The women’s race at the National Cyclocross Championships in Co Louth this weekend looks set to be ultra competitive at the front. While reigning champion Maria Larkin, Roisin Lally (Scott Bright Motor Group) and the rapidly emerging Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) are the most obvious candidates for gold, others will also have their say and may upset the form book.
Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group), Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale), Hannah McClorey (RFDA) and Michelle Geoghegan (Isorex) can all, on their day, take a medal. Twelve months ago, Larkin (35) won the title in Armagh from Harkness (20) and Lally (19).
Larkin (Chicago Cuttin Crew) has won these championships for the last two editions and is again putting significant focus on, and investment into, defending her crown at the McCrystal Track, Jenkinstown, this Sunday. She returned to Ireland from her US base last month for a prolonged period of racing; competing in both Ireland and against the pros in Europe to hone her form ahead of the championships showdown.
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That formula has worked well for Larkin over the last two championships and it will need to work well again on Sunday to hold off Doherty, Lally and a host of others. The test this year looks set to be sterner than ever. And with so many teenagers rising rapidly, a generational change is taking place and very soon, if not this year, that new wave of young riders will dominate at the expense of their more seasoned rivals.
Doherty won three rounds of the National Cyclocross Series - including the final one just last weekend in Co Louth. She has pretty much won at will at elite level on the domestic scene this year despite the fact she is a first-year junior.
It is, however, a big task for a 16-year-old to win an elite title at the first time of asking, though it would not surprise stickybottle if she won. The form book says Larkin should have the edge, though Doherty or Lally can definitely beat her on a good day.
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When the main contenders raced against each other at the UCI Dublin World Cup last month, Larkin proved best of the Irish. Lally was next, then Doherty, followed by 17-year-old McClorey and Caoimhe May (19), the Orwell Wheelers rider who could feature at the front this weekend.
And when most of the top contenders - though not Larkin - lined out at Verge Cross Clonmel back in October, Lally proved best of the Irish from McClorey, Doherty and May. However, Doherty had mechanical trouble on the day and would have done much better but for those difficulties.
Roche (20) will feel she has a great chance of a medal this year having just wrapped up overall victory in the Cyclocross National Series. Harkness was 2nd in these championships last year and has every right to count herself right into the medals battle again this year.
Junior rider McClorey is based in the UK and we have not seen much of her this year. However, the teenager looks like a very talented prospect and she can impress this weekend. Like Doherty, though she is still a junior, she looks like she has the class to trouble anyone in this field.
Geoghegan (40) is the most experienced rider in the field. Having taken silver twice in her career at the elite nationals, she has passed up the opportunity of riding the masters title race this weekend in favour of the elite contest.
The combined senior, U23, junior race gets underway this weekend at 2.30pm and will be run over 45 minutes.
