Notes 23/01/2022

National Junior Cyclocross Championships Armagh 2022

On the 9th January Dylan Franzoni took part in the last cyclo-cross race of the season representing the Lakeside Wheelers in the junior category in the National Championships in Armagh. After weeks of rain the Armagh course in the beautiful Demense Palace Gardens proved to be the hardest race of the year. An ideal way to test all the competitors to the maximum and crown the new national champions.

Cyclo-cross or CX as it’s known is a winter off-road cycling sport, normally run in parks or small field areas, ridden on a modified version of a road racing bike. It is extremely taxing and short in duration for a cycling event generally lasting no more than an hour for adults or forty minutes for the junior category.

Another key feature of CX is mud, and the recent championships did not disappoint in that department. The muddier the race gets the more running with your bike that is generally required and the harder the event becomes. An essential part of a muddy race is the efficiency of the pit crew, washing and clearing the bike of mud and debris in between laps is critical to good lap time. A big thanks to Alan Clogher (Oldcastle CC) and Nicole Dalton who helped with the washing and changeover of bikes on every lap- we were certainly kept busy.

In Armagh Dylan was up against the countries best young athletes. Young cyclists all racing for a spot at the world championships in the USA later this month. He had been competing since September in CX and successfully secured some hard earned UCI points, so heading into the race he was prepared for the challenge and ready for action. After a powerful start, the mix of mud, running and climbing coupled with the weeks of tough training with Westmeath GAA, Dylan slipped outside the top ten eventually finishing thirteenth. Never giving up and pushing to his limit throughout he did himself and his club proud.

Dylan will remain junior for another two years and can compete once more as a junior at CX. His focus now turns to Westmeath Minors for the early part of 2022.

Dylan Franzoni in action at the national Cylocross Championships 2022

A Group Head for the Hills

A Group riders on a short break from their weekend spin.

Two A groups departed on time and headed for Multyfarnham, Coole, Abbeylara and on towards Granard. Unfortunately the puncture fairy struck as early as Lough Owel for one poor rider who was most likely not even warmed up. Everybody was riding well and testament to the training plan, nobody was even heavy breathing as the groups took the two hills before Coole. The next test was the long drag between Abbeylara and Granard, again no puffing so fitness levels area definitely improving week on week. The second visit from the puncture fairy happened along the lumpy stretch towards Lough Gowna however, many hands make light work as they say and the job was done in double quick time. The coffee stop was in the pretty lakeside village of Lough Gowna where the staff in Whyte’s shop couldn’t have been more helpful. With 53km done and another 62km remaining, we all knew the bulk of the climbing was yet to come. And come it did, in spades. First up was a very “rolly” section after the break to get the blood flowing in the body before we turned right towards Aughnacliffe. This was the start of the dreaded “Molly Hill” which is a longish climb in two parts with the latter half being the steepest at 13% gradient in places. Needless to say the group was well strung out by the time we all crested it but the descent gave the “bulkier”, “sprinter types” lots of opportunity to get back on. From here it was back to constant rolling roads with a variance of grass, slurry and mud to contend with along the way, thankfully the surface was mostly bone dry. A network of very narrow roads was negotiated before we popped out near Streete and then a left turn brought us to Rathowen and out onto the N4 for the short ride to Bunbrosna. A right turn at Tormey’s introduced us to the final section of climbing as we took on another hill behind the pub and then the nasty finishing duo of Frewin Hill and Slanemore Hill. Once again these took their toll so a regrouping was called for before we ventured onto the Ballynacarrigy road for the recovery spin back into town.

When all was said and done the spin totalled 115km and had an altitude gain of just over 1,100M so legs were definitely sore by the time lads got the Sunday roast. Well done to all who participated and especially to the route selectors, not for the punishing roads but for getting the lovely dry weather for us all to “enjoy” the spin. Safe riding during the week and see you all next Sunday for another instalment of the winter training plan.

B Group Head for Co Meath