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Last Updated: 16 Jun 2019 - 10:21:12 PM |
McGlinchey and McCrystal score solo National Road Series wins at Red Hand Trophy
By Jessica Lamb, Press Officer, Cycling Ireland
1 Jun 2019,
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IRISH internationals Chris McGlinchey and Eve McCrystal soloed to impressive wins at round three of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series in Ballymena on Saturday.
Belfast’s McGlinchey was first to cross the line, attacking along the coast to get clear with fellow rising star Adam Ward. Discontent with that company though, the 25-year-old went again, setting himself up for a 15km time-trial to the line, battling a head wind all the way.
He said: “It was pretty aggressive all day. The first 10 miles were pretty steep climbs, so we attacked there and got a group of about 12. In Ballycastle we split it up again then, we went down into Cushendall and it was constant attacking and attacking until a group of six got away along the coast.
“Adam Ward attacked on that final climb, and I bridged across to him and attacked him and just soloed for the last 15km. It was pretty tough.”
McGlinchey would have been a regular feature in the Cycling Ireland National Road Series last season, but this year joined UCI Pro Continental team Vitus Pro Cycling and has thus been kept busy elsewhere.
“I’m racing on a UK team now,” he explained. “So I’m not racing in Ireland as much as I have in previous years, it’s always good to race here though and even better to get a win.”
After being attacked by McGlinchey, Ward returned to the group and had to settle for fourth in the final sprint, which was won by Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie Pactimo’s James Curry, Jake Gray taking third for Ribble Pro Cycling.
The finish of the Women’s Elite event mirrored that of the Men’s, with Eve McCrystal going long from about 25km out to score her first win of the domestic season, donning the Irish National Road Racing Champion’s jersey.
McCrystal said: “The first 30k was hard and fast, the Ballymena girls really pushed it, and it was tough for me at the end, I can tell you.
“It was along the seafront that I attacked. There was an opportunity, and Aggie, my team mate, did a great job pulling Ellen McDermott back, then I just came off her wheel and put the head down and went for it.”
She added: “I didn’t know the course, so I didn’t really know what was ahead of me - I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. When we turned right after the seafront I think I had a minute and 48 seconds, but I didn’t realise the climb was as long as it was.
“I said, ‘if I can go over the top with still a good gap I have a chance’. I did, but it was straight into a headwind, so I didn’t get the benefit of the nice descent. They got me back to I think 22 seconds and I just kept at it and at it.”
McDermott, based in the UK with Team Boompods, got some compensation winning the sprint for second, over UCD Cycling Club’s Maura Claffey, with McCrystal’s Strata3-Velo Revolution team mates Grace Young and Agnieszka Wozniak finishing fourth and fifth.
Young remains atop the Women’s National Road Series General Classification, her team now topping the new Team Classification, and it is Conor Hennebry atop the men’s, despite missing out on points in Ballymena.
With four rounds remaining, Hennebry’s team - Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo - also tops the Men’s Team Classification. The next round is the Mullingar GP on Sunday, July 14.
Results
Men's Blair International Red Hand Trophy
1 Chris McGlinchey - Vitus Pro Cycling
2 James Curry - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
3 Jake Gray - Ribble Pro Cycling
4 Adam Ward - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
5 Darnell Moore - Team Caldwell Cycles
6 Lindsay Watson - Powerhouse Sport
7 Craig MacAuley - Team Caldwell Cycles
8 Richard Maybin - Ballymena Road Club
9 John Butler - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
10 Luke Smith - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
11 David Watson - The Bikehouse Cycling Club
12 Conor McCann - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
13 Craig Rea - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
14 Conor McCann - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
15 William Brown - Ribble Pro Cycling
16 David Montgomery - Unattached
17 Matthew Sparrow - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
18 Des Woods - Newry Wheelers
19 Jody Wright - Phoenix CC
20 Jon Morton - Harps CC
Women's Blair International Red Hand Trophy Finishers
1 Eve McCrystal - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
2 Ellen McDermott - Team Boompods
3 Maura Claffey - UCD Cycling Club
4 Grace Young - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
5 Agnieszka Wozniak - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
6 Eileen Burns - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
7 Katharine Smyth - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
8 Sharon Bird - Velo Cafe Magasin
9 Laura Campbell - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
10 Emma Desmond - Lucan Cycling Road Club
11 Gabriella Homer - Unattached Leinster
12 Isobel Oakes - Smugglers CC
13 Jennifer Bates - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
14 Ciara Kelly - TC Racing
15 Julie Rea - Phoenix CC
16 Beata Golczak - Unattached
17 Megan Davenport - UCD Cycling Club
18 Marcia Salvador - Bandon Cycling Club
19 Catherine Mahoney - UCD Cycling Club
20 Monica Freiband - Scott Orwell Wheelers
FOR MORE DETAILS: http://bit.ly/NRS_2019
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Ballymena Hosts Third Round of Cycling Ireland National Road Series
Press Release 31st May
BALLYMENA on Saturday plays host to the third round of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series, as all four classifications begin to take shape in Ireland's premier road racing event.
At round two in Blarney, Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo continued to show dominance, last year's National Road Series Champion Conor Hennebry retaining his lead, as tall teammate Sean Hahessy won the Donal Crowley Memorial Road Race.
In the Women's National Road Series, multiple World Para-cycling Champion Eve McCrystal returned to domestic action but was out-gunned by Irish track cycling international Mia Griffin.
Both now feature in the top 10 of the General Classification, led by first-round winner Grace Young, who rides with McCrystal on the Strata3 VeloRevolution Racing Team.
Despite their clear strengths, it is Scott-Orwell Wheelers who lead the Women's Team Classification, thanks to some determined riding by newcomer Arron Fox.
Fox was dropped from the bunch early in the race but battled on to finish 18th - the last official finisher from 26 starters.
With teammates Yvonne Doran and Monica Marconi finished earlier, Fox's performance gave the Dublin club the three riders necessary to score points in the Team Classification - and it took them to the top of that table.
"I was himming and hawing about whether or not to go done, but I decided to go because I knew if I got some points it would count towards the team prize," said Fox.
"I knew the weather forecast was horrible and we woke up to lashing rain and wind," she remembered.
"I got dropped about halfway, so had 40k on my own, into a headwind. I knew I had to keep racing because if I slowed down, I was going to get cold."
She added: "It was absolutely fantastic to finish the race, because mentally, it had been a battle."
Fox will turn out again on Saturday, with her and Doran joined by Monica Freiband. UCD Cycling Club are also well represented, with Strata3 VeloRevolution's McCrystal and Young bound to be a formidable force in Antrim's Glens.
The Blair International Red Hand Trophy starts in Ballymena and loops 103km up to Ballycastle, following the coast to Carnlough, before returning to finish in Ballymena on Saturday afternoon.
The trophy, presented to the winner of the Men's National Road Series Race was first presented in 1869 and came to Ballymena Road Club in 1968.
Conor Hennebry, who rides again on Saturday and leads the Men's National Road Series General Classification, is the latest name on the honour role.
The Blair International Red Hand Trophy will be covered live on Twitter via @CINatRoadSeries this Saturday from early.
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About the Cycling Ireland National Road Series
The Cycling Ireland National Road Series is a seven-race league incorporating the best domestic one-day road races. Points are accumulated down to 20th place in each Men’s and Women’s race, the winners walking away with €600. For 2019 there is an additional €300 Team Classification.
FOR MORE DETAILS: http://bit.ly/NRS_2019
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