Irish National Championships: Seth Dunwoody edges Rory Townsend to win elite men’s title

Seth Dunwoody outsprinted defending champion Rory Townsend (Unibet Rose Rockets) to win the elite males’s title on the Irish Street Championships in Cong, County Mayo, on Sunday.

The 20-year-old rider for the Bahrain Victorious Growth workforce claimed the largest victory of his profession, after ending a really shut second at U23 Paris-Roubaix and U23 In Flanders Fields – In Ieper/Kattekoers earlier this yr.

Excessive winds and several other powerful climbs break up the peloton within the early levels of the 171km race, with the preliminary group of 20 riders being slowly whittled down all through the day.

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The ultimate choice of 4 riders, with Dunwoody, Townsend, Finn Crocket (VolkerWessels) and Conn McDunphy (APS) pulled away within the ultimate 28km lap.

The 4 sped in direction of the road with Townsend launching his dash early with 200m to go, however Dunwoody was in a position to come excessive and take the win.  A dissatisfied Townsend was second whereas Crockett dropped McDunphy to spherical out the rostrum.

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“I’ve had quite a lot of shut run-ins this yr within the massive races, which has been powerful, however to open the account at nationals is unbelievable,” Dunwoody advised Biking Eire. 

“I wasn’t anticipating Rory to go so early. I actually, actually needed to dig deep, giving up wasn’t an possibility, to be trustworthy. It has been a troublesome yr. I misplaced my granny over Christmas, which was tremendous powerful. I actually, actually needed to win an enormous race for her. After which second in Roubaix and Ghent was actually powerful, however I knew I’ve massive plans for the longer term.”

Dunwoody remembered Shane O’Brien, a 17-year-old junior Irish bike owner who died in a coaching accident just a few weeks in the past.

“I feel, on all Irish cyclists, and particularly being good pals with [Shane’s brother] Liam. It was powerful.”

“So, yeah, giving up wasn’t an possibility, you realize? I am not simply doing it for myself or using the bike for myself, you realize? I’ve my entire household down right here, quite a lot of supporters, lots of people backing me, and I primarily do it for them. I simply get pleasure from using the bike for enjoyable, and to have so many individuals in my nook means so much.”

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