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Rory Townsend wins Irish Championships

Rory Townsend has won the national road title in Ireland this weekend. The 29-year-old did that for the second time in his career. It is the eleventh win of the season for the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and the first for Townsend this year. A day before his 30th birthhday it’s the best gift ever.

29 June 2025

“Racing in Ireland is always hard with the repetitive climbs. During the race it took quite a while before the decisive move of 14 riders went but with local rider Ryan Mullen we had a good engine. The pace was very high at the beginning. Normally I am the one being a bit stressed at the start of nationals and really go for it with early attacks but because of some stomach issues I had to take it easier. This was a blessing in disguise in hindsight because I came through and was fresher in the final.”

With 14 riders up front it was a constant flurry of attacks and the group got smaller and smaller. There were many riders without any teammates so Rory had to be selective which moves to follow. In the last ten kilometers two U23 riders attacked with 2024 Irish champion Darren Rafferty. That was the move.

“We didn’t have much of a gap but we worked well together. The other guys were at least 15 kilos lighter than me so it was hard on the climbs,” Rory says with a smile. “But when I attacked with three kilometers to go in a tailwind it was a good thing I was the bigger rider. One rider made it across. Jamie Meehan would have the U23 title but also wanted the elite title but so did I. I used my experience and beat him in the sprint.”

Rory also won the title in 2022 but that was at a very different point in his career and life.He had just handed in his dissertation for his university degree in sports sience a few days before winning his first championship.

“I was about to get a normal job but then my life turned 360 degrees with that title three years ago. This one is different but winning nationals is still a dream and the emotions are the same. This is a race has been a constant factor since I was a kid. It was a pipe dream when I was young and now I have won it twice. As a national champion you literally wear the pride of your country on your chest. You are not only riding for yourself or your team but for your country too. I can’t wait to show our colours in the biggest races.”

Q36.5 have designed a beautiful jersey with the Irish colours for Rory which he will most likely show for the first time in the Basque Country on 25 July after a team training camp in Livigno.

“Nationals weekend is family time,” Rory concludes. “It is cycling in its purest form with only your friends and family as support system. My cousin John drove my support vehicle and my family and girlfriend Grace were there throughout the day. For my dad this is a special day too because he grew up in Ireland. We also celebrated Irish-style with Guinness. It was literally my first pint in six months so the first one was a challenge but after two and three it all went smoothly.”

More medals at nationals
David de la Cruz won silver in the Spanish time trial, as did Kamil Małecki in Poland. Emīls Liepiņš and Rory Townsend were fourth in their time trial. Sjoerd Bax finished 7th in the Netherlands and Jannik Steimle finished ninth in Germany.

There were top ten places in the road races for David de la Cruz (6th), Fabio Christen (8th), and Nicoló Parisini (10th)