An Post Ras na mBan 5-day international women's stage race, September 9th � 13th which starts next Sunday in Sneem welcomes home Louise Moriarty and in particular to the county Kerry home where her parents reside. Chatting with her about the ups and downs of cycling she admitted to me that it is more for fun now! But, at your peril do not discount her. You have been warned!
A person that really knows ladies bike racing, she has grown up in a bike family, spent a lot of time racing and working on the continent and knows the racing inside out. Louise will be always there at the finish and I would certainly not rule her out for a top overall placing.
An Post have the great vision to sponsor cycling and especially women's cycling, which, as it has less depth internationally, offers more opportunities for international success.
Tommy Campbell: When you were a child, what did you want to be?
Louise Moriarty: An artist or an architect.
Lousie Moriarty (Look Mum No Hands Team)
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TC: When did you get your first bike?
LM: My first race bike was a hand-me-down from my brother Patrick, it was called �Le Blaireau�, with gear lever on down-tube
TC: When did you first start cycling?
LM: I started racing when I was 23.
TC: Who was your role model in cycling?
LM; My brother Patrick coached me for years and has been the biggest influence on my cycling career. What he achieved in races against professional riders, while working full-time, was really impressive. My father Louis Moriarty is also an inspiration: he never lets the impossible stop him doing it.
TC: Do you remember your first win?
LM: No, but I remember my first big win abroad � it was in the Netherlands in 2006. I got away in a small group, attacked them and won alone. Nice.
TC: Why have you remained so competitive?
LM: I trained with ambition up until 2008, since then I've cycled for fun.
TC: Had you any ambitions to go professional?
LM: I raced for a UCI Trade Team for two years - 2007 and 2008 - with Global Racing Team and Swift Racing Team. I raced during university holidays, based at the team house in Belgium. Cycling full-time wasn't a career option financially, but I had a great time: won races, travelled the world.
TC: Today, do you reflect on the progress of women in cycling?
LM: Women's cycling is progressing internationally, but it is slow. Very few women can earn enough money to make a career out of cycling. Many riders on UCI trade teams are not paid, and of those who are paid, most only earn �400/month. Although a women's team runs on a fraction of the budget of a men's team, is very difficult to get sponsors. Running more women's races alongside men's races would help enormously due to better media coverage. An Post have the great vision to sponsor cycling and especially women's cycling, which, as it has less depth internationally, offers more opportunities for international success.
TC: Your thoughts on how the cycling has developed in the last ten years abroad and at home?
LM: Valerie Considine and her team have done a huge amount for women's cycling in Ireland over the past ten years � it is due to their consistent effort over years that the domestic scene is thriving, producing exciting prospects such as Mel Spath. Now there is a strong National League, programs for youth (under Orla Hendron and Paddy Doran), junior and under-23 (under Gillian McDarby and Paddy Doran) and of course the ever-growing An Post Ras na mBan. There were 56 riders in last year's race, this year there will be up to 80 with 40% of the field being Irish riders. The continued support of Sneem Hotel, and the fantastic support of An Post beginning last year, have allowed the race to develop into a 5-day � very few even UCI races are five days long.
On an elite stage in 2007/2008 I tried to qualify for the Olympics on the track, while on sports scholarship with UCD, who gave me great support. Since then, it has been fantastic to see Irish female riders racing track � our women's team pursuit squad improved in giant leaps, Orla Hendron's World Masters Championship 2010 win and Caroline Ryan's performance at this year's World track Championships were outstanding.
For the future, track and BMX will be crucial to bring children into the sport: they provide contained traffic-free environments where young riders can learn skills, tactics, good cadence. Sneem Hotel recently added a BMX track on the grounds and An Post will promote Kerry Week of Family Cycling kicking off with a BMX display on Saturday 8th September, the day before Ras na mBan starts.
TC: Back in the real world, what was your first job?
LM: My first real job was as a Research Engineer at Philips Electronics in the Netherlands, but I've almost finished training as an Architect � fulfilling the childhood dream J
TC: Is there anything about your life that you would change?
LM: No, same as in the peloton: if you're not moving forwards, you're moving backwards!
TC: What sport do you follow?
LM: I follow cycling and athletics, but found the sailing in the Olympics really interesting � tactical like a stage race with 10 or 11 races. And of course, I watched Katie Taylor with awe.
TC: What's your guiltiest pleasure in relation to food?
LM: I was once accused of training that hard, just so I could eat whatever I like �
TC: What would keep you awake at night?
LM: Mulling over a design project.
TC: How do you relax?
LM: Cycling, dreaming and watching dumb TV programs.
TC: Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
LM: In the Olympic spirit - Katie Taylor for quiet inspiration, Clara Hughes (Canada) for her awesome attitude, Enda Smyth (Paralympian) for entertainment and Usain Bolt in the hot seat.
TC: What's your favourite piece of music?
LM: Something by Thelonious Monk or Miles Davis.
TC: What are you reading at the moment?
LM: �Delirious New York� by Rem Koolhaas.
TC: Your favourite newspaper?
LM: The FT.
TC: Your favourite website?
LM: dezeen.com, lookmumraceteam.com, sneemhotel.com, irishcycling.com, cyclingnews.com
TC: What trait do you least like in others?
LM: Lack of effort.
TC: What would cheer you up on a typical day?
LM: Sunshine, any day - send it our way!
Lousie winning stage 6 of the Rás na mBan into Sneem last year
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TC: How do view the success of UK cycling, particularly the ladies?
LM: I live mostly in London now, and race with a British team Look Mum No Hands! We are sponsored by a cafe/bike workshop in East London. The girls are great fun and cycling has been brilliant for meeting people in a huge city. UK women's cycling still has a way to go domestically, but their elite programs are obviously highly successful. They do talent identification in schools, have very good structures and support, and lots of money. Olympics medallists Lizzie Armistead and Jo Rowsell, as 18-year olds, were teammates of mine on the UCI trade team. British Cycling had spotted them and paid them a full wage: they were placed with a professional team to get exposure to UCI road races. This is a good way to do it. The other thing I commend the British set-up on is their discipline and focus, doing everything to the best of their ability � their women's team pursuit squad is so disciplined, they are getting incredible performances from very young riders.
TC: In your opinion, what is the state of Irish cycling at the moment?
LM: Cycling is enjoying a boom with unpreceded numbers taking up racing: the excellent race program in Ireland is a testament to the volunteers who run great races on great circuits: in my opinion the road racing scene in Ireland is far better and more affordable than in the UK.
Overall there have been vast improvements in Cycling Ireland, but if we are to produce medallist's, then long-term plans with solid structures and guaranteed funding are needed. The boxers have shown this: good, athlete-centered structures produce over time (region of 10 years) consistent high-level results. Without such structures, medals are dependent on chance: the luck of an exceptionally talented athlete finding your sport, getting the necessary opportunities and happening to have an outstanding day on race day.
I think we particularly need greater investment in young riders and female riders � there are positive steps in this, with teams going to the recent European Road Championships. The women's team's performance at such championships will be significantly improved by preparatory racing equivalent to the Junior and Under-23 men's program.
There are more opportunities to be had internationally in women's sport for the same investment: two thirds of the US medal haul at the Olympics were from female athletes. It was progress, however, to be able to send an Irish women's team to the European Road Championships - Gillian McDarby and Paddy Doran are working hard with their development squad. Another very positive development is Orla Hendron's Talent Team 2020 sponsored by Neenan Travel. And it also looks like we will have good female representation at the World Road Race Championships 2012, not to mention growing numbers nationally and our epic An Post Ras na mBan 5-day international women's stage race, September 9th � 13th!