Tom Hughes takes another win, this time at the Boyne GP, extending his incredible start to the 2026 season (Photo: Sean Meade Photography)
Tom Hughes (Kilcullen CC Murphy Geospatial) is effectively still a newcomer to cycling yet the 16-year-old from Naas, Co Kildare, has enjoyed a wild start to the new season. He won at the Boyne Grand Prix in Co Meath today, Saturday, after also winning at the Mick Lally Memorial on the opening day of the season.
Last weekend he was also at the front of the Seamus Kennedy Memorial, crossing the line with team mate Conor Regan as they celebrated their 1-2 out front on their own. Today, Hughes was forced to overcome adversity in the early stages, and though he also went on the attack several times, he still had plenty in the tank to dictate the final, doing so in style.
"I'm delighted," he said of his win today, especially coming after last weekend's success. "I only started cycling just before the summer 2024, doing the Corkagh Park Monday night races."
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He did some research on training - "I decided to coach myself" - as he initially mixed his cycling with running. However, he has since switched to being coached by Conn McDunphy and "going into last year I got a new bike and everything for my second year U16".
A win in the Bohermeen Two Day, after another solo move, suggested he had some talent for his new sport. And now in transition year, at CBS Naas, he settled into regular training over the winter, guided by McDunphy and Kilcullen CC boss Liam Walker.
The results are clear to see, with Hughes adding there is a great atmosphere in his club at present as a large group of young riders are all impressing on road, cyclocross and enduro.
Asked if Irish team selection this year is an ambition, he said he would love to wear the green of Ireland at some point. But he was simply determined "to take every race as it comes".
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"I didn't expect to be thinking about Irish teams at all, to be honest. And I'm not thinking about it. I got selected by Cycling Leinster for the Cicle Classic (in England in two weeks). I was told I was riding that before the season even started, so that was a confidence-booster heading into the season.
"But, really, I just want to enjoy (racing). The season has started incredibly, but obviously I am not going to win every race," he said. “Everyone in the club is focusing different things and we went out together a lot of the Sundays during winter, so it’s great. Liam followed us in the van, it’s so good. I don’t think any other club in the country has that.”
Today in the Drogheda Wheelers promotion in Rathkenny, Co Meath, Hughes finished on his own, with plenty of time to celebrate, well clear of the remains of the peloton. Fellow first-year junior Rian McCrystal (Cannibal B Victorious) took 2nd place from juniors Riley Smith (Banbridge CC), a winner last weekend in Navan, and James Mackey (Foyle CC).
As Hughes only took up cycling in 2024, and even though he raced last year, he was not a dominant player on the youth scene. He is really only learning the ropes now, and catching on quick.
His wins have also come with hard efforts; going solo more than 20km from the finish in the C3 race at the Mick Lally, and going again the next day at the Seamus Kennedy, with Regan for company.
Today's C2 race was contested over five laps of the 16km circuit. Though Hughes planned to keep his powder try as best he could until the penultimate lap, he dropped a chain on a climb shortly after the start, forcing him into a chase through that opening lap.
On the third passage of the circuit, he attacked solo and got a gap of about 40 seconds on the main bunch, though he did not realise a three-man group was already up the road. Though he got to without about 10 seconds of the leaders, a chase had kicked off in the bunch and Hughes was caught, with the others also brought back a little later.
On the last lap, Hughes attacked and was joined by McCrystal and Mackey, though they were soon caught. A little later, Hughes went again, with about 9km to go to the finish in Rathkenny. Nobody responded initially and the Kilcullen man gained about 20 seconds.
Though he was joined for a brief time by one chaser, who bridged across to him to on a climb, Hughes squeezed the pedals and found himself solo again, driving it all the way to the line to win.
