Roger Aiken takes the plaudits after winning the elite national cyclocross title for the fifth time this afternoon. The Team ASEA man saw off the best efforts of David Montgomery and Glenn Kinning in the title event at Tollymore Forest Park, Co Down (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Roger Aiken stormed to his fifth elite national cyclocross title in Co Down on Sunday afternoon when he came home well clear of last year’s champion and now An Post-Chainreaction road rider David Montgomery.
The new champion, who switched from Banbridge CC to Wheelworx-Asea 12 months ago, said the win was as sweet as the first nationals he claimed in Rostrevor back in 2005.
On that occasion he beat Robin Seymour and his win a decade on points to the kind of condition that should carry through to the imminent road campaign.
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“I’m over the moon,” said a delighted Aiken after what turned out to be a fantastic days racing that was a credit to promoting club Dromara CC.
“It’s nice to finish off the cyclocross season with a national title and I’m just mad keen to get going on the road now.”
New champion Aiken, left, commiserates with the man he deposed; David Montgomery in his new An Post-Chainreaction colours (Photo: Toby Watson)
The winner said he felt there was a performance in him today, based on how he had been riding lately.
“I was feeling good in training but when you ride a course as tough as that it highlights how unfit you are,” he said self deprecatingly.
“It was a tough course - a good course but one for the strong men and you had to judge the effort.
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“I hit the front halfway round the first lap, David (Montgomery) gradually pulled his way up to me but by the second lap we were together and I was having a few digs.
“He was closing me back each time and I had another go at him and managed to get the gap with around three laps to go.”
Montgomery's ride was a disappointment after last year's epic, but he still comes away with elite silver and U23 gold (Photo: Toby Watson)
A 2.8 kilometres, they were by no means small laps, but Aiken had too much experience to get carried away with any advantage he may have had.
“I got 10 seconds on him and just kept it steady. Generally, once someone loses the wheel it’s a tell-tale sign you’ve broken them.
“So with two laps to go I had a significant gap and barring a mechanical I knew I had it.
“I felt like I was able to keep my pace and I wasn’t overly tiring or worried about being caught.”
After winning the Ulster title and the provincial cyclocross series before Christmas it’s three wins from three for the former Rás stage winner.
“It’s been as successful as it can be, the winter,” he said.
“I had a slow start and it took me a while to find my feet after taking a year off but I was always building up for this race and it worked out nicely.
“I’m straight into the road season now and I feel like I can still continue training and not body-bag myself.
“I’m strong in the head, mad keen and looking forward to another year with ASEA.”
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