Carrick wheeler’s Junior and Irish squad rider Cathal Purcell has been in flying form of late taking the Dungarvan GP a few weeks ago in a stunning solo display and just this past weekend he has went one further winning two national medals at the Junior Track National Championships on Saturday and backing that up with a superb win in the Drumm Cup on Sunday.
Sundrive velodrome was the venue for the hotly contested junior track championships held on Saturday in ideal conditions for outdoor racing. Purcell, only taking up the track this year, displayed his obvious form and talent on the track taking home bronze in the individual pursuit and a silver in the “kilo” in what were two remarkable performances.
Purcell then opted to race in Currow, Co.Kerry on Sunday morning in the hotly contest A3/Junior Drumm Cup where he again reinforced his class among the junior ranks. The race, a 75km affair, taking in 5 laps of a tough rolling circuit with a climb on each lap was bound to produce aggressive and exciting racing and it did not disappoint. It was on the second time of asking up the climb that Purcell forged clear of the group with three cork giant juniors in tow along with two other riders. The two others would be distanced the next time up the climb leaving Purcell isolated with three other riders from the same team. A win from this scenario would be quite uncommon and if it were to happen would involve smart tactics and good form to back them up, thankfully Purcell had just that. Purcell rode honestly for the majority of the race sharing the workload but once the attacks started coming he covered each one in turn while trying to save a much energy as possible. The race would finish up the climb with one last attack from a cork giant rider, Purcell managed to real that in and immediately counter it whittling the group down to just two. Leading the sprint out with a rider on his wheel Purcell timed his gallop to the line perfectly letting the rider come around him and then passing him in the closing meters to take what would be a memorable victory.
Elsewhere in the under 12 race held over two laps of a separate 6.5km circuit young Patrick O’Loughlin scored a brilliant result coming home in second place over the challenging circuit. Patrick made it into a small break of 6 riders on the first lap which was then whittled down to just 3 on the second lap, they would go on the fight it out for the win with Patrick coming home in 2nd.
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