Mc Crystal dominant as National Series resumes

The Cycling Ireland National Road Series resumes on Saturday, kicking off a double-bill of counting rounds in a busy weekend of top flight domestic racing.  

On Saturday the action shifts to Ulster for the Bobby Crilly Classic event which will take place on the roads of County Antrim, including its unique mountain top finish at the summit of the Black Mountain service road normally closed to traffic.

The event sees the series reach round 10 in the 16 round series, with riders having to record their best 5 scores but must compete in 3 Provinces.

Sunday will see the series move west to Connacht for the Donamon GP in Castlecoote Co. Roscommon

Looking at the table to date, it sees the first four places filled by riders from each of the four provinces, suggesting the revised format is proving popular with riders.

Sitting at the top of the table, and looking like he will be difficult to catch, is Leinster man Bryan McCrystal from Dundalk whose best five scores total 267, thanks to consistent performances across the country, including wins in the Wallace Caldwell Memorial race (Ulster) and Davis Cup (Connacht) earlier in the season.

He sits well clear of second placed Munster man Seán Lacey from Ballincollig who is on 205, but who has yet to win a counting round.
Ulster are represented in third place with Ali Macaulay, also a member of McCrystal`s dominant Team Asea squad who has 141 points, and will be hoping to improve his total when the series reaches `home` territory this weekend. His total comes from four rounds ridden so far, as opposed to the other contenders who have ridden five, so a good showing on home territory could see him move well up the overall standings.  

Connacht`s Partick Clarke (Liquidworx Fitscience) currently holds fourth place, thanks in no small way to his recent win the recent Tom Bourke classic event on familiar Connacht roads.

With the An Post Rás now out of the way, and the National Championships very close on the horizon, this weekend will see the top domestic riders revert to one-day mode in their build up to the national battle, which will also be fought on Ulster`s roads in Omagh, County Tyrone, at the end of the month.

Other Ulster riders hoping to put on a good showing in Saturday`s event include Fraser Duncan again from the dominant Asea outfit, and Dave Watson from the North Down Club, both of whom have been consistent performers so far this season.


 

Cycling Ireland National Series standings after 9 rounds.

Rider

National

Bryan McCrystal

267

Seán Lacey

205

Alastair Macaulay

141

Patrick Clarke

129

Christopher Reilly

123

David Brennan

119

Fraser Duncan

117

Simon Ryan

116

Angus Fyffe

109

Daire Feeley

99

 

 

Remaining series rounds –

10. Bobby Crilly Classic.                 Saturday 13th June.             Ulster
11. Donamon GP.                            Sunday 14th June.                Connacht.

 
12. Eddie Tobin Memorial.             Sunday 5th July.                   Leinster
13. Tralee Manor West GP             Sunday 12th July.                 Munster
14. Dan O`Donnovan Memorial.   Sunday 9th August.             Munster
15. John Beggs Memorial.             Saturday 15th August.         Ulster
16. Noth Down GP.                         Sunday 23rd August.           Ulster