After a winter season of racing nationwide, the final big fixture on the domestic cyclocross season falls this weekend when the National Championships take place in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
Though most of the big names are present, there are some notable absences - including a defending champion - though a fantastic weekend of racing is in store.
In the men's senior race, Dean Harvey is back to defend the title he claimed last year, for the second time, in Limerick.
Having been part of the Trinity Racing squad for the last couple of seasons, Harvey is a real handful when he gets going and it will take a very good ride to be him in the Ballinasloe Cycling Club promotion this weekend.
However, others have every right fancy their changes; Tadhg Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) and Darnell Moore Team Caldwell Cycles chief amongst them, though far from the only ones in contention for medals.
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Killeen has enjoyed a fantastic season, his best ever by a long way, with victory in the National Cyclocross Series and he is definitely a very firm medal contender this year.
Moore is a former national champion and there is no better rider to raise to the challenge on the biggest days. He placed 3rd last year, behind Harvey and Kevin McCambridge, though the latter has not ridden 'cross this season and will not be in Co Galway this weekend.
Travis Harkness (VC Glendale) has the ability to get up into the medals, having finished 4th last year, with others also capable of a big result.
That includes the likes of David Montgomery (Spellman-Dublin Port), Graham Boyd (McConvey Cycles), Michael Collins (Newcastle West Cycling Club) and Michael Collins (Newcastle West Cycling Club), last year's junior bronze medal winner.
The slightly older duo of Richard Barry (St Finbarrs CC) and Tim O’Regan (All human-VeloRevolution) are well able to move on their day and both will be out to impress.
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When all is said a done, Harvey is definitely the man to beat, though everybody and anybody is beatable on a given day.
The junior men's race may be a small field - with 12 down to start - but it packs a punch. Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) claimed the title last year and is back to this to defend his crown.
After racing in Europe over the Christmas period, he should be in good form this weekend, where one of his rivals will be Curtis McKee (Spellman Dublin Port), the first-year junior who has made a splash this year.
Ryan Daly (Scott Racing IRL) also raced in Europe during the holidays and will hope to get up into the medals this weekend, though others will have the same ambition.
Cameron Henry (Inspired Cycling) finished third of the Irish junior riders - behind Murphy and McKee - on national team duty at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin last month and a similar performance this weekend would bring a medal. Hugh Óg Mulhearne (AS Villemur Cyclisme) should also be in contention along with James Armstrong (VC Glendale).
In the Masters 40 race - always one of the most competitive of championship weekend - defending champion Glenn Kinning is back again and the Kinning Cycles man will definitely fancy his chances of another gold medal.
However, Ronan O'Flynn (Orwell Wheelers) will also have designs on wining as will Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC). Others who should be in contention include Bryan Geary (St Tiernans Cycling Club), Barry Kellett (Dromara Cycling Club), Trevor Costello (Islandeady Cycling Club), Evan Ryan (Team WORC) and Frank McDermott (Oldcastle CC), to mention a few.
In the Masters 50 category, off-road legend Robin Seymour (Team WORC) will also be looking to repeat his win of 12 months ago, Alan Bingham (Inspired Cycling)though Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) and Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) will have eyes on the big prize.
Others who will fancy their chances include Declan McEntee (Emyvale CC), Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC), Trevor Woods (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team) and Colm McGarvey (EPIC MTB-Expert Cycles), among others.
It will also be interesting to see what Spanish-based Anthony Doyle (L’equipier Barcelona Cycling Team) can do this weekend.
