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Round 3 of the Cyclo-cross National Series took place on Thurles, Co. Tipperary on Sunday, 23th of November. Upperchurch Drombane CC hosted riders from across the country on a very windy TUS Thurles campus.

Three riders made a break from the start of the Elite Men’s race, Trinity Racing’s Dean Harvey, Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial’s Tadhg Killeen and Spellman-Dublin Port rider Travis Harkness. All three took turns leading the break until Harvey finally opened up a gap. Harvey took the win by over a minute in the end ahead of Killeen in second and Harkness in third.

After the race Harvey said, “It was a tough race today, but the best I’ve felt all season. I was able to get a gap and then just ride my own race. Feeling good and the form is building well for the World Cup in Dublin next week. Most of the hard work is done for that now, just need to focus on recovering right and come in in good shape next weekend.”

The combined field for the women’s races saw another podium for the Killeen family, as Doireann Killeen, also of Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial took the win in the senior category. Scott Racing rider Stephanie Roche took second place in the seniors, followed by Rachel Newell from McConvey Cycles in third. Aoife O’Donovan of Dungarvan CC was the second rider overall, first Junior rider across the line, followed by club mate Ami Flavin in second in the Junior ranks.

Curtis McKee put in an incredibly strong performance as he won the Junior Men’s race in the Spellman-Dublin Port colours. VC Glendale’s James Armstrong took second place with Scott Racing’s Ryan Daly rounding out the podium in third. Speaking about how the race played out afterwards, McKee said, “I took off way too hard for my own good, went into the red. In trying to recover a bit second place caught up to me, but I just attacked again, got away by myself and rode my own race.

“Just really looking forward to next weekend. Getting selected for it was a big goal for this season, accomplished that, now it’s just about doing our best on the day.” McKee will be riding at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup event in Dublin next weekend.

Ronan O’Flynn from Orwell Wheelers took the win in the M40 category, while Marcus Flavin, father of second place Junior rider Ami, took second ahead of Lucan’s Ronan Killeen in third.

Emyvale’s Declan McEntee took the win in the M50 category, just 20 seconds ahead of All human/VeloRevolution rider Trevor Woods in second, with Barry Convery of Newry Wheelers CC rounding out the podium.

Current M60 World Champion Johnny McCabe crossed the line first in the M60 category riding with Cuchulainn CC. Panduit Carrick Wheelers’ Declan Hanrahan took second ahead of Micheal Corkery of De Ronde Van Cork CC.

Host club Upperchurch Drombane’s David Donovan took the win in the Support Race ahead of De Ronde Van Cork rider Andrew Smith and Sliabh Luachra’s John Healy in second and third respectively.

Caleb McGreevy from VC Glendale won the U16 Boys race, while just 20 seconds separated Fermoy’s Shane O’Brien and Bohermeen’s Eoin Davis in second and third.

The U16 Girls race was won by Orwell’s Katie Turner, while Orla Mulhearne from Panduit Carrick Wheelers took second ahead of Naoise Byrne of TC Racing in third.

Current national champion James Cunningham of Team WORC took the win in the U14 Boys race. He was joined on the podium by second place Rory McCool from Square Wheels and Orwell’s Tomás Connolly in third.

Ava Baker took top spot for Breffni Wheelers in the U14 girls race. TC Racing’s Lilly McDermott took second as Ciara O’Connor from Drogheda Wheelers took third.

Orwell rider Josh Turner won the U12 boys race ahead of Greenmount’s Cathal O’Sullivan in second and another Orwell rider, Daniel O’Sullivan in third.

There was another win for the Orwell Turners in the U12 girls race, as Molly Turner took top spot ahead of Caroline Collins from Sliabh Luachra and Emilia Tyszecka from MBCC in second and third respectively.

Orwell’s Jaxon Jennings won the U10 boys race, closely followed by UK based rider Lorcan Lamont from Ilkeston Cycle Club in second, while Ryley Dempsey from Western Lakes CC rounded out the podium.

Ríonach Campbell of Square Wheels took the win in the U10 girls race ahead of club mates Marian Mulvaney and Emily O’Mahony from Sliabh Luachra CC in second and third respectively.

There was some very tight racing in the mixed U8 category, with just two seconds separating the top two boys and the top two girls. Western Lakes CC Evan McTavish narrowly beat Alex Topfer in the boys category, while Aoibhín Collins edged out Skylabelle Oakley from Galway MTB.

A full list of results is available HERE.

Round 4 of the Cyclo-cross National Series takes place on Sunday, 5th of January 2025 in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth.

Prior to the next round of the National Series attention turns to UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup weekend on November 30th and December 1st. Several Irish riders will take on some of the world’s best riders on Sunday, while domestic races take place on the Saturday.

Tickets for Sunday’s World Cup event are still available HERE.