Larkin and Harvey take pre-champs wins at McCrystal Park, Co Louth

*The Irish New Year of racing was opened at the Big Red Cloud League in Jenkinstown, Co Louth today, when Maria Larkin won the women's race (Photo by Caroline McKerley)*

The Harvey brothers, Dean and Lee, were 1st and 2nd in the men's race at Round 4 of the Big Red Cloud League in Co Louth today; Dean Harvey taking victory in his first outing in the colours of new team Spellman Dublin Port.

Elite national champion Maria Larkin (Donkey Label p/b FK Law) once again underlined her form with victory in the elite women's race; taking the verdict by 1:20 from Annie Roche (Scott Quanta Racing)

In the men's race, Dean Harvey got away strongly from the gun, with emerging junior rider Liam O'Brien (Fermoy CC) also showing plenty of confidence early.

O'Brien was an U16 on the road last year and won the national criterium title. He went into the cyclocross season in the junior ranks and was selected for the European Cyclocross Championships; taking 19th in the junior race having been gridded at the back.

At the end of the opening lap of seven today at the McCrystal track, O'Brien was just five seconds off Harvey, a stand-out junior on the road in 2021 now riding 'cross at U23 level.

However, both Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) and Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) were just seconds behind Dean Harvey and O'Brien after the opening lap as the race began to take shape.

*Dean Harvey on his way to victory in the men's race (Photo: Caroline Kerley)*

Over the next two laps, Dean Harvey put almost 20 seconds into 2nd placed O'Brien, with Lee Harvey and McCarter each losing a handful of seconds to the two young guns out front.

On the 4th lap O'Brien lost some time to Lee Harvey and McCarter and then relinquished a little more on the 5th lap, slipping back into 4th place. And while he rallied on the final two laps, McCarter just held him off for 3rd with Lee Harvey in 2nd.

But there was no stopping the man out front; Dean Harvey getting into the lead early and growing his advantage every lap. While he suffered a puncture with two laps to go he absorbed that mishap and still have 1:17 in hand on his brother on the finish line.

McCarter was a further seven seconds back in 3rd place, winning the tight battle with O'Brien for the final spot on the podium; that pairing separated by just one second in the end.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

One of the other fancied riders on the day, Darnell Moore of Caldwell Cycles, suffered an early set-back. The rope lifted to signal the start of the race became tangled in a number of riders and delayed Moore. He eventually finished in 8th almost three minutes down on the winner.

The women's race was also not without incident, but in the end US-based Larkin won it very comfortably. She looks in great form ahead of the National Cyclocross Championships in Armagh City in two weeks.

Young Darcy Harkness (VC Glendale), who represented Ireland in the U23 race at the Europeans in November, was matching Larkin out front when she became entangled in rope, which cost her some time.

On the first lap of five, Larkin and Harkness could not be separated. And while Larkin nicked a couple of seconds on 'Lap 2', there was nothing between the two leaders, who were being chased by Annie Roche.

However, Ulster elite champion Harkness suffered her misfortune on the third lap, losing 1:42 to Larkin. That left the Irish elite champion out front alone and well clear. Harkness recovered very well, losing just another six seconds to Larkin over the final two laps.

But that incident on the third lap really cost her as not only did Larkin ride away to victory, but Roche also passed Harkness to claim 2nd place, some 1:20 down on the winner.

Harkness had to be content with 3rd in the end; 1:50 down on Larkin and 30 seconds off runner-up Roche. Niamh Stephens of Giant Dublin, who has been going very well this season, placed 4th.