Race Report: BikingBlitz 2020 - Ballinastoe

BikingBlitz 2020: Ballinastoe

And we are back! The 2020 Irish mtb season is officially open with the first races of the BikingBlitz series. The weather was not ideal, storm Ciara almost made organizers cancel the race but it was not necessary. As a precaution, the kids race was cancelled, a good call from the organizers. For the main event, almost 250 riders showed up to ride under windy and wet conditions. About 60 riders on the SuprePro category and the rest in the Baggy Shorts race. BikingBlitz is celebrating its 10th anniversary so it's an established series of races that every rider enjoys and try to participate at least once. Taking place on all of the Coillte trail centers in the country is the perfect opportunity to get to know the official trails and try to race against yourself or your friends.

For the first race of the season all the big names showed up, even some that usually, you will find racing enduro or DH, as Harry Byrne, Michael Lee, Ross Ennis, Glyn O'Brien and some others. It's the perfect race for everyone to get out of their comfort zones and test their pre-season training. Since the start, the battle was fierce, with Lee Harvey, Garreth, Harry, Gavin Carroll and Brian Melia pushing one each other non-stop. In the Women's racing, Leah McCarthy didn't have many opponents so it was a battle against the clock and the elements. Some mechanicals here and there made the top10 to be a bit more different than the usual, but this is not a surprise, anything can happen on a race.

Next stop is in two weeks in Ballyhoura trail center, see you there!

SuperPros starting their two laps

TeamBiking.ie Garreth Davis had a small mechanical at the start but managed to get back on the top3 and grab 2nd just 21s after Lee Harvey

Young Harry Byrnes will be doing the full EWS this year 3rd on this race just 54s behind the first

Garreth Davis and Harry Byrne, 2nd and 3rd, they know each other very well

Wherever Glyn is present there is a good craic

First long climb, Baggy Shorts did it once, SuperPro, twice

Pushing hard on the climb, it was windy here

Michael Lee enjoying himself, winner of the Baggy Shorts category

Some even have enough energy for manuals

Awesome views from the top

Leah McCarthy pushing hard, with 1:52:48 she ended up in the top50 overall

The official trails where on mint conditions for the occasion

DH legend Glyn O'Brien out of his zone of comfort, ended on 12th position 1:28 from the winner

It was a wet day

Storm Ciara swiped the country with high force and winds but it gave the riders a 2h window just enough for mostly everyone.

Storm Ciara swiped the country with high force and winds, but it gave the riders a 2h window, just enough for nearly everyone.

Camaraderie and friendship always prevail

Time to refill after a hard race

Most trail centers managed by Biking.ie have a small hut or cabin where to enjoy a coffee, hide for the rain and have a chat

time for some cleanup

Juniors category podium with Dean Harvey Aaron Finnerty and Cilllian O Shea

SuprePro Women and Juniors podiums

SuperPro podium with Lee Harvey, Garreth Davis and Harry Byrne

Results

Baggy Shorts Men

1st. Michael Lee 0:46:43
2nd. Noel Harrington 0:47:06
3rd. Rob Magee 0:47:36
4th. Gergelly Garamvolgyi 0:47:53
5th. Damian Ciuba 0:48:48

Baggy Shorts Women

1st. Ciara O'Hagan 1:03:52
2nd. Ciara Bourke 1:05:02
3rd. Jacinta Healy 1:09:51
4th. Rachel Cinnsealach 1:11:00
5th. Muireann Lynch 1:20:39

SuperPro Men

1st. Lee Harvey 1:20:15
2nd. Garreth Davis 1:20:36
3rd. Harry Byrne 1:21:09
4th. Gavin Carroll 1:21:42
5th. Brian Melia 1:22:27

SuperPro Women

1st. Leah McCarthy 1:52:48
2nd. Karena Hanley 2:14:15

Junior Men

1rst. Dean Harvey 0:41:37
2nd. Aaron Finnerty 0:45:46
3rd. Cillian O Shea 0:51:48
4th. Brendan Conroy 0:53:00
5th. Darragh Ryan 0:56:09

Full Results

MENTIONS: @VitusBikes

Posted In:
Racing and Events Race Reports XC Racing

Author Info:

elyari
Member since Apr 5, 2011
129 articles