Seth Dunwoody powers in to claim the elite and U23 road race titles for 2026 at the end of today's race in Cong, Co Mayo (Photo: Toby Watson)
Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Devo) is the new men's Irish senior road race champion. The 20-year-old from Armagh emerged best in a brutally hard title race in Cong, Co Mayo, this afternoon, Sunday, on a windy and chilly day that split the field to pieces.
Dunwoody, Ireland's most exciting cobbled classics prospect since Sean Kelly, triumphed after an 11-man breakaway dominated the race, with the first riders from that move getting up the road shortly after the start.
On the final lap, of 28km, the four strongest forged clear and the battle for gold then came down to Dunwoody and last year's champion, Rory Townsend (Unibet Rose Rockets).
However, Townsend went a little too early, in what was a fast approach to the finish, before the road kicked up to the line. Dunwoody hunted him down, passing him to win - and was clearly the stronger rider.
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Dunwoody crossed the line celebrating his win just one second up on Townsend, with Finn Crockett (VolkerWessels Cycling Team) 3rd at four seconds and Conn McDunphy (APS Pro Cycling) in 4th, at 10 seconds.
The top four managed to get clear of the remains of the breakaway on the final lap of 28km. And though Ryan Mullen (NSN Cycling Team) hunted them down, he could not get back on terms and had to be content with 5th today, at 23 seconds.
Daire Feeley (Burren CC), who was up the road from the gun, was best of the domestic riders; placing 6th at 1:10 after a fantastic performance.
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Second-year U23, Dunwoody, also claimed the U23 Irish title today, ahead of silver medal man Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco) and bronze medal winner Killian O'Brien (Team Skyline).
Rafferty and O'Brien, who were both in the winning breakaway, were 8th and 9th across the line, battling it out in a sprint for the U23 medals some 1:21 down on the winner.
The team prize was won by Sean O’Kane, Liam Crowley, Pádraig Moran, Evan Keane and Luke Keaney of Pinergy Orwell Wheelers.
Dunwoody takes this elite crown ahead of an expected move up to World Tour next season. And that means the Irish champion's jersey will feature in many of the biggest races of the year in 2027.
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He also claimed victory today after two very stong 2nd places this season, at the U23 versions of both Paris-Roubaix and Gent Wevelgem.
Winning scenario
The race, over 156.2km, was comprised of two laps of a large 50km loop, with a significant climb on that circuit, followed by two laps of a 28km lap.
The first selection was made on the short run out to the larger circuit, with six riders going clear. They were: Daire Feeley (Burren CC), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), Darnell Moore (Caldwell Powerhouse), Mitchell McLaughlin (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli), Ronan O'Connor and Conn McDunphy (both APS Pro Cycling).
They had an established gap even before the hard climb on the large loop was tackled for the first time. And though some of those up front lost their place - Moore and McLaughlin - the others stayed clear and were joined by seven more.
👏🏆 Massive congratulations to Sean O’Kane, Liam Crowley, Pádraig Moran, Evan Keane and Luke Keaney of Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club on winning the Team Prize at the National Road Race Championships! 🚴♂️🥇
All five riders competed in the 2026 Rás Tailteann 👏🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/8yNLNUE5Kr
— Rás Tailteann (@rastailteann) June 28, 2026
When those seven got across to the survivors of the early breakaway on the large loop, the full breakaway composition was as follows:
Daire Feeley (Burren CC), Luke Smith (Moynalty CC), Ronan O'Connor and Conn McDunphy (both APS Pro Cycling), Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco), Seth Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Devo), Finn Crockett (VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM), Killian O'Brien (Team Skyline), Ryan Mullen (NSN Cycling Team) and defending champion Rory Townsend (Unibets Rose Rockets).
By the time they had completed the second large lap, and passed through the finish line for the first time - to embark on the two smaller laps - they 30 seconds of Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), who was chasing solo for about 30km.
The next large group on the road - effectively the first half of the remains of the peloton - was two minutes behind the leaders.
On the first lap of 28km, O'Brien, Feeley and Smith were distanced from the lead group but they got back in; some gaps appearing in the feed zone temporarily taking them out the back.
Darren Rafferty was also no longer chasing solo - having just failed to get across to the leaders - and the first section of the peloton was four minutes down.
More to come.
