Stephanie Roche has claimed victory in the senior women's race at Round 5 of the Leinster Cyclocross League in Co Meath today.
The Scott Quanta Racing teenager had 37 seconds to spare over runner-up Niamh Stephens (Giant Liv) after just over 41 minutes of racing at Drewstown House in Kells. Leah Mc Carthy (Giant Liv) rounded out the podium two minutes off the top two.
While youth prevailed in the women's race, the main men's race saw Irish off-road legend Robin Seymour (Team Worc) roll back the clock to take victory.
MTB Olympian Seymour got the better of Niall Davis (Biking.ie); some 20 seconds separating the winner and runner-up at the end of 54 minutes of racing. Sean Nolan of Evo Pro Racing was 3rd some 45 seconds down on the winner after a crash hampered the Meath man.
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In the women's race, there was nothing to separate Roche, Stephens and McCarthy in the opening phase of the event, over five laps.
However, once Roche got into her stride she began to assert herself and pull clear. By the end of the second lap she had an advantage of 16 seconds over Stephens, with McCarthy riding towards an eventual 3rd place almost 40 seconds back.
Roche continued to build her lead in the second half of the race, adding another 15 seconds on the third lap before maintaining her advantage on her rivals over the final two laps.
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In the men's race, it was EvoPro's Nolan and Orwell's O'Flynn who got the best start; Nolan putting almost 30 seconds into Seymour on the opening lap of eight.
However, Seymour began to find his legs on the second lap and while he lost more time to leader Nolan; this time the difference was just three seconds. Eventual runner-up Davis had already started his charge from the back of the field towards the front of the race.
Nolan made further gains on the third lap, by now 39 seconds up on Seymour and 49 seconds clear of O'Flynn. However, Nolan then suffered a mechanical and lost about two minutes on the fourth lap.
That saw Seymour go into the lead. Once out front he called on his class to take it home. He was chased hard all the way by Davis, who came through for an impressive 2nd. Nolan fought back to take 3rd at the expense of O'Flynn, who finished 4th.
Sun, Nov 14th: Round 5 Leinster Cyclocross League
Drewstown House, Kells, Co Meath
Promoted by Oldcastle Cycling Club
Senior Men's Race
- Robin Seymour Team Worc 54:24
- Niall Davis Biking.ie 54:44
- Sean Nolan Evo Pro Racing 55:09
- Ronan O'Flynn Orwell Wheelers 55:29
- Kevin Keane St Tiernan's CC 56:38
- Niall Somers Team Worc 56:41
- Gavin Carroll Expert Cycles 57:27
- Adam Gilsenan CC Canturino Team 57:30
- Frank Mc Dermott Oldcastle CC 57:43
- Evan Ryan Team Worc 58:14
- Ian O'Connell Unattached 58:40
- Paul Caldwell Caldwell Cycles 58:53
- Johnny McCabe Cuchulainn CC 59:10
- Colm McGarvey Epic MTB-Expert Cycles 59:10
- PJ Hynes Cuchulainn CC 1:00:05
Senior Women's Race
- Stephanie Roche Scott Quanta Racing 41:20
- Niamh Stephens Giant Liv 41:57
- Leah Mc Carthy Giant Liv 44:54
- Helen White Stamullen RC 46:01
- Mary Dawson Bray Wheelers 46:14
- Martina Hawkins Dromara Cycling Club 46:27
- Sasha Gannon Breffni Wheelers 48:31
- Laura Banfield McNally Swords CC 48:47
- Doireann Killeen Orwell Wheelers 50:11
Junior Women's Race
- Annie Roche Scott Quanta Racing 33:09
- Katie Reilly Orwell Wheelers 36:08
- Ellen Murray TC Racing 38:12
- Aoife Mooney Navan Road Club 40:21
Men's B Race
- Leo Doyle 44:52
- Samuel Monaghan 46:41
- Fergal McCabe 46:51
- Paddy Daly 47:40
- Brian Crinion 47:44
- Kieran Regan 47:44
- Jude Joseph Roche 49:18
- Daire Nulty 49:37
- Derek Humphries 49:51
- David Gillick 49:53
- John-Paul Sweetman 49:53
- Ryan Dunne 50:10
- Christopher McCann 50:22
- Oisin Collins 50:26
- Ciaran Lewis 50:27
