The Support races delivered exciting racing for the warm up to the World Cup
Round 2 of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup returned to Dublin for the weekend of 30 November 2024-1 December 2024. The venue was again the Sport Ireland complex which has now been used for the third year in a row for this event. The support events took place on Saturday which included, for this year, youth events for Under 6s, 8s, 10s and 12s. These youth events were held on a separate course beside the main course. The main course had seen some alternations from last year which created a shorter, faster lap. Paddy Daly had laid out a challenging course which looked impressive.
The first race of the day was for the Under 6s with 9 young riders taking on 1 lap of their course. The Under 8s were next and they had 3 laps to complete. Taking the win in the boys’ race was Evan McTavish (Western Lakes CC). Séan McGahan (Square Wheels) had chased hard but couldn’t catch Evan. Ewan Corey (Apollo Cycling Team) was third. In the girls’ race Aoibhín Collins (Un-Attached Munster) took the win ahead of Sol Lally (Ballinasloe Cycling Club) with Noreen Cody third.
The Under 10s course was longer than the Under 8s and they had 4 laps to do. Jaxon Jennings (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) lead the boys’ race from start to finish. Bobby Campbell (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Conor McGahan (Square Wheels) third. Marian Mulvaney (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) lead the
Under 10 girls race but had Ríonach Campbell (Square Wheels) closing in on her every lap. Ríonach had caught up with Marian just before the line but there wasn’t the room to pass Marian just before the line. Ciara McCool (Square Wheels) finished third.
The Under 12s used the full youth course and they had 5 laps to race over. There was a big field of 24 boys. Despite being gridded on the third row Benjamin Cunningham (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) made it to the front of the race at the end of lap 1 and kept well ahead of the chasing pack. Lewis Bell (Shelbourne/Orchard CC) made it up to second place and held this to the line. Daniel O’Sullivan (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was third with Cathal O’Sullivan (Greenmount CA) fourth. In the girls’ race Molly Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was well out in front mixing it up with the top 10 boys. Caroline Collins (Sliabh Luachra Cycling Club) was second with Hanna Lyons (Dungarvan CC) third.
After the youth races there was some fun team time trials using the same course. Action then moved over the main course with the first race for the Under 14s and Under 16s. They had 4 laps to complete. First to appear at the end of lap 1 was the leading Under 16 boy Caleb McGreevy (VC Glendale). Caleb stayed out in front until the end. Chasing hard were visiting riders Joseph Wooliscroft (Shibden Cycling Club) and Charlie Albone (Shibden Cycling Club) who finished second and third respectively. Rian McCrystal (Bear Cycling) was fourth with Eoin Davis (Bohermeen CC) fifth and Josh McClune (Team Madigan C.C.) sixth. In the Under 16 girls’ race Katie Turner (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) had put on another fine display to take the win. Emer Heverin (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team) was second with Aisling Charlesworth third.
In the Under 14 boys’ race James Cunningham (Team WORC) continued his great season taking another win. Tomás Connolly (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) was second with Kealan Doherty (Foyle CC) third. In the Under 14 girls’ race Ava Baker (Breffni Wheelers) contined her successful season with another podium first place. Lilly McDermott (TC Racing) took second with Ciara O’Connor (Drogheda Wheelers) third.
The Under 14s and Under 16s had their podium presentations on the main UCI podium.
The final race of the day saw a huge field of 177 riders on course. They started in batches with the Seniors setting off first, followed by the Juniors, M40s, M50s, M60s and finally the women.
In the 5 lap Senior Open race Pierce O’Leary (Lucan Cycling Road Club) took the win after a sprint finish with Mark Dowling (All human/VeloRevolution Racing Team). Sean O’Leary (Lucan Cycling Road Club) was third with Sean Lundy (UCD Cycling Club) fourth and Ryan Dunne (Lucan Cycling Road Club) fifth.
Ciaran O’Sullivan (Greenmount CA) won the Junior men’s race with John O’Mahony (Newcastle West Cycling Club) second, Diarmuid Collins (Newcastle West Cycling Club) third and Oliver O’Shaughnessy (Bellurgan Wheelers) fourth.
Glenn Kinning (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club) repeated his win from last year in the M40s. Marcus Flavin (Dungarvan CC) was second with Bryan Geary (St Tiernans Cycling Club) third, Trevor Costello (Islandeady Cycling Club) fourth and Frank McDermott (Oldcastle CC) fifth.
The M50s race was won by Alan Bingham (Inspired Cycling). Jason Henry (Inspired Cycling) was second with Barry Convery (Newry Wheelers CC) third. Colm McGarvey (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles) was fourth, Fearghal Regan (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) fifth and David McKee (VC Glendale) sixth.
The M60s race was missing Johnny McCabe who was off at the World Masters Cyclo-cross Championships where he finished fourth. Michael Jordan (CSS Tallaght Wheelers) took the win in Dublin with Terence O’Neill (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles) second and Lloyd Moore (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) third.
In the Women’s race Jenny McCauley (Bray Wheelers) took the win with Ami Flavin (Dungarvan CC) second and Rachel Newell (McConvey Cycles) third. The podiums were split into three with the top Senior woman, Rachel Newell being joined on the podium with Fiona Lally (EPIC MTB Expert Cycles). The top 3 Women Masters were Jenny McCauley, Aishling O’Connor (Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club) and Hazel Murphy (Yellow Furze Road Club). The top 3 Women Juniors were Ami Flavin, Ffion Dolan (TC Racing) and Holly McCaffrey (Longcourt Hotel – NCW Wheelers).
All riders then cleared the course to allow for practice for the UCI category races which take place tomorrow.
Commissaires: Jim Adams, Loch Miwa, Liz Roche and Martin Grimley
Results here
Report by Martin Grimley
Photos
Toby Watson (Facebook) – here
Damian Faulkner (Facebook) – here
