Irish Cycling has a new World Champion, Oisin O'Callaghan.
The 17-year old from Limerick claimed the UCI MTB Downhill
Junior World Championships Title in Austria on Sunday morning.
O’Callaghan blasted down the 2.3-kilometere
course, dubbed the “Speedster” as speeds approaching 65 km / h on the rough
terrain.
O’Callaghan finished ahead of Great Britain pair
Daniel Slack and James Elliott to win Ireland's first ever Downhill world title
at the Mountain Bike Championships.
Speaking after being awarded the rainbow jersey O’Callaghan said:
“I don’t think it’s sunk in fully yet, later on I think it will.
It’s a bit overwhelming right now.”
“I think every racer aims to win. But top five would have been
really good.”
“Everyone has been sending me messages and hoping that I do
well.”
“I know lots of people were watching the live timing.”
O’Callaghan had signed for professional team YT Mob earlier this year and based himself out of Switzerland in preparation of the event,
Teammate Christopher Cumming posted the second fastest time in qualification
on Friday but had to settle for 21st in Sunday’s final. McKenna Merten finished 8th
in the Junior Women’s race with Jacob Dickson suffering a DNF in the Elite Men’s
race. Dickson has qualified 32nd in a time of 4:04.598
