Following on from the situation last weekend where the Irish Elite Women’s Road Race Championship was stopped to allow the U23 and Elite Men’s race to pass, Ciaran McKenna – the President of Cycling Ireland – has released a statement saying that a review of the details and logistics that led to this occurrence will take place and that the format of the National Championship weekend will also be looked at.
The Women’s Race which totalled 97.6 kilometres was halted on the last of five laps of the circuit in Wexford.
After the Women’s race resumed, Lydia Boylan (Team WNT) went on to take her third consecutive road race title. Boylan finished fifteen seconds ahead of Lauren Creamer (NCC Group-Kuota-Torelli) with Ellen McDermott (EDCO Continental) taking Bronze.
The statement from Ciaran McKenna is as follows:
“Last Sunday saw an unfortunate occurrence in the Elite Women’s National Road Race Championships which resulted in the race being neutralised to allow the Elite and U23 Men’s race pass. Both races were competing on the same circuit, when the men’s race closed in on the women’s race in the final lap.
“The details and logistics that led to this occurrence are being reviewed, Cycling Ireland will endeavour to look at the National Championship weekend format, and measures will be taken to ensure that this does not happen in the future. When organising an open race on open roads, schedules are agreed with Gardaí, County Councils and include train times etc months in advanced. Average speed and lap times were all taken into account in the planning of the event and the approach taken was a proven one in similar events over the years.
“It was an unfortunate situation for the racers, the race commissaires and race organisers to deal with during such a competitive event but the safe passage of all riders is paramount when a faster group is catching another group from two separate races. There are lead vehicles, support cars, motorbikes and most importantly riders who need to pass each other safely and due to the nature of the course the safest course of action was to stop the leading race on the road and let the quickest race pass.
“Cycling Ireland would like to thank the organisers, Wexford Wheelers and Wexford Cycling, for hosting a well-run championship, thank all the volunteers and marshals who dedicated their time over the three days and a total of 14 National Championship events. Congratulations to all the worthy medallists in an exciting weekend of racing, there is no doubt that all the Champions will wear their respected jerseys with pride and distinction over the next twelve months.”
Ciaran McKenna
President of Cycling Ireland
Well said Ciaran