Cycling National Championships this morning

The National Road Race Championships start from 10am today with Masters M40, M50 and M60 fields, writes Brian Byrne.

There are 169, 62 and 13 riders respectively entered for each event, including the M40 and M50 defending champs Aidan Crowley (STRATA3/VeloRevolution RT) and Declan Hanrahan (Carrick Wheelers CC).

Local Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC have three contenders in the M40 event, Paul McKenna, Mark Kiernan, and Alan Carey.

The start times for each are: M40 10.00am four Laps 26km circuit (104km); M50 10.10am three Laps 26km circuit (78km); and M60 10.15am two Laps 26km circuit (52km).

For today’s and tomorrow’s events, the Race HQ is Kilcullen Community Centre. The organisers are the Orwell Wheelers, with support from Kilcullen CC.

The Start and Finish will be just south of Thompson’s Cross, from where the riders will travel out the Athy direction, take a left through Narraghmore, and then circle back towards Kilcullen along the Carlow Road, turning left at Thompson’s Cross to lap and finish.

Map by Google/mapmyride.com.