Mullingar cyclist wins Oz race but denied title

Sydney based cyclist Jenny Fay should have added another title to her burgeoning CV at the weekend when she won the 2013 Australian Mountainbike Marathon Championships.

However, despite finishing the gruelling 102km course in Atherton, Queensland eight minutes ahead of Jenni King in second place, the Mullingar native and former Lakeside Wheeler was unable to claim the title as she is an Irish national.

Speaking after the race she said that she was disappointed that she prevented from claiming the title, which was awarded to King.

“I rode away into the lead early in the second lap. From there, I raced conservatively but still working on the climbs which are my strength - the course suited me down to the ground, in fact if I could dream of a course this is it.

“It’s a bittersweet day given I still have Irish nationality, so I can only claim the race win. I’m looking forward to racing the Irish national marathon champs in September,” Fay said.

This was Jenny’s second high profile win in recent months. In November she won the four stage Cape to Cape competition in Western Australia, an event with over 1000 competitors.