Cycling Reports

Markievicz Cup

 By Patrick Withers

Sunday - 7th April 2002

New season……New club kit……First race of the season the Markievicz Cup in Collooney, Co. Sligo.

My season had been delayed due to a sprained ankle I received in February, and various colds since then, but I was looking forward to the Sligo race, intended to use the upcoming races as a stepping stone towards the Ulster Championships in June, and eventually, hopefully the All Ireland's in July.

We arrived at the sign-on hall just after 10, got the bikes out, changed, signed on etc… My club-mate and I went to warm-up with about 20 minutes to the start of the race before cycling out the start line.

We hadn't started until there was an attack, I think it was one of the Western Lakes lads, everyone was gradually coming back together again whenever the lead car headed on straight, and I knew the circuit pretty well, from racing on it as an under 12 and under 14, so I turned in left, and told my team-mate to follow. We were on this back road for about 2 mile before turning left back on to the main road, looked behind, no sign of the main group, we were in the lead!

We came through the start/finish area in the lead (to everyone's amazement for some reason?!), we were on the long stretch of a drag again, as I looked back again, there was still no sign of the main group, me and my team-mate were now doing bit and bit as we approached the turn of for the back road again.

We arrived at the start/finish area to begin our third lap, and as I looked behind I could see the main group coming, we went over the top of the long drag and sat-up waiting for the main group. They caught us and we jumped on just as we were coming to the left turn on to the back road again. I was feeling comfortable, on the few small hills on the back road, lying back in 3rd or 4th place, out on to the main road again and an attack by Mark McGirr (Lakeland C.C.), I followed, and the race came together again, well all for my team-mate Joe who was obviously tired from our 2 lap break-away.

As we came into the start/finish area, last lap! Was shouted by Tony Mooney, I was lying back in 5th place as we crossed the line. At this stage it looked as if the Castlebar rider was the strongest, and was sitting comfortably on the front. While we were on the back road an attack was made on one of the very few climbs on the 5 mile circuit by one of the Western Lakes riders but it was to of no avail. As we came on to the decent again approaching the main road, I was beginning to feel the pinch and didn't know if I could last to the finish. Up and out of the corner, one of two Western Lakes riders on the front, being closely watched by the Castlebar rider. We approached the top of the last drag, and everyone was across the road, into the corner I was in 4th position, as we were coming out the legs just seemed to go, and an Éire Og rider on home territory shot throw the inside, I sat-up and put it into the small chain ring, coming in 2-3 seconds down in 6th place. The race was won by the Castlebar rider, as I expected to be.

As for me, I was reasonably happy with my performance, I think I still need a bit more speed, but that it will come with a few more races. Roll on East Tyrone's race this Saturday!

To see more on me and my club go to our website http://www.fcc.sports-page.com  or it is also viewable via http://www.go.to/fintonacc