Ronan Killeen has claimed the gold medal in the Masters 40 men’s race at the Masters Road Race Championships in Co Monaghan today (Photo: Toby Watson)
Ronan Killeen (Lucan CRC) and Yvonne Doran (Orwell Wheelers) have claimed the Masters 40 Irish titles at the National Masters Road Race Championships in Co Monaghan; the duo winning their titles in very different styles.
Run over a 24km circuit in Ardaghy, Co Monaghan, the Masters 40-45 combined race unfolded over five laps of the circuit, with Killeen having far too much firepower, shedding the breakaway men he was with and then holding off a chasing group that got organised late in the contest and went very close to catching Killeen.
He had been away for about half of the race with Liam Dolan (Cuchulainn CC) and Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port); that trio forging clear at about the 65km marker.
However, as the leaders went into the last 10-15km, three had become two, with just Killeen and Dolan left out front, both being pursued by the chasers, who caught McCarter around 10km from the finish. It was only with about 1km to go that Killeen got clear of Dolan.
Lucan CRC rider Killeen, still capable of being among the strongest C1 riders in elite open racing on the home front, crossed the line first on his own, taking away the Masters 40 and Masters 45 titles today.
Unfortunately for Dolan, by the time Killeen pressed on alone, almost in sight of the finish, the chasing group was right behind and Dolan was caught by them, with about 500m to go, thus losing out on a medal.
Marcin Mizgajski (Spin the Bean Power by Coffee) emerged best from the chasing group to take 2nd, with Michael Storan (West Clare Cycling Club) 3rd. Killeen and Storan also claimed the gold and silver in the Masters 45 contest, with St Tiernan’s rider Bryan Geary taking the bronze medal.
In the Masters women’s race, the group was whittled down through the first two laps and it wasn’t until the around halfway around the final passage of the circuit that the decisive move got clear.
And when it went, it featured only two riders; Yvonne Doran (Orwell Wheelers CC) and Breda Murphy (Carlow RCC). They worked together to get a gap and, with gold and silver on the line, pressed home their advantage once they went clear.
Doran and Murphy then went to the line together to decide the Irish title, with Doran getting the better of her rival and claiming the Irish crown for the south Dublin club.
Behind the leading duo, Aishling Barry Dunboyne CC took bronze, adding it to the silver medal she took in the TT yesterday, behind Hazel Smyth (Kinning Cycles) in the Emyvale CC-promoted championships in Ardaghy.
Sun, Aug 24th | Masters National Road Race Championships
Promoted by Emyvale Cycling Club
Ardaghy, Co Monaghan
Masters 40 Men Podium (120km)
Ronan Killeen Lucan CRC
Marcin Mizgajski Spin the Bean Power by Coffee
Michael Storan West Clare Cycling Club
Masters 45 Men Podium (120km)
Ronan Killeen Lucan CRC
Michael Storan West Clare Cycling Club
Bryan Geary St Tiernan’s CC
Women’s Masters 40 Podium (72km)
Yvonne Doran Orwell Wheelers CC
Breda Murphy Carlow RCC
Aishling Barry Dunboyne CC
Women’s Masters 50 Podium (72km)
Ciara Kinch Cuchulainn CC
Helen White Stamullen RC
Diane Behan Dungarvan CC
Masters 50 Men Podium (96km)
Neil Delahaye Bellurgan Wheelers
Neil McKenna AHC Racing
Martin OLoughlin Paduit Carrick Wheelers
Masters 55 Men Podium (96km)
Martin OLoughlin Panduit Carrick Wheelers
Fearghal Regan Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial
Jer Murphy Roadman Cycling Club
Masters 50 Team Podium
Inspired Cycling
Emyvale Cycling Club
Lucan CRC
Masters 60 Men’s Podium (72km)
John Madden Inspired Cycling
Chris McCann Inspired Cycling
Declan Hanrahan Panduit Carrick Wheelers
Masters 65 Podium (72km)
Gerard Horan Velo Club Balrothery
Jimmy Flynn Cuchulainn CC
John McQuaid Unattached Leinster
Masters 70 Non-Championship Event
Michael Cusack Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club
Tom Henry North Down CC
Martin Birney SportActive