Irish elite champion Dean Harvey was best of the Irish in the U23 men’s race at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dublin today. His national squad team mates Tadgh Killeen and Michael Collins also dug deep.
Killeen, who only took up cycling three years ago, can be happy with a stronger ride this year compared to 12 months ago; hardly surprising considering how good he has looked in recent months.
For Collins, it was a question of stepping up to ‘senior hurling’ today; the Junior Tour of Ireland stage winner get his first taste of big time U23 international racing, and staying the course.
Harvey finished the race in 20th place, which was further back than his 11th place at this fixture 12 months ago. However, the field in the U23 race was bigger today and Harvey has not put the same emphasis on his cyclocross racing this season compared to other years.
He was 3:40 down today on winner Jente Michels, the 21-year-old Belgian who won the European title last month.
Michels looked in fantastic form today as he floated around the circuit on the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbottstown, west Dublin, leading solo by about 10 seconds for much of the way.
Michels had plenty of time to savour his victory coming up the finishing straight, taking the win by eight seconds from his Belgian team mate Aaron Dockx. David Haverdingsn (Netherlands) was 3rd at 15 seconds.
Harvey was 3:40 down in 20th with Killeen in 26th at 6:27 and Collins placing 28th at 8:08. Travis Harkness, who has looked very strong this season, was also in the national team but was a non-finisher today and we will update when we have more news on him.