Liam O’Brien was the highest-placed Irish finisher at the Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, netting 28th in the junior men’s race on Sunday.
The race saw the Swiss rider Jan Christen power in one second ahead of Aaron Dockx (Belgium) and Nathan Smith (Britain). O'Brien was two minutes 53 seconds back, with Travis Harkness a further 55 seconds back in 32nd.
“I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to represent Ireland at the worlds,” O’Brien said after the race. “It was tough out there today with the heat. I gave it my best, the crowds and support we received today were amazing.”
Three Irish riders were in action on Saturday, with Maria Larkin the sole female competitor from the squad. She placed 30th in the women's event, which was won for the eighth time by the Dutchwoman Marianne Vos.
Seán Nolan (Ireland) and Dean Harvey were 40th and 41st in the under-23 men's contest, taken by Joran Wyseure of Belgium.
Harvey had a puncture during the race and ended up having to run half a lap back to the pits, delaying him considerably. Nolan conceded some ground when his foot came unclipped and when his chain later came off but, like the other riders on the Irish squad this weekend, has gained valuable experience at the highest level.
UCI Cyclocross World Championships
Fayetteville, Arkansas – Junior men: 1 Jan Christen (Switzerland) 43 mins 11 secs, 2 A Dockx (Belgium) at 1 sec, 3 N Smith (Britain), 4 C Lequet (France) at 20, 5 A August (USA), 6 V Vandenberghe (Belgium) at 33. Other: 28 L O'Brien (Ireland) at 2.53, 32 T Harkness (Ireland) at 3.48.
Women: 1 Marianne Vos (Netherlands) 55 mins, 2 L Brand (Netherlands) at 1 sec, 3 S Persico (Italy) at 51, 4 C del Carmen Alvarado (Netherlands) at 1.04, 5 Y Kastelijn (Netherlands) at 1.05, 6 M Bakker (Netherlands). Other: 30 M Larkin (Ireland) at 3 laps.
U23 men: 1 Joran Wyseure (Belgium) 49.21, 2 E Verstrynge (Belgium) 13 secs, 3 T Nys (Belgium) at 33, 4 M Hendrikx (Netherlands), 5 C Mason (Britain), 6 R Kamp (Netherlands) at 38. Other: 40 S Nolan (Ireland) at 7.24, 41 D Harvey (Ireland) at 3 laps.
