Cycling/ Irish Road Race Championship: Giant Asia professional David McCann made history in Westport yesterday when he landed his third Irish Road Race Championship title, overcoming the Navigators Insurance duo Ciarán Power and David O'Loughlin, plus impressive under-23 rider Paídi O'Brien (Sean Kelly Racing Team ACLVB M. Donnelly) to win the 175-kilometre race.
All four were clear in the closing stages of the 14-lap event but O'Loughlin suddenly cracked on the penultimate climb from the town.
McCann attacked soon afterwards and, showing the strength which earned him four Irish time trial championships, he opened up a near three minute lead over Power and O'Brien by the finish.
Nicolas Roche was fourth, with O'Loughlin finishing just behind O'Brien's team-mate Tim Cassidy in taking sixth.
O'Brien's fine performance saw him successfully defend his under-23 title while the fifth and ninth places posted by Sean Kelly team-mates Tim Cassidy and Mark Cassidy earned them the best team award.
On Saturday, Siobhan Dervan (Lotto Ladies Belisol) outsprinted Louise Moriarty (Moving Ladies), Heather Wilson (Maryland Wheelers) and Julie O'Hagan (Dublin Wheelers) to win her second consecutive Irish women's title.
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