Cyclo Cross National Championships in Dundalk

This Sunday sees the first National Championship Jersey of 2013 for Irish Cyclists up for grabs, when the cyclo cross race takes place in Muirhevnamor Park.  Cyclo Cross racing originated in Belgium as a winter sport for the professionals to keep their fitness during the off season. Racing modified road bikes the courses feature a mix of grass, mud, trail and road while negotiating a series of obstacles, which often require riders to dismount and carry their bikes. The races are a multi lap affair and make for great spectating and European races regularly see crowds of 25,000plus.

Race organiser Myles McCorry has secured sponsorship from Sports Nutrition company Science in Sport. The day will feature the elite men's and women's races, alongside the juniors and vets. There is also skills events for underage riders, as well as a bike Expo and refreshments for sale. The course itself will make full use of the varying terrain in the park and will test both the rider's endurance and technical skills.

For the last 10years the sport has been dominated by Dublin's Olympian Robyn Seymour, having claimed 9 of the last 10 National Titles. His only missed title was back in 2009 when Banbridge's Roger Aiken was victorious. These two riders dominate their respective Ulster and Leinster leagues before going head to head at the National Championships, with the more experienced Seymour nearly always getting the better of Aiken. Aiken is carrying excellent form into the event, having just last weekend won the Dungannon CX Cup.

Cuchulainn Rider Johnny McCabe will be in the running for a medal in the vets category as he has been very competitive all season long, however Newry Wheelers rider Peter McConville is also a very strong rider in this discipline. Another local rider who could be in the running for a medal, at the junior level is Aaron McCann. Aaron, more used to the total off road mountain bike racing is experienced at cyclo cross and having claimed Leinster medals in 2012 would again be expected to be very competitive.

The day, which kicks off at 12, will also see a support race for those not quite at the elite standard. A large number of Cuchulainn's riders are expected to turn out for this event. Full details can be found at www.dundalkcycling.com[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"188","attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-medium wp-image-687","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"225","alt":"Roger Aiken, one of the favourites to claim the CX title fopr 2013Roger Aiken"}}]]