Kelly Murphy and Ryan Mullen earned impressive victories in challenging conditions at the Time-Trial National Championships.
Murphy took another senior National Championship in the women’s category. In the wind and rain, the Paris Games Olympian came home in a time of 33:06.59, 13.89 seconds ahead of second-placed Paralympic pilot Linda Kelly and Olympic Team Pursuit teammate Mia Griffin in third.
"Feels really good," said Murphy. "I’ve won a few now but every time it gets more and more tense, so it feels better every single time.
"These races are tough for anyone so I do actually prefer it when it’s a tough day, it separates people out a bit. It was really, really tough out on the road, I thought that roundabout was never going to come."
Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe rider Mullen prevailed in the elite men’s category, finishing the 25km course in 29:22.16. George Peden was second, 6.27 seconds back, with EF Education EasyPost’s Darren Rafferty third, 14.45 seconds off first place.
"Obviously I come here every year really motived to try and win, but every year it’s getting harder and harder to win," Mullen reflected.
"It’s always a big relief to come and pull this off – everyone thinks the World Tour guys come in and lap it up, but there’s a lot of stiff competition and you have to really work for it."
World champion Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Alice Sharpe triumphed in the tandem category in 32:22.17. Paralympian pairing Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin were second, 1:42.49 back, with Chloe McCombe and Hazel Smith taking third, 1:44.5 back.
The men’s U23 race saw Adam Rafferty, riding for Hagens Berman Jayco, take the win with a time of 29:32.71. He finished 22.76 seconds ahead of Team Bahrain Victorious Development Team rider Seth Dunwoody in second, and Lidl Trek Future Racing’s Liam O’Brien, 26.60 seconds off the top spot.
Conor Murphy retained his junior men’s national championship, with the Team Caldwell Cycles rider coming in at 29:34.91. Lucan’s Matthew Walls took second, 1:15.92 back, with Villeneuve Cycliste rider David Gaffney taking third, 1:18.35 off top.
The third Rafferty sibling competing on Thursday, Aliyah Rafferty riding with Tofauti Everyone Active took the win in the Junior Women’s category. She finished the course in 38:02.11, 2:29.31 ahead of second placed Sophie English from Bohermeen CC. TC Racing’s Ffion Dolan took third, 2:42.27 back from the winner.
Paralympian Richael Timothy took the win in the C-Class, with a time of 44:15.57. National Para Squad Development rider Cormac O’Callaghan was second, 1:17.8 back, with another Para Squad Development Rider Heather Jameson 4:02.24 third.
Declan Slevin was first in the handbikes category, finishing the 25km course in 42:55.74 ahead of Steven McGowan and Mark Rohan taking third.
