K

Killarney Cycling Club’s Conor Kissane is chasing a third straight Kerry Road Race title as the series draws to a close next Thursday evening (August 1).

Kissane is one of two riders who can claim the county championship. He finished fifth on last Thursday’s Killorglin Cycling Club’s road race. As a result, the title race is a straight fight between Kissane and his Tralee rival Cathal Moynihan. They have each won a round apiece this summer with the local man taking victory on last month’s Sliabh Luachra event and Moynihan winning the Killarney Cycling Club-organised race in May.

Next Thursday’s Tralee event traditionally finishes on the Tralee to Lyreacrompane road, a long gradient that should suit the Killarney club member’s climbing skills as opposed to Moynihan who is more of a sprinter.

“We were both told it is between us,” Kissane told the Killarney Advertiser. “They have not published the tables yet but it is between us. We have both won a round so far this year. The drag to the finish in Tralee suits me as I am more of a climber.”

Kissane finished fifth last Thursday night on the 45km Killorglin–Kilgobnet loop. That race was won by Tralee’s Sebastian Gebhardt over Killarney CC’s Keith Lyne. The Killarney club took four of the top five places with Marcus Treacy and Tadgh O’Shea taking third and fourth ahead of Kissane.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Kissane finished third in the non-championship Silver Pail 90km race in Fermoy.