The winning élite rider wears the national champion's jersey for all road races in the following 12 months.

Combined athletic and cycling meetings were held in every part of the country and attracted large attendances, the outstanding cyclists of the day were household names.

This led to the organisers of meetings demanding a championship (county, provincial or national) to attract bigger gates.

No matter what the motive for putting them on the calendar these championships were keenly contested and the winners are due as much respect as those who won the events that have persisted through the years.

People became less interested in going down the road to see local heroes when they could sit at home and look into the pores of the best competitors in the world on television.

It should be remembered that time trials became so popular in the United Kingdom because cycle racing on the open road was illegal.

Once independence was achieved in part of Ireland time trialling escaped from these stifling rules and gradually massed start road racing became popular and championships were held.

Massed start championships for men were initially held at more than one distance each year but by the early 1960s settled into one event of at least 100 miles/160 km.