Top cyclists descend on Dundalk for Leinster Time Trial Championships

Linda Stokes winning Round 9 of the Bike Station League ahead of Jamie O’Hare and Cyril Sherry

Last Friday night Leinster’s top cyclists descended on Dundalk for the Leinster Time Trial Championships.

The course was the 16km route starting at Felda Gym, going out to Castlebellingham and back in again. The light rain and breeze meant that fast times were expected on the night and Colm Cassidy of Cork’s Aqua Blue did not disappoint, setting a new course record of 19mins 36secs for the distance.

However as Cassidy rides for a Cork club he was not eligible for the Championship, which meant that Summerhill man Mark Reilly took the gold with a time of 21mins 20sec. Niall Clarke took silver with a time of 21mins 20sec. Taking the bronze medal was another Cuchulainn man Colm Quinn with a 21:28.

Ciara Kinch was the ladies champion, ahead of Cuchulainn’s Celine McPhilips and Hannah Ormesher in third.

The latest round of the Bike Station Cycling League saw Linda Stokes take her first win in race two. Linda was part of a strong group which took maximum advantage of their handicap to stay away.

Jamie O’Hare was in second, Cyril Sherry in third, Kathleen Byrne was fourth and Jason Boyle rounded out the top five. In race one the first group off also worked well together to stay away for the win. Sean McEvoy won the sprint ahead of Alex McDonnell and Eamonn McKeown.

At the half way stage of the league Alan Bingham, tops the leaderboard with four points to spare over Alan Malone.

Lionel triumphs on top of Flagstaff

Terry McEneaney taking part in round eight of the mountain biking league at Bellurgan Park

The eighth round of The Bike Station Summer Cycling League finished atop of the climb at Flagstaff, making it the most gruelling race of the series.

The riders have some 30km of hard racing in their legs before making the dreaded left turn at Davy’s Pub for the 3km ascent, where the sweat stinging the eyes means that the spectacular views cannot be appreciated.

First to conquer the climb was Lionel Mothion, Dundalk’s resident French cyclist. Lionel was part of group five that managed to catch group four yet stay away from group six. Lionel was untouchable on the climb and came home for a solo victory with Benny Smith in second and Alan Malone in third.

The second race went to another mountain goat with Paul Howard blasting up the steep ascent ahead of John McDonnell and Brendan Crosby. Underage rider Conor McKeown had a solid ride to take fourth place.

After eight rounds it is the two Alans at the top of the table, with Alan Bingham and Alan Malone both sitting pretty on 49 points. Benny Smith is a further three points back in third place and the sprinting sensation Val Gargan is in fourth on 45 points.

We’re also up to Round 8 of the mountain biking league, which was once again in Bellurgan Park. For the night a slightly altered course was used and riders faced eight laps of a 1.7km technical course, which had a new trail added thanks to the club’s members.

Race one saw Liam Burns eventually drop Jason Malone after a ding-dong battle between the pair, with Brendan Callaghan in third. Race two saw an epic battle between four riders, David Hoey, John Noone, Greg Clifford and Paul Durnin, that went on over the eight laps. David Hoey and John Noone managed to pull away towards the end, to finish first and second respectively. Greg Clifford came home in third. Round nine sees the riders battle the elements on the open mountain.