CYCLING NEWS: REDISCOVERING THE form and ability which won him the prestigious Route du Sud pro race one week ago, 21-year-old Garmin Chipotle professional Daniel Martin yesterday dominated the Irish national road-race championships held in Midleton, Co Cork.
Martin, a nephew of Stephen Roche, was the most aggressive rider in the race and showed just why he is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in international cycling. Together with Ciarán Power (Pezula Racing), Seán Lacey (Eurocycles) and Ronan McLaughlin (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly), he went clear early on and stayed away for 65 kilometres.
Although they were then reeled in by a large group of race favourites, he had the reserves to attack again soon afterwards, joining up to another move containing defending champion David O'Loughlin (Pezula Racing), Páidí O'Brien (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly) and Brian Kenneally (MyHome.ie).
O'Loughlin faded with just under 40 kilometres to go but the other three worked together for another 11 kilometres.
Martin launched an attack on the long Saleen climb, first dropping Kenneally and then O'Brien. The duo joined up and tried to haul him back but the first-year pro was simply too strong, soloing the remaining 25 kilometres and opening up a three-minute-five-second lead over silver medallist, O'Brien, and Kenneally.
Martin's cousin Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) was fourth, crossing the line with Seán Lacey (Eurocycles) a further two minutes and eight seconds back.
"It is awesome. I can't wait to wear the national champion's jersey in races such as the Tour of Ireland," said Martin. "It means a hell of a lot to my team so I am delighted.
"I had the same legs today as I had last week (in the Route du Sud). I just couldn't hurt them; I could go again and again. I wanted to base my race on Pezula and An Post, the two strong teams. I knew it was dangerous to let a group go clear with them in it, so that is why I got away in the early move."
Martin's dominant display also won him the Irish under-23 title ahead of Adam Armstrong (Eurocycles) and Derek Burke (Team Pezula). Sam Bennett (Dan Morrissey) beat Charles Prendergast (Mayo Wheelers) to take the junior title. Marcus Christie (Usher IRC) was overhauled on the finishing straight.
Meanwhile Siobhán Dervan of the Italian-based Fenix pro team took her fourth consecutive Irish road-race title on Saturday when she dominated the women's race in Glounthaune, just outside Cork.
She got clear in a group early on, whittled down the break each time up the climb, and then dropped breakaway companions Louise Moriarty (Swift Racing/UCD) and Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) the penultimate time up the hill. The Corkwoman reached the finish two minutes and 24 seconds clear.
"This feels absolutely brilliant, as good as the first one," said Dervan. "In fact, this one perhaps means even more because last November I broke my arm."
Paul Healion (South Dublin CC) and Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Cycling) won the men's and women's time-trial titles on Friday.
Denis Dunworth (An Post M. Donnelly Grant Thornton Seán Kelly), Martin O'Loughlin (Dan Morrissey) and Seán Downey (Banbridge CC) were best of the under-23s, veterans and juniors.
