National Series heads south as finale looms.
The Cycling Ireland national Road Series enters its final phase this weekend with round 14 of 16 taking place in Munster with the Dan O`Donovan Memorial event taking place in Fermoy on Sunday.
There is still very much all to play for in the series with three rounds remaining, although the blue train Asea team will be hard to beat for the overall win. Dropped scores will come in to play in the remaining rounds, so the overall table could change considerably in the final three weeks of the series.
Overall leader Bryan McCrystal (Team Asea) has a small 9 point advantage over Mark Dowling (Dunboyne CC) with Eoin Morton (UCD CC) a further 14 points in arrears.
Dowling was recently on international duty in France, finishing best of the Irish contingent in 38th place and 5th in the climbing category in the Kreiz Breizh stage race.
He will be looking to close the gap to McCrystal at the weekend before the series heads North to Ulster for the final two rounds later in the month, where the all-dominant Asea outfit will have new signing, top Ulster rider Adam Armstrong back to racing after a layoff. Along with National Champion Damien Shaw (pictured) and another of Ulster`s top riders Fraser Duncan, Asea must be feeling confident ahead of the John Beggs Memorial on 15th and North Down Grand Prix on 23rd.
Sunday`s event has a supporting programme with Youth races getting underway at 10.30am, and the feature event, to be decided over 10 laps of a 9.25km circuit, getting underway at Noon.
Cycling Ireland National Series after 13 rounds.
(Riders best 5 counting scores)
1. Brian McCrystal. Team Asea. 285 points
2. Mark Dowling. Dunboyne CC. 276
3. Eoin Morton. UCD CC 262
4. Sean Lacey. Aquablue. 232
5. Daire Feeley. Team iTap. 231
6. Dermot Radford. Tipp Whs. 227