November 2002Cadel Evans joins Mapei: (Nov 15) Dual mountainbike World Cup series winner Cadel Evans has signed a two year contract to ride with Italian division one team, Mapei-Quick Step. Evans who won the '98 and '99 mountainbike cross-country World Cups has decided to leave the dirt behind and will concentrate solely on his road career. This year the 24 year old Australian mixed road and mountainbike races, showing enough form to take fourth place in the World. ICF XC NPS <Final Points Table updated after 5 rounds Go Here> The prize presentation for the NPS leagues both XC & DH will be early in the year - possibly in Bray. More details when they come available. October 2001UCI officially bags the dual: (By Jason Sumner VeloNews Associate Editor Oct 9) On Tuesday the UCI made official what was rumored for much of the 2001 mountain biking season: dual is done. In it's place for 2002 will be the 4-up format, which was seen at this year's Sea Otter Classic and the NORBA finals in Vermont, and will now be a World Cup and world championship discipline. The UCI announcement was accompanied by the 2002 World Cup schedule, which sees the series shrink from eight to six races. Also of note is the absence of a stop in the United States. It will be the first time in 12-year history of the series that the World Cup won't be coming to America. However, there will be two stops in Canada, Mont-Ste-Anne and Grouse Mountain. Here's the complete schedule World Cup schedule. - Cross country No. 1, Madrid, Spain, May 18-19 2001 Irish National Downhill Championships, Ravensdale, Co. Louth: (Oct 7) September 2001
ICF MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM NEWS: (Sept 24) A Development team of Juniors and Underage riders will travel to Durham in England this weekend for the final round of the BCF National Points Series in Hamsterley. The selection is based on results in events up to and including the Irish MTB Championships in Bray last weekend. Development Team Details: Juniors: Glenn Kinning, Johnny Reid, Niall O'Shea, Julian Rippon and Philip Roche - Reserve: Michael McClutcheon Under 16: Gavin Weston and Michael Mulvenna Under 14: Thomas Jensen. SEYMOUR, OWENS RETAIN NATIONAL TITLES: (By Shane Stokes Sept 23) Mountain bike riders Robin Seymour and Tarja Owens today further extended their remarkable winning sequences in national cross-country championship titles in an atmospheric, action-filled day of racing at the picturesque Kilruddery Estate near Bray. Owens shrugged off the disappointment of missing last weekend's world championships through illness to easily take her seventh consecutive title, while fellow Olympian Robin Seymour took his tally to eight straight victories. Of the two races, the senior men's competition was the greater spectacle, with visiting English rider Liam Killeen and Seymour tussling throughout the two-hour contest. A focused Seymour was first out of the blocks, opening up a slight lead at the end of the first lap, but last year's European junior champion Killeen fought back as the rest of the field faded out of contention.
IRISH IN WORLD MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS: (By Shane Stokes Sept 17) Robin Seymour was 60th in the elite cross country race in the World Mountain Bike championships in Vail, Colorado. Competing at 9,000 feet, Seymour was unable to match his 34th place of last year. However he drew some consolation from the fact that he finished within 17 and a half minutes of race winner Roland Green of Canada, a smaller time gap than might be expected on such a hard course. Tarja Owens was unwell and thus forced to withdraw before the start the women's elite race, ultimately won by US rider Alison Dunlap. Elite: six laps 1 Don Travers Banbridge 1.45.30 2 Aiden McDonald Apollo ct @5.01 3 Matt Dempsey IMBRC @9.30 4 John Mason @1 lap Juniors 4 laps 1 Glen Kinning XMtb 1.11.23 2 Philip Roche Cycleways @11.26 3 Raymond O'Shaunnassey Cuhallian @11.27 4 Niall O'Shea Cycleways@ 12.21 Expert five laps 1 Conor Campbell Newry 1.35.00 2 Noel Carr Cycleways @8.04 3 David Conlon IMBRC @11.49 4 John McCarthy Killarney @13 04 5 Tony McConville Apollo @1 lap Sport 3 laps 1 Tony Hare