Ulster Cycling News
13May/120

Wendy Houvenaghel Triumphs on Home Ground

After months of preparation, 34 of the world's elite women time trial cyclists from 12 countries took part in the Celtic Chrono at Stormont Estate today with local Olympian, Wendy Houvenaghel triumphant.

The elite women cyclists rode the 22 mile track taking in Newtownards and Bangor with Wendy Houvenaghel, riding for Team GB in the Olympics in London, recording the fastest time on the trial of 48mins 35.09 seconds.

Wendy triumphed ahead of Olga Zabelinskaya from Russia on a time of 48 mins 57.38 seconds with Hanka Kupfernagel from Germany in 3rd on a time of 49 mins 40.66 seconds.

Congratulating the 1st place prize winner was Alan Moneypenny, Vice Chair of Sport Northern Ireland who said, "Sport Northern Ireland has worked hard with DCAL, governing bodies of sport, sports facilities and Local Councils to attract 9 countries here for pre-games training camps and Northern Ireland is also hosting many pre-games events, bringing world class athletes here to train and qualify alongside our own elite superstars and aspiring young talent.  Despite the cool breeze, it has been exiting and action packed, watching the best in the world, competing for the 2012 Games, here on our own doorstep."

From early morning the atmosphere was building as people gathered to watch the Women set off from the Stormont Estate, through Castlereagh, Craigantlet, Ards into Bangor and Holywood with the final stretch back into the grounds for the finishing line in the shadow of Parliament Buildings.

Elite and almost 200 leisure cyclists were cheered on from around the Celtic Chrono course which was Ireland's only pre-Olympic cycling event. With tensions building the first athlete took off around the circuit to the sounds of applause and local support. Wendy Houvenaghel stated that she was very pleased at the support shown to the elite cyclists by her home crowd.


Garry Nugent from BNG Sports Management said "We are delighted to have brought the first women's UCI cycling event to Northern Ireland and the support that we have received from DCAL, Sport Northern Ireland as well as NITB, Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Borough Council and Ards Borough Council has been overwhelming.  We are building on this to be an annual event and to be bigger and better with even more international athletes."

Report Tommy Lamb

Pics Marian Lamb

Full Gallery to follow

RESULTS: Celtic Chrono Elite TT
1.        Wendy Houvenaghel (Ricci Chain) 48-35
2.        Olga Zabelinskaya (Rusvelo) 48-57
3.        Hanka Kupfernagel (Rusvelo) 49-40
4.        Pia Sundstedt (Finland) 50-26
5.        Julia Shaw (Drag2 Zero) 51-09
6.        Patricia Schwager (Switzerland) 51-36
7.        Brulee Latoya (Topsport) 51-42
8.        Pascal Schinder (Switzerland) 52-13
9.        Mel Spath (Ireland) 52-16
10.      Lina-Kristin Schink (GSD) 52-22

For Full Results click the following Link - Celtic Chrono Women and Paracycling Results 2012

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