Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, made it 4 wins in-a-row ahead of a quality field in Belfast.
About 30 C1 riders set out at a slightly later time of 11am to allow for people travelling to the 2026 Bobby Crilly Classic.
The race had been scheduled for six 18.7-kilometre circuits with a 9-kilometre run to the hill finish.
Route Change
However, it seems road works on the Lagan Bridge in the city centre had pushed traffic to the smaller peripheral roads meaning a higher volume of cars than the organizers had expected at the roundabout on corner 5.
After one lap they took the decision to adjust the route, restart the race, and set out for seven shorter laps plus the 9-kilometre run to the finish.
The cramps were coming on because with the rain you’re forgetting to drink, but I just managed to get myself up the climb.
Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
After attacks by Cian Keogh, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, and Seán O’Kane, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, Caldwell Powerhouse Racing, took up the hostilities on lap 2, with Walls attacking over the top.
The break
By lap 3, three riders Dean Harvey, McConvey Cycles, Darnell Moore, Caldwell Powerhouse Racing, and the in-form Matthew Walls had opened up a small gap of about 20 seconds with the remainder of the peloton a further 20 seconds back.
Things had settled down by lap 4. The three-man breakaway now holding a gap of 35 seconds back to a strong seven-man group which included Conor McKeown and Luke Smith, Moynalty CC, Daire Feeley and Paul Kennedy, Burren CC, Seán O’Kane, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, Ciaran Maguire, Team Dan Morrissey Pissei, Daniel Stone, Roadman Racing Club, and Lindsay Watson, Caldwell Powerhouse Racing.
The peloton was a further 30 seconds back and looked unlikely to play any further part in the 2026 Bobby Crilly Classic.
The gap remained stubbornly at around 35 seconds despite the chase intensifying in the closing laps. In fact the break had also increased the tempo in response.
Such was that pressure on the climb that Moore was unable to hold the pace and was dropped with about a lap and 1/2 remaining.
Race on!
It was now Matthew Walls, going for his fourth win in a row, and Dean Harvey, who has been showing some excellent late season form, against the chasing group of nine.
The two frontmen looked comfortable together and the chasers were finding it really difficult to bring the gap below 30 seconds.
The final
On the final climb, the young first year senior APS rider sensed his breakaway companion was waning slightly, put in an attack, and had time to raise his hands for a fine solo effort for his fourth consecutive win.
I could kind of see he was starting to suffer a little pulling through on the climb, so I just snuck away.
I knew that once I stuck to the power the lads weren’t going to pull me back.
Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
Dean Harvey just missed out on a podium place after another fine ride pipped to the line by the ever-impressive Lindsay Watson, and recent winner of the 2026 Peter Bidwell Memorial in Donore, Co Meath, Luke Smith, in second and third respectively on what the Moynalty rider described as “a good hilltop finish and a nice way to test the legs before the end of the year“.
“Probably the hardest two hours racing I’ve had in a long time,” according to the 2026 Ulster Criterium Champion, Lindsay Watson.
Ciaran Maguire, Team Dan Morrissey Pissei, took fifth while the early breakaway rider Darnell Moore came in 6th.
Matthew Walls is in superb form and looks to be really enjoying his racing. There was no hanging around at the finish line as for the first time in a long time the riders had to contend with light rain and a noticeable drop in temperature.
Top 10
- Matthew Walls – APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
- Lindsay Watson – Caldwell Powerhouse Racing
- Luke Smith – Moynalty Cycling Club
- Dean Harvey – McConveys Cycles
- Ciaran Maguire – Team Dan Morrissey Pissei
- Darnell Moore – Caldwell Powerhouse Racing
- Seán O’Kane – Pinergy Orwell Wheelers
- Daire Feeley – Burren Cycling Club
- Paul Kennedy – Burren Cycling Club
- Daniel Stone – Roadman Racing Club