Apollo ct 1.03 2 Oille Gray Cycleways @2 mins 3 Liam Baxter Thermo King @3.30 Vet 3 laps 1 Knud Jensen Sorrento 45.55 2 Aiden Ryan " @8.01 3 Peter Popam Bull Frog Racing @14.30 Eamonn Mullan @16.10 5 Geoff Coupland @22.30 Masters 4 laps 1 John Dorris Sorrento 1.15.23 2 Peter McConville Newry @i.55 3 Robert Lamont XMtb @1.56 4 Paul McCann Newry @5.35 5 William Mulligan @10.12 Northern Ireland Cross - Country Championships Conlig, Co Down, Saturday 8th September 2001. ICF XC NPS As a result of the Mountain Bike strategic meeting a new Mountain Bike Commission will be elected on the Sunday 21st October in Portlaoise (Venue/time to be confirmed) All Mountain Bikers welcome. Nominations are invited for the following positions;- Chairperson, Secretary, PRO, XC Rep, DH Rep, Leisure Rep, Underage Rep, Access Rep, Technical Rep and Coaching Rep. More information on this soon. August 2001Seymour 7th in American MTB race: (By Shane Stokes Sept 2) With the world mountainbike championships taking place later this month, Irish cross-country champion Robin Seymour made an encouraging return to form with a strong ride in the Keystone MTB competition in Colorado. Coping well with the same high altitude conditions which he will face on September 16th, the Olympian placed 7th in the race, won by Roel Paulissen of the Belgian national team. Seymour and women's Irish MTB champion Tarja Owens will continue their acclimatisation in advance of the Vail championships race. ICF Cross-country league round 4, Roundwood: Elite: 1, Don Travers (Banbridge); 2, M. Slattery (Killarney); 3, J. Mason (Clonmel CC); 4, C. Mullen (Cycleways) Ladies: Beth McCluskey (IMBRC) Juniors: 1, Glen Kinning (X MTB), 2, J. Reid (X MTB), 3, J. Rippon. Under 16: 1, Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC); 2, G. Weston (IMBRC); 3, M. Mulvenny (X MTB) Sorrento CC MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE: Sunday, September 2nd 2001 in Ballinastoe Woods (Nr Roundwood - signposted on N11 south off Bray) European Cross Country Championships: (Aug 18/19) Six riders represented Ireland in St. Wendel Germany last weekend. Three of the riders were unlucky to be involved in crashes which put them towards the rear of the race and with an 80% limit on a fast 7km circuit where the elite men lapped it in 18 minutes this gave you only 15 minutes of comfort. Don Travers competing in the elite men's race was taken to hospital after the race for x-rays after several crashes in his race. Robin Seymour opted to miss the Europeans this year as he is concentrating on events in America in the run up to the World Championships next month. Tarja Owens was due to travel with the team, but a cold she picked up a couple of days before the team departed forced her to withdraw. Results Junior Men: 1 Jukka Vastaranta (Fin) 1.22.45 2 Lars Peter Nordhaug (Nor) 1.47 3 Jorg Graf (Swi) 1.49 4 Loic Guerin (Fra) 2.01 5 Frank Lehmann (Ger) 2.16 61 Glenn Kinning (Irl) 16.48 73 Johnny Reid (Irl) 1 Lap Down U23 Men: 1 Julien Absalon (Fra) 1.38.44 2 Thijs Al (Ned) 1.33 3 Peter Riis Andersen (Den) 1.43 4 Jochen Kaess (Ger) 2.03 5 Manuel Fumic (Ger) 2.07 68 Colm Mullen (Irl) 2 Laps Down Elite Women: 1 Laurence Leboucher (Fra) 2.04.10 2 Sabine Spitz (Ger) 2.39 3 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) 3.19 33 Beth Mccluskey (Irl) 1 Lap Down Elite Men: 1 Bart Brentjens (Ned) 2.00.23 2 Jose Hermida (Spa) 0.28 3 Lado Fumic (Ger) 0.50 61 Don Travers (Irl) 2 Laps Down July 2001NICF MOUNTAIN BIKE LEAGUE RACE
Results: Elite: 1 Colm Mullen Cycleways /MAD, 2 Don Travers Banbridge, 3 Aiden McDonald. Juniors: 1 Niall O'Shea Cycleways /MAD, 2 Philip Roche Cycleways /MAD, 3 Julian Rippon Sligo CC. Ladies: 1 Beth McCluskey IMBRC, Experts: 1 Bret Nelson IMBRC, Sports: 1 Joe McCall WORC Masters: 1 Pete McConville Newry Wheelers, Vets: 1 Aiden Ryan Sorrento CC, Under 16: 1 Gavin Weston IMBRC. BRAY DUAL & BALLINASTOE DOWNHILL REPORT: (July 9) A huge crowd watched Irelands first dual mountainbike race at Bray Co. Wicklow on Sat 7/7/01. Over 100 riders competed, split into two catergories with 36 underage riders and 68 senior riders. Riders raced in pairs in elimination heats until only two remained for the final race. Some of the closest racing was in the underage category where local Bray rider Jamie Popham met Ben Reid from Belfast in the final. Jamie had a disastrous qualifying run. Landing badly from one of the big jumps, He went outside the tapes to be given the slowest time and was lucky that all riders were allowed to qualify. 