Cycling Reports

The Coombes Connor, Drogheda, 

 By Cian Lynch

Sunday 9th March 2003

Check out the pictures taken by Keith O'Sullivan on the Message Board

If I was ever looking for an excuse not to race, the fact that my eyes were stuck together with the gunk from yesterdays race, still in them, that was it. Unfortunately, I did get out of bed, and get the kit ready, and made the race start in damn good time, courtesy of team-mate Dave Elson (and the Ambassadors car).

Conditions are not too far off last years' race - virtually minus something degrees, and Cassidy dominated the world that day, a savage ride, a savage man, and a savage win. I was there to photograph it thanks to a brutal showing, and getting spectacularly blown out of a lineout (despite Laurence pointing out exactly where to watch out for) on the first lap. Was this year to be any different?

For a start, there was a joint race, A & B, and some vets, if you can call them that - Cassidy and Bracken - just a couple of class riders really, who were more than likely to get up overall regardless….. The speed setting out was, tailwind and road conditions in mind, fairly alright. As we swept right through Donore, there was apprehension as riders attempted to get to the head of the race, prior to turning a sharp left, uphill…. Get off that bloody big ring - oh no! a quick 53 to 39 switch, going uphill, on the 12, does not go, stall, fall towards the ditch, and blame someone else. Hilarious scenes! There's also the odd rider coming back, well, technically going slower uphill than those, who for some reason or other have found themselves wanting - badly positioned…..

Ah, Lynch the great climber…… Eddie "The Winker" was having a laugh before the race, something in relation to me writing about races with climbs in them, that the race action always seemed to stop during the climbing section, as far as I was concerned anyway…. Too true…. And who was it he was asking to lead him out for the hill primes in the Tour of Munster a couple of years ago? Short memory - he was telling this story to Cpl. Peppard who nearly went into oxygen debt laughing…. Fortunately, its possible to get reasonably accurate accounts as to how the race panned out from others afterwards….

Race on. And race break gone on the climb also! Simon was sitting up at the head of the race with Mr. Baker, but when the acceleration took place to establish who's on for the win today, baddabingbaddaboom….. Simon missed it. We all did. Lynch, not the climber, was somewhere in the middle of the bunch heading up the climb, concentrating on getting up the thing rather than any great plan to tear the legs off my two climbing heroes, The Winker and Cpl. Peppard! Over the crest of the climb, and the chases started in earnest through Duleek and onto the main road. As we swung left, heading back across towards the Drogheda-Donore Road, a small group rolled off the front. Dermot Healy nipped across as did a couple of others, and then it happened, the stall. Still the stall. The group up ahead has had enough time to gather, shout and argue, and start riding. And still the stall, although, as we approach the turn left for Donore, Shane Baker has taken off up the road with Brian Ahern, and they are two not to be let go, thus the jump around the corner. I was joined by Craig Sweetman, Frank O'Leary and a couple of lads, managing to ride fairly well as a unit. Certainly, there was nothing coming up from behind, and we were making inroads into Shane and Brian's' slight lead on us…. Turn left for the climb, and the couple of lads that tapped through on the main road decide to show me what going uphill is really all about. It's not about racing. Its not about all riding up as a unit, and making sure that the strong man on the flat, rolling roads gets up in reasonable condition so that he can recommence the assault on the group ahead in due course - oh no - lets brutalise him leave him slog up the climb on his own….. so I'm left sitting a couple of metres off the front lads, not a chaser in sight, and they have no chance of catching the group ahead on the climb (they are in sight nonetheless), and eventually they all start to come back, or rather, I just continue to pace myself up the climb, catching Baker, Sweetman et al. We gather, check to see what gap we have (still the same, no sign) and start riding. When - just as last week, without the bang, without the hiss, just the unceremonious flat rolling front wheel punctured feeling. And as luck would have it, the cars are all behind the group behind us! Given the narrow roads off the climb, its all that can be expected, and when I do get to change a wheel, the groups are gone - Padraig Marrey, Ger Madden and a few are my only company as I attempt a half hearted, conceded defeat type turn on the front….

But what a race it was. Andrew Donnellan achieving a win in the manner he did… Spectacular. As I headed home in the Ambassadors car, we stopped to watch the leaders approach the last lap. Cassidy was away with Gallagher of the Endura Pro outfit, and Donnellan was chasing with Doc and another. Donnellan was swigging from the bottle, obviously settling himself, confident as to how it was going to work out. Nice one Andrew. A well organised and marshaled race, a credit to Drogheda Wheelers, and the circuit was worthy of classic status, me thinks.

Before you say anything, one of Dublin's top Cycle stores has stepped in to provide me with two sets of Vittoria tyres, no more excuses. I didn't say no more punctures, just no more excuses!

What's the plan for St. Patrick's Day?

Cian Lynch. Asst. D.S., North Kildare CC