Damien Shaw to race in Mullingar Criterium

Mullingar professional Damien Shaw will be the biggest draw for local cycling fans in tomorrow evening's Mullingar Criterium.

Event organisers and Shaw's former club, Lakeside Wheelers, are delighted with the news that the An Post Chainreaction Sean Kelly team man will be signing on once he comes out of this week's Ronde de l'Oise stage race in France with a clean bill of health. The current national criterium champion Mark Dowling, son of former Olympic boxer Mick, will also be competing.

Crit races are traditionally staged on short (1.2km) town-centre circuits for a pre-determined time followed up by two laps. This generally leads to a very fast and exciting sporting spectacle for which power and good bike handling skills are essential. In recent years Lakeside Wheelers have twice staged the Irish National Crit Championships in Mullingar on a circuit which is generally regarded as one of the best in Ireland. Starting from outside Days Bazaar the route takes the riders left at Galvin's Menswear entering Blackhall carpark at the side of Reyno's Cafe then downhill to exit the carpark at Jail Hill where they will turn left up through Mount Street and left again at the Market Square to complete the lap.

Racing will get underway once the streets have been officially closed by the Gardai at approximately 7pm and first off will be the A4s who will race for twenty minutes and two laps. Then at 7.30pm the A3s will race for thirty minutes and two laps. Both of these races will have several Lakeside Wheelers members competing and best of luck to them all. At approximately 8.15pm the main event of the evening will commence with some of Ireland's best cyclists taking to the start line for A1/A2/A+ race which will be run over 45 minutes plus two laps.

To date there has been great interest with several riders signed up online but as is the norm for crits, the weather will play a major part so hopefully it stays dry and big numbers will turn up on the night.