Caoimhe O'Brien winning round four of the Road National Series Round: Credit: Inpho

Elite cyclists fight for Mullingar Grand Prix success this weekend

Cycling Ireland: Road National Series Round Six Preview

The penultimate round of the 2023 Road National Series offers the leaders and contenders in the overall categories a chance to stake their claim for victory in Round Six on Sunday, July 16.

The Mullingar Grand Prix, hosted by Lakeside Wheelers, takes riders near Lough Derravaragh, along the roads that hosted the 2014 Road National Championships.

The start lists will be confirmed at the weekend ahead of racing. The Westmeath Examiner understands that Aoife and Caoimhe O'Brien are involved in the U23 Track European Championships until Sunday - we don't know at this stage if they will be racing at home.

Current Standings

Men's ranking

1st - Conn McDunphy (Lucan CRC)

2nd - Daire Feeley (All Human/VeloRevolution)

3rd - Aaron Wade (Cortizo Aluminium Team)

Women's ranking

1st - Caoimhe O’Brien (Belco Van Eyck)

2nd – Jemma Speers (North Down CC)

3rd - Aoife O'Brien (Spellman-Dublin Port)

Junior men's ranking

1st - Killian O’Brien (Orwell Wheelers)

2nd - Willem O’Connor (JEGG-DJR Academy)

3rd – Liam O’Brien (Fermoy CC)

Junior women's ranking

1st - Hannah Hayes (TC Racing)

2nd - Shauna Finn (Arcane CT)

3rd – Aine Doherty (VC Glendale)

National Road Series Round Five, Currow, County Kerry on June 11: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane Photo by ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Round six of the 2023 Road National Series:

All races will be run over the same 34km circuit, which initially incorporates an undulating section followed by a long flat road across the bog where the wind often dictates the outcome of races. Riders will know they need to save a bit in the legs for a sharp uphill run to the finish line.

The Senior men and Juniors will tackle this route over four laps giving an overall race length of 136km while the Senior and Junior Women will fight it out over two laps totalling 68km.

You can view the race route profile here.

Race HQ and start time

Race HQ is at Multyfarnham Community Centre, N91AX5A.

Racing starts at 11am and all races are scheduled to be under way by 11.15am

A spokesperson for Lakeside Wheelers said: “Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar has been promoting top level road racing on the Irish cycling calendar for several years. The Mullingar GP on July 16 will bring the focus of Irish racing back to the roads around the former Tidy Towns winning village of Multyfarnham, where the club staged the Elite National Championships in 2014.”

“Lakeside Wheelers Mullingar has always endeavoured to promote racing for all categories and is delighted to have the GP returned to the Cycling Ireland National Series status this year.”

National Road Series Round Five, Currow, County Kerry on June 11: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane Photo by ©INPHO/Bryan Keane