We have ten circuits of about fifteen and two turds kilometres here near Clonmell in Ireland.
Of the 19 riders at the startline it is Daniel Martin and Nicolas Roche who are the big stars of Irish cycling. But the grass roots have been served for some years by Vespa. Their inveolvement in Irish cycling significantly decreased this year but this interest was replaced by British based Cyclevox and Division two outfit Kingspan.
As expected in these nationals a break would dominate proceedings with Dermot Nally, David O'Loughlin and Sam Bennett forging clear.
The all too telling fan across the road with Kingspan and Cyclevox sitting behind tells us no-one is interested in chasing in the pack.
Up front then we have a unpredictable threeway battle on our hands.
The hostilities start in ernest on the last lap in the hilly section between 2km and 8km into the circuit. Nally is the best climber of these, at the age of 32 this maybe his last chance of any glories in a fairly non-descript career.
But the hills don't really offer the chance of much of a selection with Bennett and O'Loughlin comfortably keeping Nally to inside 20 seconds.
Bennett has some good Protour experience and should find a contract next year you fancy. He sits in prime position behind O'Loughlin as we come into the last three kms. Nally has failed to break away and you sense his race is over.
The time trial proved slightly more difficult than last years as the aging defending champion David O'Loughlin would finish behind the superstars Nicolas Roche and Daniel Martin.
The winner proving to be Protour man Dan Martin, who had one of his best days against the clock.
