Riders from 16 nations, including 16 national champions at various levels and four continental champions, will tackle a new 3.5km course at the Sports Ireland Campus in Abbotstown.
In its third edition, the Dublin round has become a firm favourite with fans and riders. “The Dublin race is amazing,” says Belgian former world champion Sven Nys. “The environment is really nice. We have everything we need and the fans see high-level competition all day. You can have a beer, French fries, and you can have a VIP experience. It’s perfect.”
Racing begins today with a full programme of amateur races, from under-six to masters, tackling the course 24 hours before the juniors, U-23s and elite races tomorrow.
James Armstrong, Ryan Daly, Cameron Henry, Curtis McKee, Conor Murphy and Hugh Óg Mulhearne will be the first Irish in action tomorrow when they tackle the men’s U-19 race at 9.0, with Greta Lawless and Aoife O’Donovan riding the women’s U-19 race an hour later.
The men’s U-23 race will see an Irish team of Dean Harvey, Michael Collins, Travis Harkness and Tadhg Killeen take on the best youngsters in the world at 11.30, with Doireann Killeen, Caoimhe May, Hannah McClorey, Elena Wallace and Esther Wong riding the combined women’s elite/U-23 race for Ireland at 1.10.
Here, reigning world champion Fem van Empel will be resplendent in her rainbow jersey for at least a lap before the mud of Abbotstown kicks in.
The 22-year-old is the top-ranked female in the world and has already been on the podium in four of her seven races this season, including last Sunday’s opening World Cup round in Antwerp.
Fem van Empel on her way to victory at the World Cup Antwerp last week. The Dutch rider won in Dublin in 2022. Photo: Getty
Last year’s men’s winner Pim Ronhaar has had a slower-than-expected start to the season due to contracting Lyme disease in the summer, but the 23-year-old Dutchman is gingerly coming back into form and is hoping for a podium this year.
“It’s not completely gone yet, but I’m getting there,” he says of his illness. “I think Dublin is a race where you can hide yourself in the pack until the last few laps like I did last year. I think I can aim for the podium there. That’s the plan. I really want to focus on the World Cups, so I hope I can battle for the podium. We will see.”
Ronhaar’s team-mate Thibau Nys has three ‘cross wins under his belt this season, including the European Championship, and the duo are part of a very strong Baloise-Trek Lions team that also comprises the experienced 33-year-old former European champion Lars van den Haar. The trio will have their work cut out, however, with current world No 1, the ever-present Eli Iserbyt, back with a bang after a strange start to his season.
Iserbyt was disqualified in his opening event for stamping on an opponent’s bike, and since returning from a three-race ban, the 27-year-old Belgian champion has had online abuse and even beer thrown at him by fans.
Third in Dublin last year, Iserbyt is back in form and is sure to feature again, especially if the ground is hard. “It was a hard race for me,” he says of last year. “In the deep mud, I had a disadvantage.”
The event also sees Cycling Ireland host a participation and skills zone for youth riders to take part and enjoy the cyclo-cross experience in a fun and safe environment, while there will also be big screens and range of food and drink vendors available in the Fan Zone.
Tickets are €20 per person when purchased online today or €25 at the gate tomorrow.
