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
Chris McGlinchey - Vitus Pro Cycling
James Curry - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
Jake Gray - Ribble Pro Cycling
Adam Ward - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
Darnell Moore - Team Caldwell Cycles
Lindsay Watson - Powerhouse Sport
Craig MacAuley - Team Caldwell Cycles
- Donal Shearer - Phoenix CC
Richard Maybin - Ballymena Road Club
John Butler - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
Luke Smith - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
David Watson - The Bikehouse Cycling Club
Conor McCann - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
Craig Rea - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
William Brown - Ribble Pro Cycling
David Montgomery - Unattached
Matthew Sparrow - Team Dan Morrissey-MIG.ie-Pactimo
Des Woods - Newry Wheelers
Jody Wright - Phoenix CC
Jon Morton - Harps CC
Results - Women's Blair International Red Hand Trophy Finishers
Eve McCrystal - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
Ellen McDermott - Team Boompods
Maura Claffey - UCD Cycling Club
Grace Young - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
Agnieszka Wozniak - STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
Eileen Burns - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
Katharine Smyth - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
Sharon Bird - Velo Cafe Magasin
Laura Campbell - Ballymena Road Cycling Club
Emma Desmond - Lucan Cycling Road Club
Gabriella Homer - Unattached Leinster
Isobel Oakes - Smugglers CC
Jennifer Bates - Team Bioracer-DHL-FR Services
Ciara Kelly - TC Racing
Julie Rea - Phoenix CC
Beata Golczak - Unattached
Megan Davenport - UCD Cycling Club
Marcia Salvador - Bandon Cycling Club
Catherine Mahoney - UCD Cycling Club
Monica Freiband - Scott Orwell Wheelers
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