Townsend takes another National Championship in Meath<\/p>\n
Rory Townsend will once again wear the National Champion jersey. The 29 year old took the win in the Elite Men\u2019s race, having previously been champion in 2022.<\/p>\n
The rain that drenched the course for yesterday\u2019s Women and Junior Men\u2019s races abated but the air remained warm and heavy, making conditions tough for all riders.<\/p>\n
Local rider Sean Nolan made an early attack on his home roads but was shut down. The race saw attack after attack for the rest of the race, until a breakaway group of 10 riders got away. The group increased to 20 riders, and saw repeated attacks from Conn McDunphy and both Adam and Darren Rafferty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sharp climbs on every lap began taking victims, and the average pace of almost 50km\/h was too much for many. By the time the last lap came a lead group of just four riders left the title to be decided by a sprint. Q36.5 rider Townsend got the jump on Jamie Meehan, and took the win ahead of Meehan in second and Patrick Casey in third.<\/p>\n
Townsend said afterwards: \u201cIt sounds crazy but this just means so much, it\u2019s the biggest thing for me, it means everything. A National Championship is something you always want to win as a kid, and it makes you feel like a kid when you come back here. It\u2019s the only race I come to with my family where they\u2019re my support crew, and they have to put up with me the morning of the race, so it\u2019s a big relief to pull it off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along with taking silver in the overall, Meehan also took the U23 title. The AVC Aix Provence Dole rider took to the top step of the podium, ahead of Casey in second and Bahrain Victorious rider Seth Dunwoody in third.<\/p>\n
Meehan said afterwards: \u201cI knew if I could have went one more time, one more move, that that\u2019d be the move, but I just didn\u2019t have it. Disappointed to lose out to Townsend in the sprint but still delighted to take home the U23 title.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was also a very strong outing for UCD, as they took the overall team title. Despite some of their riders not finishing, the trio of Ruairi Byrne, Eoin Kelly and Sean Lundy putting in such a strong performance ensured they took they title.<\/p>\n