Fortune favoured the brave with Shane Donohue, Athy Wheelers, coming out on top over the evenings 5-man breakaway.
the corners were fine. i won’t say sketchy. but you’d only go through them as fast as your bottle would allow you to.
Shane Donohue, Athy Wheelers
Weather Conditions
The final round of the 2026 Mondello Series got underway in somewhat unfamiliar conditions, for this year in any case: rain.
Not your heavy downpour, but a constant throughout this evening’s racing, which also saw a drop in temperature under grey skies. Very little wind to speak of though.
THE break
A sizeable group of C3s set off first. The 5 riders making their move not long after the flagdrop were to stay away for the evening.
Shane Donohue, Athy Wheelers, Brad Turner, Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospatial, Robert Ryan, Bear Cycling Club, and the Carlow Road Cycling Club pair Eoin Bailey and Anthony Lawlor built up their lead and worked together right up until the final straight run for the line.
Their counting on the weather conditions playing a part in how their chasers might negotiate the many twists and turns on the circuit paid off.
A small group was always going to have an advantage choosing lines with more confidence.
The Chase
With several laps remaining, the C2s and C3s had merged with the C1s chasing hard behind led by the in-form Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, and Josh Callaly, Velo Performance.
As the riders took the bell, the break was maintaining a slender lead with several groups breathing down their necks. It was race on!
Sensing the danger of a late surge from behind, Shane Donohue let fly as the led group hit the finishing straight. It was enough to give the Athy Wheelers rider a well-deserved and gutsy win.
i threw a dig into the last corner, sprinted the whole way down the finishing straight managing to hold off the charging motorbike that is matthew walls!
Shane Donohue, Athy Wheelers
2026 Series Podium
The absent Liam Crowley, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, took the overall series, having clocked up enough points with earlier round wins and placings. Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, came in 2nd, with Javan Nulty, Unattached Leinster, completing the podium after a solid run throughout.
Top Six
- Shane Donohue – Athy Wheelers
- Brad Turner – Kilcullen Cycling Club Murphy Geospatial
- Robert Ryan – Bear Cycling Club
- Eoin Bailey – Carlow Road Cycling Club
- Anthony Lawlor – Carlow Road Cycling Club
- Matthew Walls – APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
