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Irish women’s tandem bikes put in an exceptional performance to have two bikes win medals in the Women’s B Road Race at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland.
Both Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted by Linda Kelly, and Josephine Healion, piloted by Eve McCrystal have demonstrated great form in recent weeks between the Paralympic Games and the Individual Time Trial at the World Championships, but no-one could have dreamed of the performance they put in for the Women’s B Road Race today, Wednesday 25th of September.
Dunlevy and Kelly entered the race as reigning World Champions following their victory in Glasgow last year. For Healion and McCrystal today marked the end of what has been a successful partnership as McCrystal retires from piloting at the elite level.
Both Irish bikes were dominant throughout the 84.7km course. Healion and McCrystal held onto the lead for significant section of the course, gaining almost one minute on their nearest rivals.
As the race moved into the closing section the two Irish tandems worked closely with Sophie Unwin, piloted by Jenny Holl. The same British bike that won gold in this event at the recent Paralympic Games.
Dunlevy and Kelly showed their strength and determination, learning from what unfolded in Paris they edged away from Unwin and Holl. They finished the race with a 1:23 gap to the British bike who had to settle for silver.
Speaking afterwards, Dunlevy described the race as textbook: “To have two Irish bikes on the podium, us and then Eve and Josie, it was just textbook. What we were hoping for, what we were dreaming for, we were hoping to get that in Paris, but we didn’t. We came away with Silver, I was actually disappointed not to defend my title but to do it here at the Worlds, I’m so proud of us.
“It was an amazing race, really enjoyed the course, it was a bit of everything. It’s just really exciting, it’s great to have these courses for tandems and I just hope that in the future they’ll be more challenging like this with hills and descents and everything technical, because you know we’re well able for it. Just to have a combined championships is amazing, it’s been fantastic and hopefully there will be more like these.
“We have a whole team behind us so it’s really to thank the team, and my family, my parents, my partner and all my sisters and everyone. We’ve a great support team believing in us so we believe in ourselves as well and that just helps so much.”
Despite the quick turnaround between the Paralympic Games and these World Championships, there was a lot to think about in between for Kelly.
“We did have a good think about it afterwards when we got home and before we got here. We had a chat with our coach, obviously we had a chat with our teammates Eve and Josie, and just talked about tactics as well as power and speed. The type of course that it is as well, it did play to our strengths up the hills, going very fast down the descents you’re hitting 70 to 80 km/p, a lot of turns. So we did have a lot of thinking about it.”
Her relief at retaining the rainbow jersey was palpable. “We’re just so happy to come back and do the double two years in a row.” Kelly added.
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These championships signify the end of the Para-cycling season. When asked about what’s next, Dunlevy said: “A long deserved break, it’s been a long, hard year for us but we’re delighted with the year. Take a break now and set ourselves up for next year. We’ve had the crashes on the bikes and illnesses, so mentally it’s been a tough year. Mentally it’s hard to prepare yourself for these races, it takes its toll on the body as well so yeah we’ll have a nice break and then we’ll get back to it again.”
Describing the year as a dream, there is no doubting the resilience shown by Dunlevy throughout.
Healion and McCrystal had a fairytale ride, coming home closely behind Unwin and Holl, to claim bronze. This marks Healion’s second medal at championship level, this is no surprise as she has shown brilliant form in recent weeks, coming fourth in this event at the Paralympic Games and in the Individual Time Trial on Sunday at these championships.
For McCrystal, to end what has been an incredible decade as a pilot with a world championship medal in her final race was more than fitting.
Perhaps, best known for her outstanding success both on the track and road with Dunlevy, McCrystal has been a key figure in Irish para-cycling. Dunlevy and McCrystal are multiple Paralympic and World medallists. In their final race together, McCrystal and Dunlevy claimed Silver in the Women’s B 3000m Individual Pursuit in Paris.