The National Road Championships, promoted by Island Wheelers get underway tomorrow, Thursday, with the TT title deciders. And while the fields are not big for any of the categories, some great head-to-head battles look set to play out in Co Tyrone.
While the elite races are always the biggest show in town, the standard of Ireland's U23s and juniors at present means there is real strength in depth in the field, with some riders new to the domestic scene also set to line out.
In the elite men's field, the stand-out names are reigning champion Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) and former champion Ryan Mullen (Bora-hansgrohe). Healy has been so good this year at the very top of the sport it would be very hard to bet against him, though he has not raced since the Giro and may need one effort to blow off the cobwebs.
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The fact the course - almost 300m of elevation gain in 31km - is lumpy for a TT also hands the advantage to him over Mullen.However, Mullen is a formidable TT rider, even though his career has developed in the direction of lead-out man in recent seasons. And if anyone can beat Healy, Mullen can.
George Peden (Team PB Performance) and Marcus Christie (Banbridge CC) will also be racing tomorrow in search of a medal, while Mitchell McLaughlin (All human-VeloRevolution) could also challenge.
In the elite women's category, there is another reigning champion Vs former champion battle in store; Kelly Murphy (AWOL–O'Shea) set to clash with Joanna Patterson (Wahoo Le Col). However, Eve McCrystal (Bellurgan Wheelers) has also won gold before and will be aiming for the podium again tomorrow.
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There are also others who can surprise, former sailing Annalise Murphy (Longcourt Hotel-NCW Wheelers) among them. It will also be very interesting to see how Mia Griffin (Israel Premier Tech Roland), Imogen Cotter (Fenix-Deceuninck Development) and Linda Kelly (Spin the Bean Power by Coffee) can perform.
Top triathlete Hilary Hughes (Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club) is also one to keep an eye on in a field that likely has more surprises in store than the men's title decider.
In the U23 men's race, Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon) looks like the pick of the bunch after his 2nd place overall at the Baby Giro. These championships are being promoted by his home club and, coincidentally, the lumpy course is also suited to him. Rafferty is the favourite for the U23 crown and it will also be interesting to see how his time compares to the elite medal winners.
There are only four other U23 riders in the field but all of them are very strong riders who can medal; former junior champion Conal Scully (Team Dan Morrissey-Primor by Pissei), the Trinity Racing duo Kevin McCambridge and Dean Harvey as well as Aaron Wade (Cortizo Aluminium Team).
The junior men's field should throw up a fascinating result. Adam Rafferty (Team 31 Jolly Cycles U19) and Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B Victorious) both went to within one second of the Irish junior 10 mile TT record last week and are clearly in great form for TT racing.
Liam O'Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club) will also be out to impress while Patrick Casey (Anexo Group Race Team) has been performing very consistently on the European scene of late. Conor Prendergast (Galway Bay CC) will also see himself as a medal contender if he has shaken off a recent injury.
In the junior women's race, reigning champion Shauna Finn (Arcane Cycling Team) will be out to defend her title while Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) is a stand-out name. Lucy Benezet Minns (Tofauti Everyone Active) will be a new name for many and she is a UK-based rider who has declared for Ireland. The grapevine says she has a lot of talent and she is coming to Ireland looking for a medal.
