Cycling Reports |
Ras Mumhan – 2001
By Cian Lynch
Stage 1, 2.6
Mile T.T. – Killorglin
On and upwards, I did nothing on the bike until September, when I took the chance to go for a spin with Mel and Martin. It was a rather sad occasion, I got my ass whipped. I realised of course that I had to loose the excess weight, and it is only now that I have achieved a somewhat respectable level, some 5 months on. Team wise, I have set up with a small, but effective, setup. Martin Maguire, Willie Byrne and Joe Mc Kay are the rest of the team, our sponsor for the moment is G.S.M. which stands for General Safety Managers, a company I contract for who offer Professional Safety Consultation and services. Our results so far have been so-so , Willie got sixth, with Martin 9th, and I achieved 6th the following day at the Cycleways Cup. We have engaged Paul Griffin and Kieran Mc Mahon as riders for the Tour of Munster (Ras Mumhan), with Evelyn to do the cooking and Valerie to give massage – what a setup ! The question is, what results are we going to get this weekend ? The time trial is straightforward. Some will tell you nothing is straightforward in this part of the country (The Kingdom)….. The start in Killorglin rises for 500m or so, with a dip a sharp turn at the turning point (mind the oncoming cars) and hammer away in towards the town, where you are probably going to suffer like a bloody dog as the lactate builds up and starts screaming at you, when you reach a sharp left and uphill sprint to the finish, making sure not to exhaust legs by trying to turn the 14 or 15. My trial was exciting from start to finish. Having timed it perfectly (?,!), I ended up on the ramp with 30 seconds to go. Paddy O’Callaghan was doing his usual ranting, sorry, presenting the riders, and counts down, fye-uvvvv, fow-orrrre, treeeee, toooooo, wonnnnnn, gowwwwwwww, when shortly afterwards the starter decided to release me – I mumbled something under my breath, which will no doubt result in me being docked time…. The 500m point was ripping my lungs out, the descent likewise, the turn had me slowing down to avoid an oncoming car, and I had my legs screaming on the way to the finish, I also managed to damage my knee from the time trial bars, but I will recover hopefully for tomorrow…….. but only with the excellent help of the wonderful Valerie (the other remarkable person in the team), whose modest courage and undoubtable talent will inevitably keep thighs, knees, ankles, toes and all up to par for the remainder of the weekend . I think Paul had a pretty good time, Cass was reported to have done 5’24”, Scanlon at 5’30” and Healion and O’ Loughlin in and around 5’40”. For the record I think I had a time of 5’53”, but it was difficult to work out the spilts at the end. Anyways, we will decide on the plan on the road tomorrow- I’m off to dinner – until tomorrow………. |
After quite an absence from my
race diary, its time to start back. The last time I put tip of finger to
keyboard was just prior to my packing the Ras after the stage into Middleton.
The fact that I ended up serving pints in Spratty’s fathers Bar at all hours
of the morning is another story….