Matthew Walls claimed a dominant win in the inaugural Cycleways Kermesse as APS Pro Cycling locked out the top two places on the fast Beehive circuit in Wicklow.
Glorious Sunshine and High Stakes in Wicklow
The 2026 Cycleways Kermesse, day one of Bray Wheelers’ new two-day Festival of Racing, delivered a high-octane afternoon of attacking racing under glorious sunshine on the 7.3-kilometre circuit based at The Beehive in Coolbeg, Co. Wicklow.
Ten laps for a total of 73 kilometres, run as a handicap event with the C3 group starting first, followed by the C2s and a strong C1 peloton last off, produced the kind of non-stop action the Belgian-style kermesse format promises.
Generous prize money, including a GERRARD Cycles bike frame for the winner and generous prizes with multiple primes, helped attract a sizable and competitive field.
Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, took a commanding victory, with teammate Conn McDunphy completing the one-two. Dean Harvey finished a hard-fought third, ahead of Josh Callaly and Caleb McGreevy.
Walls Shakes Off Romania Niggles
Walls arrived at the race still carrying the lingering effects of a wrist issue that limited him in the Tour of Romania the previous week. With the legs feeling strong again he was determined to make an impact.
in Romania last week had an issue with my wrist so I couldn’t really fully show my legs.
But coming into today, the legs were good so I said I may as well give it a crack.
– Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
Early on he bridged across with Josh Callaly, Velo Performance U23 Development Team, sweeping up C2 rider Caleb McGreevy, U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant, as they rode through the C3 group.
Conn McDunphy and Dean Harvey, McConvey Cycles, later made the junction, forming a potent five-rider lead group that worked well for a couple of laps while the peloton was held at bay.
Aggressive Racing Behind the Leaders
Behind the leaders the race was equally aggressive. Midway through lap 2 the C3s still held a small advantage, but Walls and Callaly had already joined the C2s while the C1s sat roughly 15 seconds further back with Evan Keane, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, among those testing the waters.
By lap 3 the front trio of Walls, Callaly and McGreevy were clear, with Ciaran O’Sullivan, Greenmount Cycling Academy, trying unsuccessfully to latch on.
Attacks flew from the bunch, James Armstrong, U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant, Darragh Byrne, AS Villemur Cyclisme, Ruairí Byrne, UCD Cycling, and Cian Keogh, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery, among those active around 25 seconds behind.
On lap 4 a chasing trio of McDunphy, Harvey and Seán O’Kane, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers, reduced the gap to the front 3, though O’Kane was dropped on the following circuit. The junction at the front was finally sealed on the climb of lap 6, creating a five-man break with around 45 seconds to a group of eleven and the peloton a further 20 seconds adrift.
Swiss visitor Nico Tambarikas and Pádraig Moran, as well as the ever-combative Ciaran O’Sullivan amongst others featured at the head of the chasing groups as the pace remained blistering.
Final Laps Seal the Result
With three laps remaining the race had settled into three distinct groups: the five leaders, a 11-rider chase roughly 40 seconds back, and the main field more than a minute adrift.
The decisive move came towards the end of lap 9. As the leaders contested a prime and a small gap opened, Walls sat patiently before launching a sharp attack over the top. McDunphy bridged across shortly afterwards.
Walls’ late attack with McDunphy sealed the result, turning the final kilometres into a two-up time trial that no one could bridge. Walls later expressed appreciation that his teammate ‘allowed’ him to take the win, with McDunphy content to secure second and the prospect of winter training on the GERRARD frame!
Top Class Racing
McDunphy described the afternoon as a masterclass from Walls and praised the short, technical Beehive circuit, noting how refreshing it was to race a proper kermesse-style event on home roads and hoping more races of this type appear on the Irish calendar.
Harvey admitted he knew the danger once the APS pair were clear but still wasn’t fully prepared for the final acceleration, settling for third as the best result available on the day. McGreevy, who had felt strong from the C2 start and worked well in the early moves, was delighted to hang on for a top-five finish in such company.
Next Up McGinty Autumn Classic
The inaugural Cycleways Kermesse provided a superb spectacle of aggressive racing through the Wicklow countryside and a strong opening to Bray Wheelers’ Festival of Racing. Next up was the McGinty Autumn Classic and supporting events on the same Beehive roads the following day, where many of the same riders will line up again looking for more success and lucrative prizemoney.
Top Ten
- Matthew Walls, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
- Conn Mc Dunphy, APS Pro Cycling by Team Cadence Cyclery
- Dean Harvey, McConvey Cycles
- Josh Callaly, Velo Performance U23 Development Team
- Caleb Mc Greevy, U19 Academy Région Sud powered by Giant
- Jack Conroy, Velo Performance U23 Development Team
- Seán O’Kane, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club
- Darragh Byrne, AS Villemur Cyclisme
- Padraig Moran, Pinergy Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club
- Nico Tambarikas, Q36.5 – Amacx
