Lakeside Wheelers focus switches to cyclocross

As the autumn sets in and with winter on the way, all cyclists know that this only means one thing: cyclocross. The cyclocross scene maybe new enough to Ireland but is has been on the go since the early 1950s, having started in France as a way for road cyclists to maintain fitness over the winter months.

The UCI staged the first official World Championships in 1950 and it is basically like cross country running for cyclists as opposed to mountain biking or downhill racing. Since it took off in Ireland it has gone from strength to strength, to the stage where there are now races all over the country throughout the winter.

Last Sunday Lakeside Wheelers hosted the first round of the 2026/2027 Cycling Ireland cyclocross national league in Belvedere Hose and Gardens. For the last two years, the club has been aligned to the Leinster league but it was a big step up to be involved at national grade level.

Thanks to some great prep work over the last two weeks by several club members, the course was in fantastic condition and the challenging layout was commented on by many of the competitors on the day.

Thankfully the weather was perfect with dry conditions all over the 2km circuit, no cold and little or no wind. Entries far exceeded expectations with over 250 riders from all over Ireland taking part.

Lakeside Wheelers was very well represented across all junior and senior grades but it was especially encouraging to see the amount of Lakeside Wheelers youths who are a product of the great work being done by the Sprocket Rocket team over the last few years.

All races on the day were packed with some of the best talent on the Irish cyclocross scene and all eager to get the season off to a winning start.

Well done and congratulations to event organisers Paul Gibney, Steve Franzoni, Mark Horohoe, Peter Rimmer, Eugene Duffy and all club members who helped in any way. This was yet another fantastic Lakeside Wheelers promotion and one which participants were very generous in the praise of how the club put on such a great show.

Lakeside Wheelers is indebted to the management team at Belvedere House and Gardens and Westmeath County Council for granting permission to stage this event in the beautiful grounds of Belvedere. Thanks also to Cycling Ireland, Cycling Leinster, the Off-Road Commission and to everyone who raced and made this event such a great success.

Leinster Cyclocross League

All roads led to Kilmore Potato Farm in Wexford last Sunday week for the first round of the Leinster Cyclocross league. The weather was not perfect starting out but as the day went on the sun appeared, making for a nice day by the seaside. The circuit featured trails through the farm fields as well as along the sea shore and around the sand dunes.

Lakeside Wheelers was represented by some of our junior members as well as Nicolas Verwoerk in the senior race with all getting among the medals. Kate Horohoe was 3rd in th U14 race while Padraig Marshall and Charlie McDermott, two of our newest members and graduates of the Sprocket Rocket programme also made visits to the podium.

Nicolas made his journey to the sunny southeast worthwhile with a fantastic performance in the Senior B race as he claimed 3rd place overall. Well done and congrats to all members who travelled to represent the club.

Sportives

Unfortunately the weather got the better of most members for the recently held charity sportive in Ferbane as the rain poured down from early morning until midday. That resulted in only four hardy souls travelling for the Lynx CC Charity Sportive, which was the club’s nominated leisure spin for 2026. Well done to Ulrika Maher, Paddy Gorman Clare Neary and Martin Nally, who braved the soggy conditions on the day.

Foreign trips

In recent weeks two different groups of members were involved in cycling trips in both France and Italy. It is hoped to have some reports and photos from these expeditions to sunnier places in the coming weeks.