MATT BRAMMEIER RECORDED a time of 4:04:25 in Clonmel to clinch his third national road race title in a row yesterday.
The Omega Pharma Quick Step rider finished five seconds ahead of 2009 champion Nicolas Roche and a further four seconds in front of Philip Lavery in third after breaking clear of the leading pack over the last three kilometres.
“I’m over the moon really,” he told RTE Sport . “It was such a hard task from the start. Somehow I held off from Nico and Philip Lavery who were super strong. I wasn’t really too confident but I knew if I could survive the last climb I’d be in with a chance.”
The 27-year-old has not been selected for the Irish cycling team which will compete at the London Olympics and after lodging an appeal with Cycling Ireland, his case will now go in front of the Olympic Council of Ireland. Those picked were Roche, David McCann, and Dan Martin, with Sam Bennett as first reserve.
There’s an appeal gone in over the last few days so we’ll wait and see but I’m not too hopeful really. I think there are a few guys in the federation who don’t like me for some reason and they don’t want me in the Olympics.
“I don’t know what’s going on there. I let my legs do the talking today but I don’t think it will mean a lot to the selection.
“It’s no secret that I was born in London and it would be extra special that as it is London. I’m really proud to ride in the Irish jersey, that’s why this race means so much to me every year but it was a huge blow when I got that email saying I wasn’t selected.”
He tweeted yesterday:
