I was in the middle of writing a Ras Mumhan race report when I was gifted this comprehensive summary from a couple of team mates.
I am not responsible for the content that follows, that must be credited to a pair of intrepid, roving reporters, Messrs Dwyer(skip) and O'Conluain(gooch).
The Gooch's Take on it all.
This year the team had 3 riders (Anto, Gus and Fiachra) from last years exploits who were continuing their build up for the big one in May. Niall and Ciaran joined them but had different goals of building form and fitness for the rest of the season. As in every race there are two ways to look at it. From the front and from the back. IN this special report we are lucky to have Nialls “Tales from the Broom” which follows on from Gus’s legendary report from last year, looking at the race as it moves away from them.
However we must start at the front of the Race where UCD had more Great Success. The first day saw a crash on the first climb split the peloton and left Ciaran and Mike chasing to get back onto to the group which had Anto constantly attacking from. When we finally got back on with 30km to go it was a shame that Anto hadnt made it into a small group up the road that had over a minute gap on us. Myself and Mike did some work on the front but we were never going to get it back so Anto jumped away and this time it stuck leaving him in a chase group and me and Mike keeping the peloton together as best we could. With 8km to go we hit a brutal crosswind section then straight into a cat 3 climb which left Ciaran in the cars and he crossed the line behind Mike and the main bunch but Anto had gained some valuable seconds in that chasing group. The rest of the team came home in a group just behind and it was a trip to the local Italian restaurant for the “Pantani Pasta” that got the smiles on the faces again.
Day 2 was the epic finale on the Connor Pass. It started out on Dingle and was carnage with rivers and montains to be crossed it was always going to split up and a crash in the bunch certainly did that. Overall Anto stayed out of trouble and attacked at the bottom of the climb passing some of the strong breakaway riders on his way to a fine 11th place. Many said he did one of the fastest ascents of the Col that day, if not in the history of cycling.
Mike came in next then followed by Ciaran in what turned out to be one of the hardest days ever on the bike (this can be seen by Mike lying under Ciarans car for shelter). Fiachra, Gus and Niall followed and were very eager for the next day to be less wild and adventerous but that wasnt to be the case!
Stage 3 was another shocker witha trip out to Valentia Island. Anto Gus and Mike all stuck into the bunch till they hit the “wall” climb on the island which split it up totally after 80kms of racing. Numerous more climbs were to be had and when Antos attacking finally paid off he got into a group with the eventuall winner and also the current yellow jersey. It was another incredible move and he got 7th in the 12 man sprint into waterville. What a ride and it shot him up to 11th overall on GC. Up there with the good lads!
Niall was helped with some issues by the Gent and Gus did what must have been the longest ever effort to hold a 20second gap on a group of 20 riders ever seen. He left Valentia Island 20 seconds behind them and 40kms later he crossed the line the same time behind them. He was 250m behind the group all that time. He should have just went a little faster.
By the time day 4 came around everyone was wrecked and it was expected to be an easier day till they hit the town of Killorglin for 10laps up the steep hill after 80km. A split in the bunch after 5km with Anto and the yellow jersey missing out on it meant for a tough day for all involved. Anto never did manage to get them leaders back and they kept it at around 90secs throughout. If he had of been in the split himself he could have moved in to around 7th place but it wasnt to be. He crossed the line as did all the other riders in what was an epic weekend of racing.
Chapeau to Anto for what was pure class throughout. Same to Gus in what was his second race of the season (his first ended after 15mins!). Same to the Gent for sacrificing his race to stick with his teammate when needed. Chapeau to Mike for what would have been another big jump up for his growing reputation until a bug caused him to pull out and finally thanks to Jason who sacrificed his place riding so he could drive 5 moany riders around and keep them going when the going stayed tough.
The Skippers twist on the events
For a look at the race from our past captains view here is this years “Tales from the Broom” courtesy of Niall W. Dwyer.
Friday morning met the lads at 8:10am Clontarf dart station. To keep with tradition I was of course about 5 minutes late. Within minutes of getting into the car Walsh had me “freaked” about the weekend that lay ahead. “Skip Valentia island hell on earth echelons all over the shop lined out”.Stopping at the lights near Tara street dart station I contemplated pulling a legger and running for the hills. Decided the grief id get it wouldn’t be worth it. Team tactics were later discussed over coffee and scrambled eggs in Adare. Gus was to stick behind Ciaran and Fiachra for the whole weekend both on and off the road in an attempt to not get caught out in the splits. Anto was let loose to do his own thing and well Dwyer good lad just dig in you’ll be grand was the general consensus I think.
Stage 1.Good Friday April 22nd. “The Slide through Sliabh Luachra” 105km and 3 climbs.
