The Cyclocross National Championships are set to take place this weekend in the City of Armagh at the picturesque Palace Demesne.
The 2022 Cyclocross National Championships, hosted by Square Wheelers CC and supported by ABC Council, has attracted a strong field of Irish riders. A total of 273 riders have entered across all championship categories from under 14 up to masters all competing for top honours and the coveted National Champions jersey.
The 2022 edition will see Maria Larkin return in a bid to defend the title she won at the last Championships which took place in 2020; due to covid-19 the 2021 Championships did not take place. Larkin will face stiff competition from Provincial Champions Darcey Harkness, Stephanie Roche and Grace Young.
The senior men’s champions jersey will rest on someone else’s shoulders this year with 2020 champion David Conroy not among the starters. There will be a number of riders to keep your eyes on including Chris McGlinchey who will be looking to upgrade his silver medal from 2020 to gold this year along with Provincial Champions Anthony Murray, Sean Nolan and Richard Maes.
Cyclocross has grown in popularity in recent years. The exciting and action packed discipline has appealed to youth riders in particular this year with 125 boys and girls from under 6 to under 12 registered for the support races. The most striking figures show a 71% increase in entries among under 14 and under 16 boys and girls from the 2020 Championships. The future of Cyclocross racing in Ireland is looking very bright.
The racing gets underway on Saturday, January 8th with the non-championship youth support races followed by the under 14 and 16 girl’s and boy’s races. The junior, senior and masters races will take place on Sunday with live coverage of the senior men’s and women’s races from 12:30pm. Follow Independent.ie Sport and Cycling Ireland on social media for live coverage of the senior women’s and men’s races. Regular Eurosport commentator Declan Quigley will be on hand to call the action.
Start List
Gridding
Full Schedule:
| From | Event | Until | Time (mins) |
| 10:15 | Registration opens | 13:25 | |
| 10:15 | Youth course open for practice | 10:55 | 40 |
| 10:15 | Main course open for practice | 12:30 | 135 |
| 11:00 | Under 6s fun race | 11:05 | 2 |
| 11:10 | Under 8s race | 11:20 | 5 |
| 11:30 | Under 10s race | 11:45 | 10 |
| 11:50 | Under 12s race | 12:10 | 15 |
| 12:10 | Prize giving: Under 8s, 10s, and 12s | 12:20 | 10 |
| 12:30 | U16, U14 girls called up to start grid | 12:40 | 10 |
| 12:40 | U16 girls start | 13:20 | 30 |
| 12:40 | U14 girls start | 13:20 | 30 |
| 13:25 | Prize giving: Under 14s and 16s | 13:35 | 10 |
| 13:40 | U16, U14 boys called up to start grid | 13:50 | 10 |
| 13:50 | U16 boys start | 14:30 | 30 |
| 13:50 | U14 boys start | 14:30 | 30 |
| 14:35 | Prize giving: Under 14s and 16s | 14:45 | 10 |
| 14:30 | Main course open for practice | 16:00 | 90 |
| 16:30 | Park closes |
Sunday, 9th
| From | Event | Until | Time (mins) |
| 09:00 | Registration opens | 14:00 | |
| 09:00 | Course open for practice | 09:30 | 30 |
| 09:30 | Riders called up to start grid | 09:45 | 15 |
| 09:45 | Junior men's start time | 10:30 | 40 |
| 10:35 | Prize giving: Junior men | 10:45 | 10 |
| 10:30 | Course open for practice | 11:00 | 30 |
| 11:00 | Riders called up to start grid | 11:15 | 15 |
| 11:15 | M40 men's start time | 12:10 | 45 |
| 11:16 | M50 men's start time | 12:10 | 45 |
| 11:17 | M60 men's start time | 12:10 | 45 |
| 12:10 | Prize giving: M40, M50, M60 | 12:25 | 10 |
| 12:15 | Course open for practice | 12:35 | 25 |
| 12:35 | Riders called up to start grid | 12:50 | 15 |
| 12:50 | Women's start time | 13:45 | 45 |
| 12:50 | Master's women start time | 13:45 | 45 |
| 13:50 | Prize giving: Women | 14:00 | 10 |
| 13:45 | Course open for practice | 14:15 | 30 |
| 14:15 | Riders called up to start grid | 14:30 | 15 |
| 14:30 | Senior men's start time | 15:40 | 50-60 |
| 15:45 | Prize giving: Senior Men | 15:55 | 10 |
| 16:30 | Park closes |