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The Women’s and Open race were both held as a demonstration event as per Cycling Ireland Technical Regulations. The Masters 40/Masters 50 and Masters 60 races were non-championship races.
Women’s and Open categories were open Junior, Senior and Masters riders, with no separate championships for these categories.
Galway Bay CC are no strangers to gravel events and provided an ideal venue for the inaugural championships. One of Ireland’s leading gravel clubs, they have run several successful gravel races in previous years, including the Galway Gravel Grinder, The Galway Classic and The Bog Trials.
All races took place around the 11.2km track. In the Women’s National Championships Ellen McDermott topped the podium for Keukens Redant Cycling Team. Annalise Murphy added another excellent result to her name coming home in second place for Longcourt Hotel – Newcastle West Wheelers. Greenmount Cycling Academy riders filled third and fourth place with Gabrielle Fox and Claire O’Sullivan respectively.
The Open National Championship saw riders tackle 106.2km, with victory going to Stephen Clancy for Team Nova Nordisk. Yesterday not only marked Clancy’s first national championship title but also his last race as a professional rider. The Co. Limerick native has been racing with Team Nova Nordisk, an American team fully comprised of riders with Diabetes.
Second place went to David Montgomery for Spellman Dublin Port and Leo Doyle completed the podium for X-Speed United. Team Stafford Bonded’s Andy Maguire finished fourth. Alexis Roche was fifth and Nicholas Roche was sixth, both riding for NR Gravel Team.
Racing began with the M60’s who faced five laps totalling 59km. Paul Birchall claimed victory and Paul Leufer was second. The M40’s and M50’s were next out, completing 70.8km. Rascor Cycling Club’s Peter Boaden topped the podium in the M40’s. He was followed by Ronan O’Flynn for Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club and Evaldas Stankevicius for Greenmount Cycling Academy. Completing the top five was Ronán Mac Con Iomaire in fourth for Gaeltacht Cycling Club and Keith Walsh for Greenmount Cycling Academy in fifth.
Des Woods won the M50’s for Inspired Cycling. Padraic Quinn from Gaeltacht Cycling Club was second and riding for the host club Derek Joyce was third. Jason Henry – Inspired Cycling’s Jason Henry was fourth and Chris Byrne for Park Wheelers was fifth.