Stephen Gallagher, David McCann, David O'Loughlin
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David McCann yesterday added the Irish national time trial title to the FBD Milk Rás victory he took earlier this year, finishing comfortably ahead of 2003 TT champion David O’Loughlin at the end of the 23.8 mile race against the clock.
The Giant Asia professional covered the tough Killorglin course in a time of 51 minutes and thirteen seconds, one minute and sixteen up on O’Loughlin (Totalcycling.com) and just over four minutes ahead of Flanders Afincom pro Stephen Gallagher. Paul Healion (Usher IRC), Timmy Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) and Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond) completed the top six.
Yesterday’s result means that McCann and O’Loughlin will represent Ireland in the elite time trial at the world championships in Verona at the end of the month. There are also two slots up for grabs in the road race, with Ciarán Power and Mark Scanlon to indicate tomorrow if they should be considered for the squad. The final composition of the team will then be announced later this week.
Meanwhile the women’s time trial title went to Siobhan Dervan yesterday, the St. Finbarr’s rider finishing one minute and eight seconds clear of national road race champion Julie O’Hagan (All Systems Dublin Wheelers) and a further 1 minute and eighteen seconds up on Louise Moriarty (Dublin Skip Les Jeunes).
It is yet to be confirmed if this ride will earn Dervan a place at the world championships. Prior to the race Cycling Ireland had indicated that the fastest woman would have to cover the distance at a speed within eighteen percent of that set by the quickest elite man. Dervan’s time was outside this parameter but the weather conditions and technical nature of the course means that the women’s commission are still weighing up the decision.
In the other classifications, Miceal Concannon was far ahead of the next under 23 rider, finishing just under three minutes clear of Brendan Lacey (Earl of Desmond) and five minutes one second up on Banbridge CC’s Gareth Rogers. James Whelan (McNally Swords) posted a similarly dominant performance in the junior contest, finishing two minutes 38 seconds and three minutes 46 seconds clear of Patrick Clarke (Castlebar CC) and Marcus Treacy (Killarney CC). The winning margin of Sean Hargen in the veteran’s event was even more impressive, the Totalcycling.com rider ending his race over four minutes clear of Orwell’s Ronnie Brannigan and Angelo O’Connor (Avonmore Navan RC).
Mary Brennan (Castlbar CC) took the junior women’s event.
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Press release: Irish National Time Trial Championships 2004
The Irish National Time Trial Championships were promoted by Killorglin Credit Union Cycling Club on Saturday, 11th September, 2004. The event which was sponsored by the Red Fox Inn was run over a course around Caragh Lake and Glencar. The somewhat inclement weather meant that times were a little slower than expected. A stronger field of elite men than has been seen for a number of years contested the championship. The fact that a number of places for the World Championships in Verona, Italy were up for grabs insured that racing in this category would be intense.
The course itself was not chosen with the TT specialist in mind. The roads were narrow and winding with two long drags to test the best of legs. Defending champion David O’Loughlin, Total Cycling was seeded at number 1 with David McCann, Giant Asia RT, arguably Ireland’s best tester seeded at number 2. Stephen Gallagher, Flanders Afincon was the third seed.
When Sean Hargen, Total Cycling was then first vet home in a time of 58:51 it showed that the elite men were not going to have much trouble with the one hour barrier on the 23.5 mile circuit.
Miceal Concannon then came in as the leading espoir in a time of 56:58. He said the choice of a front trispoke had cost him at least one minute on the long exposed section of the course where the side wind a major factor. This was further proof that the hour barrier would get a fair old hammering. All the seeded men made it home in less than one hour. However when McCann arrived long before his two minute man it was obvious that his time was going to be exceptionally fast. Two minutes after he arrived number one seed O’Loughlin had still not arrived so a new champion had taken over.
The elite women and the junior men raced a 13 mile course using most of the senior circuit. Siobhan Dervan, St. Finbarr’s easily won the elite women’s race in a time of 39:58. James Whelan, McNally Swords won the Junior men’s race in a time of 36 minutes. This was a fine effort from James which would have put him in the top ten of the elite men at the 13 mile time check and at the 8.5 mile time check. Mary Brennan, Castlebar won the Junior Woman’s race.
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National time trial championships, Killorglin:
Elite men: 1, David McCann (Giant Asia) 23.8 miles in 51 mins 13 secs
2, David O’Loughlin (Total Cycling.com) at 1 min 16 secs
3, Stephen Gallagher (Flanders Afincom) at 4 mins 2 secs
4, Paul Healion (Usher Irish Road Club) at 4 mins 40 secs
5, Timmy Barry (Cidona Carrick Wheelers) at 4 mins 53 secs
6, Paul Griffin (Earl of Desmond) at 5 mins 18 secs
Elite women: 1, Siobhan Dervan (St. Finbarrs) 13.5 miles in 39 mins 58 secs
2, Julie O’Hagan (All Systems Dublin Wheelers) at 1 min 8 secs
3, Louise Moriarty (Les Jeunes Dublin Skip) at 2 mins 26 secs
Under 23 men: 1, Miceal Concannon (Killorglin CUCC) 23.8 miles in 56 mins 59 secs
2, Brendan Lacey (Earl of Desmond) at 2 mins 59 secs
3, Gareth Rogers (Banbridge CC) at 5 mins 1 sec
Junior men: 1, James Whelan (McNally Swords) 13.5 miles in 36 mins
2, Patrick Clarke (Castlebar CC) at 2 mins 38 secs
3, Marcus Treacy (Killarney CC) at 3 mins 46 secs
Junior women: 1, Mary Brennan (Castlebar CC) 8.5 miles in 27 mins 26 secs
Veterans: 1, Sean Hargen (Total Cycling.com) 23.8 miles in 59 mins 51 secs
2, Ronnie Brannigan (Orwell – Dundrum SC) at 4 mins 22 secs
3, Angelo O’Connor (Avonmore Navan RC) at 5 mins 10 secs
John Doyle Cup:
Under 16: 1, Jeremiah O’Sullivan (Killorglin CUCC) 8.5 miles in 25 mins 7 secs
2, Denis Dunworth (Killorglin CUCC) at 2 secs
3, Liam O’Dowd (Earl of Desmond) at 10 secs
Under 12: 1, Cian Corcoran (Killorglin CUCC)
2, Roisin Coffey (Killorglin CUCC)
3, Shane O’Sullivan (Killorglin CUCC)