Preview | Irish riders to clash with foreign challengers at Cross Clonmel

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Dean Harvey was the man of the domestic season last year and has taken another step forward on road in 2023. What can he do at Cross Clonmel? (Photo: Atomcreates)

Cross Clonmel is set for its third edition this weekend, with races across all – and we do mean all – the categories; from an U6 fun race at 11.30am tomorrow morning to the closing act of the elite men’s race, which starts at 3.20pm on Sunday.

The fixture has a UCI C2 ranking and with UCI points up for grabs it always attracts some international riders, and the 2023 promotion is no different. All of the main races – U14, U16, junior, seniors and Masters – also make up ‘Round 2’ of the National Cyclocross Series 2023-24, meaning the fight between the Irish riders is an important one in itself.

The season is still in its infancy, with many top riders missing from the opening round of the series in Falls Park last month as a lot of our top riders were either still road racing, or taking a breather at the end of their road season.

And that means we haven’t really had a proper look at the 2023-24 cyclocross form book, though this weekend is sure to answer a few questions.

Anna Kay, a British rider who competed for Fenix Deceuninck Continental on the road this year and is now racing on the mud for Cyclocross Reds, is back again this year. The 24-year-old, who won Cross Clonmel 12 months ago, has already claimed all three rounds of the Hope Supercross series – also C2 ranking – in Britain this season while taking 9th in Be-Mine Cross (C2) in Belgium last weekend, in a star-studded field.

Jente Michels (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team), a 20-year-old Belgian, will be one of the fancied international riders in the men’s field. He was among the best U23 riders on the international cyclocross scene last year, taking 5th in the U23 race at the Worlds.

British rider Oliver Akers (Albion Cycling Co), who won the junior race at Cross Clonmel last year, is back for more, this time as a first-year U23. He comes into the race with three top 10s in the C2 races he has started in Britain since the start of the ‘cross season.

Jenson Young (Ribble Verge Sport), who was 3rd in Clonmel last year, makes a return trip to Ireland for Sunday’s race. He should be a strong contender, as will junior team mate Joel Hurt. However, the domestic scene also has its strong contenders who will be looking to take on the visitors and beat them.

In the women’s race – a combined junior-senior contest – it will be interesting to see how young Aliyah Rafferty (Island Wheelers) does against strong elite competition. She raced on the road as an U16 this year and won Round 1 of the national series last month in Falls Park in her first race as a junior.

Aine Doherty (VC Glendale) – a prolific winner and already an established junior international – will also have nothing to fear in this field and can put it up to anyone on her day. Others to watch closely include Darcey Harkness (VC Glendale), Roisin Lally (Loughborough Lightning Cycling Team), Stephanie Roche (Scott Bright Motor Group) and Doireann Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial)

In the senior men’s race, national champion Dean Harvey (Trinity Racing) will want a strong performance after a dominant cyclocross season 12 months ago and a very strong campaign on the road in 2023. Darnell Moore (Team Caldwell Cycles), the former national champion, won the opening round of the national series last month and will also be one to watch on Sunday, as will his young team mate Curtis Neill.

Ireland’s U23 road race champion, Jamie Meehan (Spellman-Dublin Port), has just had a wonderful season on the road and definitely has the engine to impress on Sunday. Two top junior riders until now, but stepping up to U23 for the first time, Liam O’Brien (Fermoy Cycling Club) and Oisin Ferrity (Team Caldwell Cycles) can also have a say, once they have recovered from their very successful road campaigns.

Richard Barry (St Finbarrs CC) and Paul O’Reilly (Roadman Cycling Club) have already been riding very well at home this season while Robin Seymour (Team WORC) – a legend of Irish cyclocross and MTB – is still well able to move and has passed up on the chance to ride the Masters race in favour of getting into the main men’s race. Tadhg Killeen (Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospacial) and Travis Harkness (Scott Bright Motor Group) are also worth keeping an eye on.