Seymour says Ulster riders are ones to watch at cyclocross champs
Posted on: January 6th, 2017
Robin Seymour sets out who he believes will be in the shake-up in both the elite and Masters races at the National Cyclocross Championships on Sunday (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
Robin Seymour might be the hot favourite to win the Masters' title at the National Cyclocross Championships on Sunday but he is playing down his chances.
He opted to race the Masters category last year but had to pull out of the title decider at the last minute.
And though he tried to ride the elite category again this year he was declined.
Trip to World Cyclocross Championships; three-night package from Friday, Jan 27th. Follow this link for pricing and other details.
"Other riders have gotten away with it in the past but not (me)," he said of his rejected request to ride elite.
"I'd have loved to race Roger (Aiken – defending champion) this year but it didn't work out.
"Having said that, I'd have to be at my best to have a go at him this year," said the 46-year old Wicklow man.
Seymour asked Cycling Ireland if he could ride the elite championship race but was told he had to ride the Masters (Photo: Sean Rowe)
His own race will be a thrilling affair and could be the event, with the biggest field of the 2017 championships assembled for it.
"Everyone thinks I'm flying but I'm just not happy with how I'm riding," said Seymour, an Olympian and the current world Masters MTB champion.
"I keep thinking I can manage the organising and the training and racing but I make an arse of it every year, results notwithstanding.
"It's just very hard to organise the races and commit to racing. I feel like I'm only dabbling at it."
Pressed on who will make the podium the 18-time elite champion said: "Myself, Alan Bingham, Jason Henry and Colm McGarvey will be there if he is riding.
"Zippy Doyle can go well but not ahead of the first three with a clean race."
Of the elite contest, Seymour reckons it's Aiken all the way but a ferocious battle for silver and bronze.
"It's not a foregone conclusion but I wouldn't be putting money on anyone else winning the elite title," he said of the race he expects the defending champion to win.
"There is the making of a great race for the other medals, though. Will it be a clean sweep of medals for Ulster?
"You have Glenn Kinning, Gareth McKee, Chris McGlinchey and potentially David Montgomery and Graham Boyd.
"But David Conroy, Niall Davis, Paul O'Reilly and Barry Kellett will all be there."