Irish national cyclo-cross champion Dean Harvey came close to earning a top ten finish in the men's under-23 race at the Dublin round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Belfast native, who rides for the Trinity Racing team and won his maiden elite national title in January, ultimately finished 11th at the Sport Ireland Campus, just 10 seconds outside the top ten.

The Netherlands' Tibor Del Grosso took victory in the race, which featured three other Irish riders. The duo of Jamie Meehan and Tadhg Killeen made it to the finish line in 19th and 22nd respectively. Travis Harkness did not finish.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Shane Dawson, Harvey was satisfied with his performance despite how tantalisingly close a top-ten finish had been at one point and described it as a valuable "benchmark".

"It was two laps to go, I got a puncture but it didn't cost me too much in terms of time. It just puts you off your rhythm but I was in the fight for top ten and maybe if I could have kept consistency, I could have stayed but not a bad race and I can't be sad about it," he said.

"I sort of knew if everything went perfect, I could be around that top ten. That was my goal, even from the start of the season, that I could be top ten.

"But it's rare that things go perfect. Today it wasn't perfect but it was close to it so I can't complain."

Dublin hosted a World Cup round for the first time on 11 December last year and this season's edition marks the fifth round of the 2023-24 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. Cycling Ireland named a 17-strong contingent earlier this month to take part in the men's and women's U23 and Junior categories.

Conor Murphy during the Men's Junior race for U-19 riders

The women's and men's elite races got underway in the afternoon.

Dutch rider Pim Ronhaar won the men's race, narrowly pipping Laurens Sweek of Belgium by two seconds.

Ronhaar, Sweek and Eli Isberyt treated fans to a titanic battle as rain gave way to a mud-fest. A rear wheel puncture slowed down Sweek, but he dug deep to move back up the leaderboard. Sweek put pressure on Ronhaar throughout the final lap but the Netherlands rider held on for victory.

Pim Ronhaar crosses the finish line to win the Elite Men's race in muddy conditions

The women's elite category also had a Dutch winner with former world champion Lucinda Brand finishing ahead of her compatriot Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.

Brand, who has recently returned to international competition following an injury, showed her experience and consistency throughout to secure a 50th elite victory.

Wales' Zoe Backstedt was third, also claiming the top place in the under 23s and extending her lead in the World Cup standings.

Earlier this morning, the men's under-19 race was won by Italy's Stefano Viezzi, with Conor Murphy the leading Irish rider in 18th, while Joseph Mullen was 23rd.

France's Celia Gery was victorious in the women's U19 category. Ireland's Aliyah Rafferty and Greta Lawless were 21st and 22nd respectively.