Ballycastle cyclist Madden picks up Gold

Madden was honoured for winning the 25 and 50 mile time trials this year, adding to the numerous awards and accolades he has already on his trophy shelf.

The veteran time trial specialist found himself in the headlines back in October when he set a new national Masters’ record for the hour on the Manchester velodrome and he came tantilisingly close to breaking the elite record.

Madden, a former international triathlete turned record-breaking time trial rider, threw down the gauntlet to others as his new Masters record is the first time any Irish rider has set such a record for the over 40s.

However, while Madden’s performance was a formidable one for a rider of any age, the quality of his hour was really underlined when one considers he was just a couple of weeks short of his 51st birthday when he took to the velodrome. John Madden is an athlete who has shown no signs of slowing down and he went into his record attempt in Manchester with the Irish elite hour record firmly and realistically in his sights.

John is the current Irish record holder for veterans at all of the main TT distances. His 10 mile record stands at 19mins 17secs while his 25 mile vets’ marker is 49:41.

His Irish vets’ record of the 50 mile event is 1:45:19 and for the 100 mile test is 3:37:36.

He took the silver medal in the Masters 50 race at the National Road Championships in Omagh in June. And last year he also broke the Derry-Belfast record that stood for 50 years since being set by legendary Morris Foster MBE back in 1964.