Burdened by the tag of pre-race favourite, the task of defending his title on home soil and the close marking of many, David McCann nevertheless stormed to a scintillating victory in the Irish road race championships yesterday in Lisburn.
The CCC Mat professional jumped clear of a leading group of six riders with four miles remaining and showed his strength in eking out a lead of over one minute by the line. Mark Scanlon beat Paddy Moriarty to take silver.
Held on a tough, hilly course rendered even more difficult by strong winds, this race on the Dundrod Motor circuit was certain to be a gruelling affair, and, after the second of 13 laps, 15 riders were clear.
Besides the eventual medal winners, the rpesence of riders such as professional Ciaran Power, former champion Ray Clarke and double FBD Milk Ras winner Philip Cassidy spelt the danger for those stranded behind.
And bolstered by the additional input of Paul Griffin, Michael McNena, Eugene Moriarty, Vincent Gleeson, Brian Lennon, Dave Peelo and David McDonald, they opened a winning lead.
From there it was a war of attrition throughout, with just six left up front in the closing stages of the 96.2-mile race.
Scanlon, Clarke and McCann were perhaps the most prominent, but Paddy Moriarty, Griffin and Peelo were close in standard. But the encouragement of his home crowd brought out the best in McCann; after a brief foray on the 11th lap, he turned on the afterburners with just four miles remaining in the race.
His aggression on the Deer's Leap climb carried him clear; from there to the line, eyeballs-out riding saw him emulate the late, great Shay Elliot, who defended his national title on the same course in 1954.
Consecutive victories are almost unheard of in Irish cycling, but Geraldine Gill went one better in the women's race by taking her third straight senior title. The French-based Bohermeen cyclist gave an authoritative display, going clear just one mile into the 37-mile.
Former champion Susan O'Meara made a brave effort to close up to Gill, but by half distance her deficit was one minute and growing, with third-placed Debbie Booth a further two minutes and 45 seconds in arrears.
As Gill pressed remorselessly on, the chasers slipped further back as the blustery wind and tough terrain took its toll. By the finish O'Meara and Booth were three minutes nine seconds and five minutes eight seconds behind respectively, affording Gill the luxury of flamboyant victory gestures on the long drag up the line.
That she refrained just further illustrated the cool, clinical manner with which she dominated this championship.
Senior men: 1, David McCann (CCC Mat) 96 miles in 3 hrs 51 mins 17 secs; 2, M. Scanlon (VC La Pomme) at 1 min 12 secs; 3, P. Moriarty (Les Jeunes); 4, P. Griffin (unattached); 5, D. Peelo (Usher IRC); 6, R. Clarke (Classic Walls NCBI) all same time; 7, C. Power (St. Quentin Oktos) at 7 mins 41 secs; 8, G. McQuaid (Emerald) at 1 sec; 9, D. Easton (Maryland Wheelers) same time; 10, E. Moriarty (Cycleways) at 9 mins 4 secs Team prize: Cycleways (E. Moriarty, P. Cassidy, A. Hedderman) Senior women: 1, Geraldine Gill (Velo Sport Lannion) 37 miles in 1 hour 45 mins 59 secs; 2, S. O' Meara (Team Letchworth Extran) at 3 mins 9 secs; 3, Debbie Booth (Dave Kane Northern CC) at 5 mins 8 secs; 4 , Lisa Rodgers (Dave Kane Northern CC) at 5 mins 46 secs; 5, Michelle Crinnion (Usher IRC) at 5 mins 47 secs; 6, Louise Moriarty (Dublin Skip) at 9 mins 18 secs.
