Richie Maes, Grace Young dominate Revolution Cross in Mallow

Richie Maes takes the chequered flag at the end of the men's race in the Revolution Cross in Mallow (All photos by John Coleman)

Richard Maes has continued his dominance in the Munster Cyclocross Series today; taking his fourth win in as many races.

The Killarney CC man was best in the men’s race at Cross Revolution in Mallow, Co Cork. It was the fourth round of the Muster Cycling Verge Cyclocross League.

During the men’s race, in the promotion by Mallow’s Revolution Cycling Club, Maes set the foundations for his win on the third lap of seven.

On the opening circuit he was among a trio of strong riders to press clear. With him was Paidi O’Brien of Gerard-DHL along with Richard Barry of St Finbarr’s.

Once they had pulled clear early it appeared they would be the top three all the way barring incident.

Maes then made his move on lap three, putting in a very big effort and getting clear of O’Brien and Barry. He kept that going in the fourth lap to extend his lead.

By the end of lap four he had roughly 30 seconds in hand, and that would prove to be the winning of the race.

Grace Young on her way to victory. Barry leads O'Brien in the battle for 2nd in the men's race.

Maes retained his lead all the way was O’Brien and Barry battled between themselves behind him to determine the order of the podium.

Indeed, O’Brien and Barry were together deep into the final lap. And it was also on the second last corner, which O’Brien negotiated more cleanly, that they were separated a little.

O’Brien went on to take 2^nd place, with Barry’s poor penultimate corner ensuring he had to settle for 3^rd place on the day.

Maes had 22 seconds at the end of the event; all of that gained on laps three and four.

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O’Brien and Barry finished together in 2^nd and 3^rd, with less than a second separating them in the end.

Lisa Stapelbroek on her way to 3rd place. She keeps her lead in the women's Munster series.

In the women’s race, Grace Young repeated her clear victory in Ennis a week ago. The De Ronde Van Cork rider was well clear at the end of the contest in Mallow today.

She took the victory from Maeve Morrogh (Unattached Leinster) and Lisa Stapelbroek (Kenmare CC).

Like the men’s race, while the opening exchanges were close, it wasn’t long before Young got her nose in front.

Eventual 3^rd place finisher Stapelbroek got the best start, putting seven seconds into Young on the opening lap of five.

Young came back at her on the second lap, taking the lead and building a gap on the others. Grace Young rounded that second lap some 24 seconds faster than Stapelbroek and 22 seconds ahead of Morrogh.

And the eventual winner was also much quicker on each of the final three laps; extending her lead over her rivals riding out front on her own.

By the end of the contest she had 1:06 to spare on Morrogh. And Stapelbroek was another 1:38 back.

Despite Young’s victory today and in Co Clare last weekend, it is Stapelbroek who retains the lead in the women’s series.