15 year Jamie won the next five heats to reach the final, which he won in a tense battle with Ben Reid ,during which he set the 4th fastest time of the day of all 104 riders. In the senior race, Dale McMullen from Northern Ireland came through to met Alan Clogher from Meath in the final. In a close race Dale pushed ahead to take the 100.00 1st prize. The riders moved on Sunday to Ballinastoe for the 2nd part of the competition, a downhill race. In the under 16 event Jamie Popham won to give him a double and overall victory. National elite champion John Lawlor won the elite race with Dale McMullen taking the overall victory for the two days. Results. Bray Dual - Underage: - 1st Jamie Popham Bullfrog Racing. 2nd Ben Reid xmtb 3rd Thomas power. Senior: - 1st Dale McMullen Evolution mtb 2nd Alan Clogher Dirtworks Irl. 3rd Rory O'Keefe Munster DH Ballinastoe Downhill - Under 16: 1st Jamie Popham 2nd Thomas Power 3rd Ben Reid Elite: 1st John Lawlor Bullfrog Racing 2nd Andy Yoong 3rd Marty McGuigan
Irish Results: Elite Men: 30 Simon Loughlin, 32 Don Travers, 35 Colm Mullen, Expert Men: 13 Matt Dempsey. Junior Men: 3 Glenn Kinning, 15 Johnny Reid, 21 Matt McInerney. Masters: 16 Aiden McDonald. Veteran Men: 15 Knud Jensen. Youth Men: 8 Lewis Ferguson, 16 Chris Jones, 29 Michael Mulvenna. Juvenile Men: 1 Thomas Jensen, 7 Matt Ferguson, 19 Chris Jensen. Riding on the crest of a wave: (By Shane Stokes July 3) Tarja Owens, a 24-year-old from Co Wicklow, is the first Irish woman to compete in the Tour of Italy, one of the biggest races in cycling, which started this week. Shane Stokes charts her career and looks at some of the challenges she faces <<Read the Full Story in the Irish Times >> MTB Rider Interview: Thomas Juul-Jensen Thomas was born in Dublin in 1987 - At the recent NPS MTB event (Summer 2001) in Trentham gardens, we caught up with Thomas just after he had convincingly won the Juvenile race, and asked him a few questions about his passion for cycling: First Race: U12 event in Ravensdale when I was just 8…. I came 4th but was aiming for a top three when I took a wrong turn just before the finish Best Cycling Moment: Beating my dad in a Sorrento club MTB race - No, seriously today's win but also going to Belgium last year as part of the Irish U/13 road team Worst Cycling Moment: Loosing to my dad but that'll soon be a thing of the past……… What Do You Prefer MTB Or Road: At the moment I don't really know but the competition is much harder on the road, so that's were I'll do a lot of my racing. Mind you, I'm still stronger off road and nothing beats a good single track decent!! Sooner or later I'll have to make a decision which category I want to concentrate on and this week- end's national u/age road champs may help me to decide!! Cycling Hero: Armstrong on the road and Henrik Djernis off road Best Training Ride: 70km Sunday spins with Bray Wheelers during winter season and 7 hour annual Sorrento club MTB spin (not all members agree) Plans For Rest Of The Season: U/age road champs this week-end and both Irish and Danish MTB champs which I can ride as my parents were both born in Denmark Cycling Dream: It would be great to one day make a living out of riding a bike but it's early days. If that does not happen then becoming a sports journalist like Paul Kimmage would be OK What Support Do You Enjoy:Mum makes good healthy food and my dad brings me and my brother to all the races, so that's a good start. A friend in Denmark makes the bikes we ride (Zaco) both on the road and in MTB, so the equipment is always in top condition Finally, the experienced English ex pro Mick Ives who runs a team sponsored by Peugeot helps with advice and team kit. 2001 Irish XC NPS LeagueName Club # 1 # 2 # 3 # 4 # 5 Total |
