Went down to see the lads off in Gorey this morning and then back to Blessington for the finish!
Oscar had decided to keep Micky company in the Team car today after a couple of really tough days. The lads were a bit apprehensive before the start but once again they excelled themselves and all finished well up in the bunch! They were all really chuffed at the finish and deservedly so ..... what a brilliant achievement for a bunch of "hairy arsed" mountainbikers ..... and in Alfie's case hairy legged as well - can't believe you didn't shave your legs Alf!!
And by all accounts Micky played a blinder all weekend too and I understand will shortly be signing for Leopard Trek as Team Manager!
You all really did us proud lads!
P.S. Coyner finished well up as well and we can probably claim him as an Honourary Epicurian for the weekend too!
well done kids..I had to work so couldn't make it down myself..its an awful pity more " members " didn't bother their holes going to support our heroes !!
Delighted to be an honuary Epicurian for the weekend , truth be told I would'nt have considered the race were the lads not doing it and was chuffed to have the comaradarie they brought along.
Thanks Alfie , Morti , Max , Oscar , John , Mikky and Damo for looking our for me .... I really had a ball.
Well that was a great weekend.Now,if you've never been in a roadrace you wont know just how hard the pace is.Todays stage was 92k,and the average speed was 40kph!!When you see experienced roadies who have been riding for years,training every week on the road, getting dropped out the back you know its tough!!And yet our Epic lads finished in the bunch,not only that but Doris,Morty and Alfie were at the front trying to escape away!!After seeing the Epic roadteam ride these past 3 days I have even more respect for all the lads.Superhuman efforts,and a real eye opener to see how tough they all are!!!
And away from the racing,we had some great laughs in the hotel and restaurant.Little or no drink taken by the racers,but Damien and I had a few both nights.Great 3 days,thanks!
That was a great weekend of racing. Super stuff from all the lads. They all (except Doris) felt like **** before the stages but knocked the crap out of it each day. Serious achievement finishing within a couple of minutes of yellow. OZ will be flying with a few more races in his legs.
We had a great laugh aswell. I can only imagine the crack if there was any drink involved. My pints (and hash browns) tasted fairly bitter when all I was thinking was that I should be in bed suffering like the lads. Micky did a sterling job of team manager but he'll be racing it next year. Congrats lads, it was tough out there.
savage racing this weekend,never done anything as hard,barely able to climb the stairs for breakfast in the mornings and murdering yourself on the bike in the afternoons.
on the first day six lads broke after about 12k nobody chased as with 88k to go everybody thought they wouldnt keep it up,but they did! then on the second day the same guys pulled out more time on the time trial.
it wasa interesting watching the various teams working hard to either protect the gap or try and close it,myself,morty and john all had a few digs to try and get away over the next couple of stages but they wouldnt let anything go,everything got chased down and brougt back to the bunch.
a real education in road racing.
the pace is unreal,and although your physically exshausted you cant sleep at night probably because of all the energy bars gels and drinks you guzzled during they day.
big thanks to micky and damien for looking after us all weekend they are two legends and also to big vini,richard,sam,richie,caroline,carol,sophie,sara h and anyone else i didnt see that came down to show there support.
Well that was an eye opener. Thanks to Morty for organizing this and to Alfie and Richie for pushing it. Morty, Max, Doris, Alfie and Coyner were in the mix every day giving digs off the front and keeping well up there. Mickkky did a great job as Team Manager and Damien was there to help and give encouragement all the way along. Best description I heard was from Richie who called it a chariot race, this pretty much summed it up. Didn't have any legs for it myself and wasn't accustomed to the close proximity of the high speed bunch but with a bit more experience that'l change. Id recommend a spot of road racing to any of the club riders, it's something different and compliments the off road racing very well.
Not much I could add to what the has been said already, savage going altogether. The buzz and atmosphere during all 3 days was great with a good few very hilarious moments.
I've done a few road races leading up to Gorey but this was way quicker and intense than any of us newbies expected. It's hard to tell if it's harder on the body or mind during the race because both are constantly fcuked, dealing with the pain, fear of crashing or getting dropped... there is no let up for 2,5h and you have to stay focused. Drinking and eating is vital but not easy when you can't let go of the bars for a split second!
But you still want to do more and give it 100% no mater how tired you are.
Micky and Damien are some legends, looking after us all weekend, thanks lads!
And everyone else you came down to cheer, it gave us much needed boost for the final stages.
And of course thanks to Morty who has prepared us for this and was a real team leader / coach for us.
The legs are sore today but I still had thoughts of getting on the bike and going for a spin... I must be mad.
Just want to say a big thank you, to everyone who made the weekend happen, for Jer for the car, Stu for the sign wirting,micky the best team manager anyone could have, and Damien his drinking partner, Richie and everyone who came to support us, and also all the lads had the best craic, great weekend and the cycling wasn't bad either.
Just want to say a big thank you, to everyone who made the weekend happen, for Jer for the car, Stu for the sign wirting,micky the best team manager anyone could have, and Damien his drinking partner, Richie and everyone who came to support us, and also all the lads had the best craic, great weekend and the cycling wasn't bad either.
,love to do this race hopefully next year,would you do it again?