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The fourth edition of Mondello24Cycle which took place on June 22^nd and 23^rd will be remembered as a landmark record breaking year with Galway Bay Cycling Club becoming the first team to surpass the 900km distance on the track, adding five extra laps to the already impressive previous record it was a truly a superb performance.  Whilst the event caters for a wide range of cycling fans, and the majority of participants are there to complete rather than compete, there were some very impressive results at the business end of the 24 hour event.

Report originally published by @Mondello24/ Oisin O Briain

Taking on the ultimate test & true heroes of Mondello24, the Solo category saw a special win for Gareth Dargle as he crossed the line in first place at midday on Sundy afternoon. Having contested the race previously as part of both an 8 & 4 rider team from Vélo Club Balrothery – VCB and the reigning 2-rider Team Champion, Gareth made the step up to Solo becoming the only rider to contest all four categories and he did it in style taking the win with 221 laps.

Defending Female Champion Nikki Dorey from Naas Cycling Club returned with the goal of putting her ‘23 experience to good use. And that’s just what she did achieving an extra 13-laps to take back to back wins on the track. Matching  Galway’s Karen Cassidy as the two time sole female champion, will we see a showdown on the track next year between these two accomplished female ultra cyclists?

In the 2-rider category, debutant Dungarvan Cycling Club pairing Ian Holland and Mark Rowe took a convincing victoryto take the top step of the podium in this year’s race.

Whilst the Galway Bay CC team of Liam Kilkenny, Ronan Burke, Cathal Dillane and Kirill Korliakov, with ’21 & ’22 Solo Female Champion Karen Cassidy at the helm as team manager took the overall win in the category, the 4 person team had 41 teams with a number of titles up for grabs this year.

In Mixed, regulars Mondello Riders from Pulse Triathlon Club took the win with their ‘The Pulsators’ line up of Ciat Joyce, Bill Stanley, Gary Durney and Agnieszka Samseloyce.

In the female category, this year seeing our biggest field of all female teams, former Solo entrant Chrissy Harford returned with team mates Dawn Teelan, Julia Massoti and Fidelma Lavin to form the Go Commando team that would take the win on the day.

New for ’24, Masters (each rider aged 50+) saw the Comeragh Development Team take the spoils with a 3-rider line-up of Martin O Brien, Colm Dillon and Liam Carey.

The 8-rider category saw Fingal Road Racing Club clock up 249 laps for the win. Finishing 2nd overall, the VeloFlamingo Team would become the Female Champions, with team manager Colin MacHale securing back to back titles having led the Cycling Ireland Women’s Commission team to the win last year. Remarkably, this was the first time an all women’s team would finish on the overall podium which was testament to the strength and depth of the team as well as the tactical and strategic input of their crew and team manager. In the Mixed 8 person team, ‘The Free Wheelers’ came away with the title this year covering just shy of 800km on the track.

New this year was the ‘Challenge’ 6-hour race option. Starting at 18:00 and riding to midnight, it was Alan Connor who took the win by just two seconds over Stephen Delaney, both completing 204KM.  Emma Walsh was the only female rider in the ‘Challenge’ but finished 4^th overall with 201KM completed.

Regardless of your cycling ability or ambition the inclusive vibe and atmosphere of this event provides the opportunity for everyone to experience the thrill of bike racing in a fun and friendly environment, and with the importance of pit crew in securing success for riders on the track, there is a role for those who want to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

With so much excitement on and off the track across the 24 hours this year, plans are already underway for the 5^th edition of Mondello24! Will you be on the starting grid?

Full results for this year are available on the link HERE 

Photo Credit: Mondello 24 / Bryan Keane Inphoto