Harvey and Doherty lead the way at Ulster Cyclocross Series | Sticky Bottle

*Dean Harvey was back in the colours of Spellman Dublin Port today and back on the top step of the podium at the Ulster Cyclocross Series (Photo: Toby Watson)*

Dean Harvey and Aine Doherty have won the main events at the opening round of the Ulster Cyclocross Series 2022. The races were promoted today by Island Wheelers in Windmill Park, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Harvey (19) finished his road season with CC Etupes in France and was backing in the colours of Spellman Dublin Port today as he led from the early stages to take a convincing win.

The Irish road racing and cyclocross international was 50 seconds up on former national cyclocross champion Darnell Moore (Caldwell Cycles) on the line, with new junior rider Samuel Coleman (Orchard CC) continuing an impressive start to his time racing against the elites with 3rd place, some 1:08 down on the winner.

Darren Rafferty of Hagens Berman Axeon - riding the event promoted by his home club - placed 4th at 1:17 while Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) was 5th at 1:29 and Lee Harvey (VC Glendale) rounded out the top six some 1:29 down.

From the gun today it was young Coleman who got the best start in what was a close run contest on a fine day for racing. However, while the Shelbourne-Orchard youngster got ahead by a few seconds on the opening lap of eight, Harvey and Moore pulled back those seconds on the second lap.

Meanwhile Rafferty, who endured a slower start and lost 10 seconds to eventual winner Harvey on the opening lap, put in the fastest second lap to keep himself in contention in his comeback cyclocross race after a long stint away. But once Harvey got ahead and got into his stride, he pulled clear on all of those chasing just behind.

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The 19-year-old was fastest around the course every time from lap three and while the gains he made were only a matter of seconds, they combined into a clear advantage as the laps ticked down and he always looked like the winner.

Just behind him, while Moore established himself in 2^nd place from early in the contest he came under a little bit of pressured from Coleman as the race progressed. The junior rider lost ground to Moore on the until the final three laps when he began to close the gap. However, while Coleman got to within 18 seconds of Moore by the finish, he had to settle for 3^rd place.

In the women's race, Doherty looked in ominous form after her recent elite win at GP Brian Kinning in what was her first event since moving up from the U16 to junior ranks.

Today, over five laps of racing, Doherty got away from the start quickly and opened a small gap, of a few seconds, over her team mate Darcey Harkness, who won at the Big Red Cloud Series in Co Louth last weekend.

On the second lap, that gap between the leader and 2^nd placed rider extended a little, with Doherty putting another couple of seconds into Harkness. However, it remained a close battle between the leading pair through the race and there was very little to separate them, with Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group) working her way towards an eventual 3^rd place finished behind them.

On the third lap, as it to emphasis how tight the battle for victory was, Doherty and Harkness rounded the course in the same time. On the next lap, Doherty was eight seconds faster than Harkness. As the two team mates out front went out onto the final lap there was just 10 seconds between them.

And though Harkness closed the gap by a couple of seconds on that final lap, Doherty claimed the victory from her team mate by eight seconds. Roche wrapped up 3^rd place, at 2:48, while Caroline Martinez (Chain Reaction Cycles) placed 4^th.