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Cycling Reports

Killeen misses out

Report By Gerry McManus

Email: gerry@londonirish.freeserve.co.uk

Liam Killeen just missed out on a medal in the British National Under-23 road race championships in Buckinghamshire, UK on Sunday 5th May.

The 93-mile race was stern test for the British squad rider who beat Robin Seymour in the 2001 Irish mountain bike championship in Bray. The 20-year old who’s father is from Co. Mayo was unable to claim the Irish champions jersey because he holds a British racing licence.

At 20-miles a breakaway group had escaped.

Gary Willis (Scottish Cycling CU), Jamie Alberts ( GG Etupes), James Barnes (CC Chateaubriant), Mark Baker (SG Bollington), Mark Kelly (Dataphonics RT), David Law (Velo Sport Quimper) and James Flanagan (Team Milton Keynes) completed the group of six.

As the front men worked steadily together at around 30 miles, the chasing group behind split on the climb through the finish and the bunch were at 2-05 losing a further minute more by the end of lap five.

The remaining eight chasers seemed to be clawing their way back with a time check of 57 seconds on the sixth ascent of to Ashendon but the leaders responded dropping first Flanagan and then Law in the process.

With three chase groups on the road ahead, Liam Killeen and Phil Dixon (Team Y2K) decided to leave the idling bunch and proceeded to work their way through the field.

Alberts was noticeably the strongest rider in the break and when he jumped his race companions with 20 miles to go they had no answer and he completed a fine solo to the finish.

Meanwhile, news had reached Kelly and Barnes that chasers were at 45 secs and were gaining with one lap to go forcing them to work hard together. In what must have seemed like a desperate lunge for the line, Kelly sprinted away taking Barnes with him as a rushing Killeen got to within half a wheel at the finish.

Another 10 yards would likely have seen a different podium result.

Killeen was disappointed to have missed a medal on having completed the ride of the day on the championship quality circuit:

“I have been feeling a bit rough for about ten days now and I was planning on sitting in the bunch for the first few laps and as the riders weren’t doing anything, I decided to have a go. Phil Dixon and I worked together and managed to get back group-by-group. It’s a shame really that we left it a little too late as I feel like I could have got a medal but that’s road racing.”

1. Jamie Alberts CC Etupes 3.58.52 2. Mark Kelly Dataphonics RT/United Rent @49sec 3. James Barnes CC Chateaubriant ST 4. Liam Killeen Team Y2K/Trek/SRAM/Luco ST 5. Tim Morley Team Y2K/Trek/SRAM/Luco ST 6. Phil Dixon Team Y2K/Trek/SRAM/Luco