Cycling Ireland held its 2024 Esports National Championships on Saturday 10 February using the 23 kilometer Scottish Rolling Highlands course on Zwift, with Marine Lenehan and Richard Barry emerging victorious.

Although the fields were small, 6 women and 11 men, the racing was fast and furious from the start. In the women’s race Marine Lenehan attacked early with a decisive move to build a small gap, which Joanna Patterson and Mary Corless soon bridging and joining Lenehan. The trio worked well together to maintain a gap, before attacking each other in the final kilometers. In the end it came down to a three-up sprint with Lenehan showcasing her strong finishing snap to earn the win.

After earning her first Irish championship Marine Lenehan said, “It was a good sprint, a hard effort, but I had some fun. To be crowned national champion – my first Irish national title – I’m very happy. It’s a good way to start the season, I’ll be racing next week in Portugal. Good vibes to start the season!”

In the open race eleven men took to the start line, with attacks flying off the front as soon as the flag was dropped, but none built a lead of more than a few seconds. But despite a flurry of continuous attacks for almost 30 minutes, eight riders entered the final kilometer tightly bunched together.

Finn McHenry opened up the sprint early, but Colin Clavin caught him in the final run-in as Richard Barry slingshotted around both riders at the last moment to win by just 0.310 seconds. 

Barry was over-the-top: “I’m thrilled. I’ve never won a national medal before. To be a national champion, there’s no higher prize in a discipline so I’m absolutely delighted. My wife and kids came in about a minute later and congratulated me. They heard me celebrating two rooms away – I’d say the neighbors were disturbed as well!”

2024 Irish Esports National Championship Results

Women’s Race

1. Marine Lenehan (Team Dan Morrissey – Primor by Pissei)

2. Joanna Patterson (The Independent Pedaler – Nopinz)

3. Mary Corless (Challenge Cycling Club)

4. Julie McElroy (Un-Attached Ulster)

5. Rachel Hardman (Forth Velo)

6. Berdien Driscoll (Un-attached Munster)

Open Race

1. Richard Barry (St. Finbarrs CC)

2. Colin Clavin (Streamstown Cycling Club)

3. Keane Ryan (Four Masters CC)

4. Liam Dunne (Un-Attached Leinster)

5. Bryan Geary (St Tiernan’s Cycling Club)

6. Conor Verbruggen (Bray Wheelers)

7. Finn McHenry (The Cycling Academy)

8. Ian Inglis (Kinning Cycles Cycling Club)

9. Tony Farrell (Bohermeen CC)

10. Stuart Millar (Ards CC)

11. Adam McConnell (Orwell Wheelers)

Photo Credit: Facebook/cyclingireland

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