Rory Townsend records road race win at National Championship
Rory Townsend crossed the line first in the men's elite road race at the National Championship in Meath to claim the title for the second time.
The 29-year-old, who previously triumphed in 2022, edged out Jamie Meehan in second place and Patrick Casey in third.
Townsend commented after his win: "It sounds crazy but this just means so much, it's 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's the only race I come to with my family where they're my support crew, and they have to put up with me the morning of the race, so it's a big relief to pull it off."
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The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
Rory Townsend regains national champion jersey
RORY TOWNSEND WILL once again wear the National Champion jersey after the 29-year-old took the win in the Elite Men's race today, having previously been champion in 2022. The rain that drenched the course for yesterday's Women and Junior Men's races abated but the air remained warm and heavy, making conditions tough for all riders in the race hosted by Navan Road Club and Yellow Furze Road Club. Townsend takes home another Road National Championship 🏆 Read the full report👇 — Cycling Ireland (@CyclingIreland) June 29, 2025 Advertisement 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. 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. Townsend said afterwards: 'It sounds crazy but this just means so much, it's 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's the only race I come to with my family where they're my support crew, and they have to put up with me the morning of the race, so it's a big relief to pull it off.' 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. Meehan said afterwards: 'I knew if I could have went one more time, one more move, that that'd be the move, but I just didn't have it. Disappointed to lose out to Townsend in the sprint but still delighted to take home the U23 title.'
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Rory Townsend, Mia Griffin best in aggressive Irish road race championships
Three years after he first won the title, Rory Townsend recouped past glories when he took the men's national road race championships in Yellow Furze in Meath on Sunday. The 29-year-old Q36.5 Pro Cycling professional was best in the sprint to the line, beating Jamie Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole). Patrick Casey (Israel Premier Tech Academy) and defending champion Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) were close by, finishing three and six seconds back respectively. 'It sounds crazy but this just means so much,' Townsend said. 'It's 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.' The day was full of aggressive racing, with Conn McDunphy (Team Skyline), Rafferty and his brother Adam (Hagens Berman Jayco) among the most active. The leading quartet were clear heading on to the final lap, with Townsend using his greater experience and sprinting power to triumph. READ MORE Meehan, who finished second overall in the Rás Tailteann in May, took the under-23 title. 'I knew if I could have went one more time, one more move, that that'd be the move,' the AVC Aix Provence Dole rider said. 'But I just didn't have it. I'm disappointed to lose out to Townsend in the sprint but still delighted to take home the U23 title.' Saturday's elite and under 23 women's road race featured a very aggressive performance from Lucy Benezét Minns (Lotto Ladies). The talented 19 year old, who took a superb fourth in the world championship junior time trial two years ago, attacked on the final lap and opened a gap of 17 seconds. However she was reeled in with two kilometres to go, with Mia Griffin (Roland) beating Caoimhe O'Brien (Cynicsa Cycling), Marine Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) and five others to the line. 'I've dreamed of winning a national championship for so long, it honestly just hasn't set in yet,' Griffin said afterwards. 'I know when Lucy gets a good lead she can really suffer and push through, so I was determined to make sure we worked together in the group to catch her.' Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) took fourth and the under 23 award. Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) won the junior women's road race on Saturday, while Conor Murphy shrugged off mechanical issues to take the junior men's title on Sunday. National road race championships, Meath Elite and under 23 men: 1 Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Procycling), 2 J Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole) at 1 sec, 3 P Casey (Israel Premier Tech Academy) at 3, 4 D Rafferty (EF Education Easypost) at 6, 5 S Dunwoody (Bahrain Victorious Development Team) at 29, 6 F Crockett (VolkerWessels Cycling Team), 7 G O'Neill (Athlete Nutrition Coach HD), 8 O Doogan (Team Caldwell Cycles), 9 C McDunphy (Team Skyline), 10 L O'Brien (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) at 32 Under 23: 1, Meehan, 2, Casey, 3, Dunwoody Elite and under 23 women (Saturday): 1 Mia Griffin (Roland) 3 hours 11'06, 2 C O'Brien (Cynicsa Cycling), 3 M Lenehan (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team), 4 E Jeffers (Liv Alula Jayco), 5 A O'Brien (DAS – Hutchinson), 6 F Mangan (Winspace Orange Seal), 7 A Conway (Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club), 8 L Kelly (Spin The Bean Power By Coffee) all same time, 9 A Doherty (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) at 5 secs, 10 L Benezet Minns (Lotto Ladies) at 12 secs Under 23: 1, Jeffers, 2, A. O'Brien, 3, Conway Junior women's road race (Saturday): 1 Aliyah Rafferty (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) 1 hour 36'04, 2 G Lawless (Dawson Racing) at 2'41, 3 A O'Donovan (Dungarvan CC), 4 E Tandy (Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) at 6'56, 5 F Dolan (TC Racing) same Junior men's road race (Sunday): 1 Conor Murphy (Team Caldwell Cycles) 2 hours 44'42, 2 R Condon (Zappi Racing Team) at 1'22, 3 D Byrne (Asvillemur Cyclisme) at 2'06, 4 M Walls (Lucan Cycling Road Club), 5 J Armstrong (VC Glendale) at 2'42
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Rory Townsend records road race win at National Championship
Rory Townsend crossed the line first in the men's elite road race at the National Championship in Meath to claim the title for the second time. The 29-year-old, who previously triumphed in 2022, edged out Jamie Meehan in second place and Patrick Casey in third. Townsend commented after his win: "It sounds crazy but this just means so much, it's 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's the only race I come to with my family where they're my support crew, and they have to put up with me the morning of the race, so it's a big relief to pull it off."
