6 NYS Thibau Baloise Trek Lions 0:59
7 KAMP Ryan Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal ,,
8 KUHN Kevin Circus - Reuz - Technord 1:19
9 VANDEPUTTE Niels Alpecin - Deceuninck 1:25
10 VANTHOURENHOUT Michael Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal 1:29
11 VANDEBOSCH Toon Crelan - Corendon 1:38
12 MEEUSSEN Witse Crelan - Corendon 1:51
13 VAN KESSEL Corné Deschacht - Hens - Maes 2:41
14 KUYPERS Gerben Circus - Reuz - Technord 3:01
15 MASON Cameron Cyclocross Reds 3:22
16 FUNSTON Scott 4:18
17 ROUILLER Loris Heizomat Radteam p/b Kloster Kitchen 4:34
18 BARNES Toby Ribble - Verge Cyclocross Team 4:35
19 MOORE Darnell Team Caldwell Cycles 5:52
20 DAWSON Christopher 7:11
21 JUNQUERA Mario Unicaja Banco - Gijon 8:08
22 MCCAMBRIDGE Kevin Trinity Racing 9:21
23 O'REILLY Paul -
24 BARRY Richard St Finbarr's CC -
25 O'FLYNN Ronan Orwell Wheelers CC -
26 FLAVIN Marcus Dungarvan CC -
27 PERICAS Arnau -
28 ASSKALI Elias -