After a mock race start for the benefit of national television the peloton were to ride 13km neutralized. This kind of edgy nervous riding squeaking breaks was something I was well accustomed to riding as a cat 3 for the last three years “wo wo wo jaysus lads”. Once the flag was dropped the pace picked up then picked up again and then picked up for a third and a fourth time I looked down at cycling computer heart rate 180 speed 61.7 km. Lifted the head looked back at the back of the bunch already dig dig dig dig still at the back of the bunch shit im not fit Jesus I should be riding the Connemara 3 day or an adventure race or just having the craic with the lads god I hate cycling. At 26km the first major obstacle of the day I was still hanging on just about before the category three climb. Here we go pop into the little ring pop in to that new 28 sprocket nice one Daniel (for that BRAND NEW cassette).I knew that would come in handy. Riders started ripping up past me right I’m getting dropped race over “Come on Niall ride harder come ride harder”. Who is that? Ah it was Gus I rode a bit harder no legs gone “beep beep beep” South Dublin car comes by us followed by another and another and a few motor bikes a few cyclists. All I can think “Friday and Monday are Piano skip”. Things finally settle down in a bunch of 6 very quiet lads not much talking 70km to go well ride this one out. We rode up and over for the next 50 odd k until a group of about 15 came up from behind pleasantly surprised I relaised I wasn’t actually last man on the road. We arrived in a very sedate killorglin 20 minute down on the winner rode through the line straight back to the Bed and Breakfast. “That the easy day done tomorrows going to be rough”
Stage 2. Easter Saturday April 23rd. The “Dance around Dingle”( “Damhsa an Daingean”) 130 km stage, and 4 climbs.
After a breakfast of scrambled egg porridge Some of Ciarans techno and gangster rap we arrived in Dingle in good time. My head was in order I was confident enough going into the stage sure I had nothing to lose. Here I made my first of many amateur mistake of the weekend never warm up on your own. Descending down the bottom of Connor pass I hit a pot hole and punctured my BRAND NEW GP4000 tyre. Thanks to the surrey lads Jason came to the rescue with a spare wheel. So the race started again at a frantic pace things were going well (when I say well I mean I hadn’t been dropped yet) till we arrived at the river crossing. Once over the water the bunch was lined out and I found myself out the back already in a small group of 6. Within minutes we arrived at a chaotic crash scene bikes and bodies everywhere held up for about a minute the chase was on lads flying by my hanging out of cars no car for me tho. Eventually got on to the bumper of the Blarney car. All was well till the blarney lad got on the wing mirror and off they went into the distance. So that scene was set I’m riding the next 110km solo “just another day in paradise”. Confident I was last man I slowed down waiting for the BROOM after an hour still no broom 90 minutes still no broom. Two riders eventually caught up to me “weve been 200 metres behind you for the lat 50km” WHAA. I sat on for the next hour or so winging about my rear wheel and how is was rubbing and how I had no water and how I was only an a3 and how I hated cycling and wished I was back in Anglo. They were great listeners. Approaching the Connor pass last climb of the day Grainne handed me a bottle of water from the side of the rode I thought for about a second will I share it with lads no chance gulp gulp ahhh gone bring it on last climb of the day. Our little bunch split dropped one of the killorglin boys only to find him creeping up beside me on the back of a camper van “you’re a complete bollox” actually that’s a great idea jumped on aswell . Then jumped off that’s cheating Dwyer then jumped back on then jumped off and rode it out alone.
Stage 3. Easter Sunday April 24th. “ The Waltz around Waterville” The 142km and 6 climbs along the way.
Things were going well on this stage I was becoming accustomed to the 60km an hour role outs. All was in order till we arrived at a cheeky little uncategorized climb before the first cat 2 of the day. I managed to hang on over the first climb descended poorly as is always and then started to lose wheels on the cat 2. Got over the top after about 10km a good group of 20 odd riders had formed all riding up and over’s bar one lad form Dectek “I packed yesterday just out on a training ride” Ah sure sit on why not we dont mind. Things were still going well as we arrived on Valentia Island. I thought to myself what was Anto on about this is a grand little island. First to crest the top of the hill out of my little group I thought to myself this is your day Dwyer all is well that ends well. HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS no it can’t me no way yes it was puncture. As I shouted and roared on the side of the road as team car after team car went by me claiming have no wheels an American family drove up “can we over you a ride” trying to be as courteous as possible I declined. Eventually after what felt like an hour the broom boys arrived. Slowly rolls down the window “did you puncture lad?” No just having a laugh thought I take a breather maybe sit here for a while. “ah we might have a spare wheel I just check you’re in luck we have ONE” . I looked into the back of the van it was like a scene out of border control load of skinny sweaty lads sitting there in the dark. After I managed to tangle and untangle my BRAND NEW CHAIN we were off again HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS gone again. Broom peels up I open the back door in a fit of rage ask one of the asylum seeker lads for their wheel he kindly obliged I pumping with agro and aggression amd a little adrenalin now knowing I f I punctured again its race over lights out N DWYER 65 DNF. We chased for an hour finally catch up to the last group on the road Fiachra true to his name waits up and rides back on with me for the hour. “I owe you a pint Fiachra” “ we can start with an ice cream” “ sound”. Finally arrive in Waterville 4hours and fifteen minutes after leaving. Walsh was right Valentia island is a dark place. One of the Asylum seekers jumped out of the van and rode the last 10KM and started the next day.
Stage 4. Easter Monday April 25th. “The Puck Fair Polka 114km stage and 12 climbs,#
Disaster for team UCD bunch split in two out of now where I was secretly delighted things will be slow all the good lads have to be in that break I couldn’t have been more wrong, Vanderlit and Vanderpool were back in our group as was Anto and a few other riders well up on GC. So the deals were negotiated and the chase was on Walsh promised 50€ and decided he would ride hard at the front al day. First climb of the day last man coming into it and no surprise last man coming over the top and boom dropped again. Eventually came across Ciraran who towed me to killorglin where I did a couple of cheeky laps. The applaud from the crowd as I came up the hill meant its was over I had done it. I was greeted with a can of chilled cola form my aul pal nico ah Nice one race done. PINT ANYONE ??
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