Race Report: Greg Callaghan and Leah Maunsell Win Vitus Gravity Enduro in Ballinastoe

Sunny with +21 Celsius, no clouds, winds and most importantly, no rain. Maybe not what you would expect from a race in Ireland, where mud and wet conditions are almost mandatory. Race organizers recommended during the briefing to pack extra water and replenish all bottles and reservoirs on the feed station after SS3 and it was really needed in the heat. At the end of the day, there were smiles on everyone´s faces after a big day in the saddle and having fun with the fastest riders in Ireland.

Expectation were high for the opening race of the 9th Vitus Gravity Enduro Series as all the top Irish riders were present to battle for the podium. Racers were eager to see if that hard pre-season training translates into better overall positions. They couldn't have asked for better trail conditions, after another sunny day almost all mud was gone, although there was still some at the start of the 1st, 3rd and 5th stages inside the forest. But all other ones were in mint condition, perfect for a good craic.

Stages one and two were very similar, both starting inside the forest with a lot of physical pedaling and roots all over the places. Stage one was the shortest of the day, perfect to warm up and get things moving. After stage two, the third one required riders to climb to the same place where the first started but this one, together with the 5th, is the one where punctures and flat tires caused racers issues throughout the day. Garreth Davis, usual top20 in the rankings, had a flat on the third stage and lost 15min. Leah Maunsell and Greg Callaghan dominated the day, winning each and every stage. Pro men Kelan Grant, Killian Callaghan and Harry Byrne were constantly battling for the podium, exchanging 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions on each stage. Hanna Harvey didn't pose any threat to Leah domination, ending with a solid 2nd on all stages, leaving Hanna Mullin and Leah McCarthy battling for 3rd.

Results

Full Results

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Racing and Events Race Reports Leah Maunsell Greg Callaghan