November 2002 |
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Cadel 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 2001 UCI 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.
Irish
National Downhill Championships, Ravensdale, Co.
Louth: (Oct 7) September 2001
Elite Men: 1 Nick Craig DBR, 13 Don Travers ICF, 17 John Mason Clonmel. Expert Men: Warrick Spence Bikepark, 8 Matt Dempsey IMBRC, 20 Brett Nelson IMBRC. Junior Men: 1 Philip Spencer Merlin, 3 Glenn Kinning ICF Devl Team, 11 Julian Rippon ICF Devl Team, 18 Philip Roche ICF Devl Team, 22 Mick McClutcheon ICF Devl Team. Masters: 1 John Vaness U/a, 5 Aiden McDonald Apollo CT Veterans: 1 Jeff Sharp U/a, 8 Knud Jensen Sorrento CC, 12 James Synnott IMBRC. Sport Women: 1 Jenny Brennan U/a. Youth (U16) 1 Ian Legg Principia RT, 8 Chris Jones X Mtb, 11 Louis Ferguson X Mtb, 12 Gavin Weston ICF Devl Team, 13 Michael Mulvenna ICF Devl Team, Juvenile (U14) 1 Thomas Jensen ICF Devl Team, 3 Andrew McCullough U/a, 7 Matt Ferguson X Mtb, 14 Chris Jensen IMBRC 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. <See Pictures Here> READ MORE HERE >>
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 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. 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. Meanwhile in the downhill competitions, Glynn O'Brien was 44th, Andrew Yoong 50th and John Lawlor 57th in the elite race, while Colin Ross and William Corry were 31st and 34th respectively in the junior contest.
UCI World Mountain Bike Championships in Vail USA: <See Results Here> Northern
Ireland Cross - Country Championships Conlig, Co Down, Saturday 8th September 2001. ICF XC NPS <Points Table updated after 4 rounds Go Here> 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 2001 Seymour 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 Race: 1, Don Travers (Banbridge); 2, M. Slattery (Killarney); 3, J. Mason (Clonmel CC); 4, C. Mullen (Cycleways) Ladies: Beth McCluskey (IMBRC) Junior Race: 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) <See Pictures Here> SORRENTO
CC MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND 2001
in BALLINASTOE WOODS (Nr Roundwood - signposted
on N11 south off Bray) SEPT 4 There will be Mountain Bike strategic meeting at 7.30pm in the National Council for the Blind Training Centre on the Whitworth Road in Drumcondra. All Mountain Bikers welcome ICF XC NPS <Points Table for first 3 races here> 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. See his results here >> 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: Place Rider Country Time 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: Place Rider Country Time 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: Place Rider Country Time 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: Place Rider Country Time 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 2001 NICF MOUNTAIN BIKE LEAGUE RACE Elite Men's Race - 5 laps 1 R Seymour Team WORC 1.59:35 2 A MacDonald Apollo CC + 4.45 3 M Kenny Team WORC +18.09 Sports Race - 4 laps 1 T Owens Michele Fanini 1.55:32 2 P Jennings X MTB + 1:54 3 P Anderson X MTB + 5:17 Juniors Race - 3 laps 1 J Reid X MTB 1.13:57 2 L Ferguson X MTB + 1:54 3 N O'Shea Cycleways + 2.41 Masters Race - 4 laps 1 R Lamont X MTB 1.48:00 2 W Mulligan Banbridge CC + 9:52 3 P Agnew Team Madigan +18.49 IMPORTANT NOTICE - CHANGE OF DATE: The Killarney round of the ICF NPS Cross Country is moved to Sunday the 29th July instead of Aug 5th.
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 Junior: 1st James Williamson, Masters: 1st Chaz Farrrel, Vets: Ist Peter Popham Bullfrog Racing
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 >> |
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. <Pictures
Here Later This Week>
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
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.
ICF
NPS XC 5 in Ravensdale Results: (Sept 16)
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 <
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.
MTB
Rider Interview - Thomas Juul-Jensen: At the
recent British NPS event 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: <
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.