Celebrations as Robin wins biking World Championships

THREE-TIME Olympian Robin Seymour took gold last week at the 2016 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championship in Val Di Sole-Trentino, Italy.

The Kilmacanogue man has represented Ireland at the Olympics in Sydney, Athens and Beijing and last week raced in the 45-49 age category of the event.

The 20-time Irish national champion completed the steep 22.5km course in a time of 01:15:59 (5 lap race) with his closest rival Francesc Xavier Carnicer Roig of Spain coming in second place, 1 minute and 39 seconds back.

Sauro Nocenti of Italy rounded out the podium in third, 1 minute 47 seconds off Seymour. ‘I’m delighted of coursee,’ he said following the win. ‘I felt strong today. The climb was so extremely tough that I didn’t need to attack and rode away from the other competitors on the fourth lap.

‘I’m very proud to wear the Irish national jersey and get the respect it deserves from the international group. I hope this inspires other people, whatever age, to go and race mountain bike cros-country. In the 50-54 race another Irish well know rider, Peter Buggle (Rocky Mountain), finished 9th in a race time of 1:06:08 (4 lap race).

Robin’s club, Wicklow Off-Road Mountain Bike Club, hosted a surprise reception for him on Friday evening in the Harbour Bar. He and his family were delighted with the wonderful event and everyone was excited to see his gold medal and World Champion jersey.