British National Points Series Final in Hamsterley: (Sept 30) The final round of the BCF NPS was run off in Hamsterley, Co Durham last weekend. A large contingent of Irish Riders traveled to the event including a ICF Development Team of Junior and underage riders. While the fine weather we had for the most of September came to an end, it did not hinder the Irish from getting some good results. Young Thomas Jensen (Sorrento CC) had his second win in the series in a close sprint to the line, he praised his road racing experience helped him win this one. In the Junior event Glenn Kinning (X Mtb) took another podium position finishing third and Jenny Brennan from Greystones won the women's Sport event. Taking on the Elite men Don Travers (Banbridge CC) had his best result in a BMB finishing 13th and John Mason (Clonmel CC) had an excellent 17th place in his first British NPS. 
The Irish Mountainbike Championships are on this week, the 22nd/23rd of September in Kilruddery, Co.Wicklow. The venue is just south of Bray which is only about 15 miles from the center of Dublin and can be accessed via the N11. The course has been designed to suit most riders with a lot of thought gone into making it a spectator friendly course. It is using the familiar "clover leaf" design which brings the riders back to the start finish area three times during each lap. Each loop contains individual elements and should have something to suit every riders tastes. During the lap you should look out for the RedBull Bombhole (with optional chicken run) and Belmont house, the Ballygowan lake and numerous other specially designed features built for this years event. The event itself is an UCI E2 event with points up for grabs for riders which will allow them to ride world cup events. This being the case there has been interest from riders outside of Ireland looking to increase their points tally and to move them up the UCI rankings. 
The Irish Mountainbike Championships are on this week, the 22nd/23rd of September in Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow. The venue is just south of Bray which is only about 15 miles from the center of Dublin and can be accessed via the N11. The course has been designed to suit most riders with a lot of thought gone into making it a spectator friendly course. It is using the familiar "clover leaf" design which brings the riders back to the start finish area three times during each lap. Each loop contains individual elements and should have something to suit every riders tastes. During the lap you should look out for the Red Bull Bomb hole (with optional chicken run) and Belmont house, the Ballygowan lake and numerous other specially designed features built for this years event. The event itself is an UCI E2 event with points up for grabs for riders which will allow them to ride world cup events. This being the case there has been interest from riders outside of Ireland looking to increase their points tally and to move them up the UCI rankings. 
ICF NPS XC 5 in Ravensdale Results: (Sept 16) 
ICF MTB National Points Series in Glenealy: (July 15) Colm Mullen (Cycleways) won the first round of the ICF series in Wicklow today. With two laps remaining of the five lap race, Mullen was with Simon Loughlin, Don Travers they had over 2 minutes on Aiden McDonald in 4th place. Loughlin punchured later and did not finish, Mullen dropped Travers on the last lap to win his first race this year. Cycleways junior rider Niall O'Shea made a double victory for their club winning the junior race. 
Irish Mountain Bikers in Britain: (July 4) Over 20 Irish mountain bikers descended on Trentham Gardens for the 3rd round of the BCF NPS. The Irish Cycling Federation sent a team of Juniors and Under 23 riders as part of a development program to assist up and coming riders. Representing the ICF were Junior Riders Glenn Kinning, Niall O'Shea and Johnny Reid and under 23 rider Colm Mullen, Matt Slattery was selected for the team but did not travel due to a knee injury. Simon Loughlin and Don Travers travelled from Northern Ireland both are in the running for selection for the commonwealth games. Glenn Kinning had an excellent race finishing 3rd in the juniors and young Thomas Jensen topped the podium winning the juvenile race.