‘Tough’ race for Fermoy teen at Cyclocross World Championships
Fermoy cyclist Liam O’Brien represented Ireland last weekend as he participated in the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the US.
The St Colman’s College student was among five athletes which formed the Irish squad for the 2-day event.
Already the Junior National champion, Liam competed alongside Belfast based junior national runner-up Travis Harkness in the junior men’s race, with top class riders making up the competitive field.
On the final day of racing in Fayetteville, the junior men’s race got underway with Liam getting off to a great start, with cyclists battling through tough heat conditions.
Roughly two laps into the race, Liam was met with some mechanical difficulty, forcing him to stop to get his bike sorted before pressing on again. Finishing 28th in the race, the Fermoy Cycling Club member was the highest-placed Irish finisher at the Cyclocross World Championships on Sunday.
“I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to represent Ireland at the Worlds. It was tough out there today with the heat, I gave it my best but the crowds and support we received today was amazing,” Liam said after the race.
Fellow competitor, Travis Harkness, placed 31st in the race after six laps and said that the race was a ‘tough’ and ‘fast’ one.
‘SO PROUD’
Paul Birchall, Cyclocross Coordinator for the Cycling Ireland Off-road Commission and team manager, congratulated Liam and Travis on their efforts in the World Championships.
“Our two first-year juniors added immensely to the success of our Cyclocross Worlds campaign. Both of them have just ridden, competed and finished, 6,000 kilometres from home with the fastest juniors in the world and we are so proud of them,” he said.
Jan Christen of Switzerland was crowned Junior Cyclocross World Champion beating Aaron Dockx of Belgium and Nathan Smith of Great Britain in the sprint for the line.
The last winter season has been a successful one for the young Fermoy man, with excellent results on home soil and abroad, having previously competed at national and European levels. The home season finished last month when Liam was announced a clear winner in the Junior All-Ireland Championships in Armagh.