Liam O'Brien has continued his seamless and immediate progression from leading U16 rider to top junior with a dominant display to win gold at the National Cyclocross Championships in Armagh this morning.
Travis Harkness of VC Glendale, who was chasing O'Brien on his own for much of the race, took the silver medal; a great performance from the teenager forced to miss the Europeans in November due to Covid-19.
Niall McLoughlin of Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club took bronze on a day when the medals went to the hotly tipped riders; McLoughlin adding today's junior bronze to the U16 gold at these championships two years ago.
O'Brien (16) got away from the start at the front and once he got ahead early in the contest he simply continued to stretch his advantage on the best of the rest.
Advertisement
By the end of the opening lap in the three-lap contest, the Fermoy CC rider was already a clear solo leader and it looked like the race was his to lose.
He continued to power around the course, in cold and muddy conditions, for remaining two laps to take what was a clear victory in the end.
Related News
This national title comes after he claimed gold in the U16 criterium championships last year, before moving up to the junior ranks for the cyclocross scene in the autumn.
He was then selected for the European Cyclocross Championships in the Netherlands in November and finished 19th in the junior men's race.
O'Brien has also been riding some cyclocross races in Continental Europe since that appearance at the Europeans and has also looked very strong on the domestic scene, often mixing it with the elites.
More to come.
