Stage 7
Well what a difference a day makes, yesterday was the worst day Iâve ever had and today one of the best. Stage 7 was the longest stage at 161km with 2 KOM on route a cat 2 at 88km and a cat 3 at 140km, now after yesterday I lacked a bit of motivation and never even looked at the race finish (you get all the stage finish profile, bends... everything about the route/stage in the race manual ) I thought the race would break up at the first KOM and Iâd find at group and ride into the finish, as usual the race started at break neck speed into a side wind, and the famous line out started on the main roads of Donegal, then a touch of wheels, a crash in front of me, now at the start, when this happened I would freak out and drill it to regain contact with the bunch however if you donât regain this leave you with nothing to give and you go out the back very very quickly, the trick is not to drill it straight away and build up the speed get in a group and work your way back up to the group, so with echelons forming across the road a group of 8-10 of us were in the second one and started working however people were tiring and making no head way, I had a feeling it was going to be a long day, however I had to go for broke and got to the front and drove it along up to around 15m to the bunch on my limit people started jumping across, each man for themselves! Lucky I got back on, soon after a group got away and the swiss in yellow along with the French and Czechâs high on GC they controlled the race by going to the front and riding tempo (steady 44Kph) this makes life a lot easier for the rest of us, and as we checked into the lounge for the next 100km, it was like my prays were answered. At the second KOM the race heated up, bodies stared going out the back and the line out started forming, I dug deep and hung in at the 9km to go, I thought why not try go up for the sprint at the 7 km I got near the front a scary place, at 4km a crash happened me safe at the front then at 3km to go another one a bigger I was in a split with around 20 riders all proâs for the first time during the whole week I wanted the race to go faster as the only county rider in the pack, not to be we were swapped again as we stalled, then 2km 1km just after the 500m to go there was a 90 degree left hander I was on the wrong side of the road and had to slow down to take the inside line, I gave it everything to the line and came in 26th and 3rd county rider I was made up, it made the pain of yesterday disappear. I thought RLâs post was funny as everyone tells me they start at the bottom and work their way up, this is what I do as well, it was nice to be on the front page of the GC. I now knew all I had to do is get to Skeeries tomorrow to finish the race. Happy days
Stage 8
Usual story flat out at the start with a small group going away and then the swiss .... rode tempo, as we neared Skeeries the pace went up and the KOM at Slane put me under pressure but all I was doing was digging deep forgetting about the sore legs, counting down the kmâs to Skerries, as we entered the lap circuit, I had done it, it didnât matter if I got off and walked I had finished the RAS, as we turned onto the finishing straight the noise was amazing with huge crowds cheering on every single rider, it was a real buzz, then the racing really started, at this stage I can handle the speed but when we hit the KOM on the lap I went out the back, I very nearly hung on but it wasnât to be, I was happy and rode around with a big enough group of 40-50 enjoying the atmosphere, as I crossed the line, I was delighted, all the long hours in the rain in the winter, the high end intervals up slade valley were you would find me in a ditch every Tuesday night, the turbo trainer sessions (one 4hr one nearly put me over the edge) all worth it.
Again I want to thank everyone who supported me, the messages were great, checking them every night, everyone who made it to the finish, friends, family EPIC crew, Smithers at motopitstop.ie, Richie, the Cuchulainn team that took me on board and especially Oz if you want to be a superstar bike rider get some advice off him but be prepared for pain! Now no bike for a week or so but lots of beer and junk food. See you at the Club league Thursday week, have the tarmac the leadmines yet!
Thanks Daragh
Well what a difference a day makes, yesterday was the worst day Iâve ever had and today one of the best. Stage 7 was the longest stage at 161km with 2 KOM on route a cat 2 at 88km and a cat 3 at 140km, now after yesterday I lacked a bit of motivation and never even looked at the race finish (you get all the stage finish profile, bends... everything about the route/stage in the race manual ) I thought the race would break up at the first KOM and Iâd find at group and ride into the finish, as usual the race started at break neck speed into a side wind, and the famous line out started on the main roads of Donegal, then a touch of wheels, a crash in front of me, now at the start, when this happened I would freak out and drill it to regain contact with the bunch however if you donât regain this leave you with nothing to give and you go out the back very very quickly, the trick is not to drill it straight away and build up the speed get in a group and work your way back up to the group, so with echelons forming across the road a group of 8-10 of us were in the second one and started working however people were tiring and making no head way, I had a feeling it was going to be a long day, however I had to go for broke and got to the front and drove it along up to around 15m to the bunch on my limit people started jumping across, each man for themselves! Lucky I got back on, soon after a group got away and the swiss in yellow along with the French and Czechâs high on GC they controlled the race by going to the front and riding tempo (steady 44Kph) this makes life a lot easier for the rest of us, and as we checked into the lounge for the next 100km, it was like my prays were answered. At the second KOM the race heated up, bodies stared going out the back and the line out started forming, I dug deep and hung in at the 9km to go, I thought why not try go up for the sprint at the 7 km I got near the front a scary place, at 4km a crash happened me safe at the front then at 3km to go another one a bigger I was in a split with around 20 riders all proâs for the first time during the whole week I wanted the race to go faster as the only county rider in the pack, not to be we were swapped again as we stalled, then 2km 1km just after the 500m to go there was a 90 degree left hander I was on the wrong side of the road and had to slow down to take the inside line, I gave it everything to the line and came in 26th and 3rd county rider I was made up, it made the pain of yesterday disappear. I thought RLâs post was funny as everyone tells me they start at the bottom and work their way up, this is what I do as well, it was nice to be on the front page of the GC. I now knew all I had to do is get to Skeeries tomorrow to finish the race. Happy days
Stage 8
Usual story flat out at the start with a small group going away and then the swiss .... rode tempo, as we neared Skeeries the pace went up and the KOM at Slane put me under pressure but all I was doing was digging deep forgetting about the sore legs, counting down the kmâs to Skerries, as we entered the lap circuit, I had done it, it didnât matter if I got off and walked I had finished the RAS, as we turned onto the finishing straight the noise was amazing with huge crowds cheering on every single rider, it was a real buzz, then the racing really started, at this stage I can handle the speed but when we hit the KOM on the lap I went out the back, I very nearly hung on but it wasnât to be, I was happy and rode around with a big enough group of 40-50 enjoying the atmosphere, as I crossed the line, I was delighted, all the long hours in the rain in the winter, the high end intervals up slade valley were you would find me in a ditch every Tuesday night, the turbo trainer sessions (one 4hr one nearly put me over the edge) all worth it.
Again I want to thank everyone who supported me, the messages were great, checking them every night, everyone who made it to the finish, friends, family EPIC crew, Smithers at motopitstop.ie, Richie, the Cuchulainn team that took me on board and especially Oz if you want to be a superstar bike rider get some advice off him but be prepared for pain! Now no bike for a week or so but lots of beer and junk food. See you at the Club league Thursday week, have the tarmac the leadmines yet!
Thanks Daragh