Race Diary of Cian Lynch,
Kildare Hire Equip Team

Race: FBD Milk Rás, Stage 3,  22nd May 2000
Newport to Oughterard.

A nice spin into the start this morning, and a chance to congratulate Brian Kenneally on his fantastic win yesterday. It struck me during the course of the day, watching O’Loughlin and Paddy Moriarty, that former Irish team members do get a chance to have a go with County teams, and that selection for the National Team can be a bit of a sentence – to ride your ass off when and if required. Its good to see them taking advantage, and good advantage at that, of their time with the squad, and performing in the Ras.

Todays stage, at a mere 75 miles, was never going to be the easy day it might have promised on paper. The Pipe Band belted out the usual regular Ras favourites, and after the publicity machine finished its business, we rolled out towards Oughterard. I was kind of hoping that I might creep into a move, and as the day progressed, well enough of that for now.

A fast start into Westport, and the drag out was to catch a few napping. You know all too well the big gallop up a drag, followed by that pregnant pause, when you think, well, wouldn’t it have been much easier to ride steady over that one….Indeed Mr. Kenneally referred to earlier had a disagreement with a car, I’m not sure as to the exact details, and it took him a while to get back on. Johnny Condon, former club-mate, was a victim also, and following another crash decided enough was enough – back seat of the car time. Not a man of the Ras in this instance. Suffer, baby, suffer is the name of this game. Out the road afterwards and a small group moves off the front after Westport, however a bit of hard riding takes them back into the fold. Having been to the front, I decided it was time to sit back in and look after myself. It appeared that nothing much was going to go. When we did approach the Cat 3 climb, I got into a move with Bill Moore and Colm Bracken, joined shortly afterwards by Eddie O’Donoghue and a couple of others. We picked Dave O’Loughlin up, I’m not sure as to whether or not he punctured. With Dave and Bill driving the group, we were to be joined by Tanner, Sully and co. Story being that they simply rode on and off into the distance. This time last year I would have been able to sit in, this time my friend, it was a case of retiring to the bunch.

Martin came up with the Telekom team to the front, and drive as they might, that group was not coming any closer, it contained most of the firepower. After the K.O.M., there were some savage lineouts, and I daren’t tell you that I suffered like I don’t know what. I did actually sit up at one stage, but I knew that I would be able to sit in at the back, recover, and resume my place in the bunch. There were some bad falls, worst being Mick Mulcahy, who slipped a gear and crashed, falling badly on his face and requiring surgery. The stalls after the crashes also meant having to accelerate to get back on, and with these rolling roads, and speed, there are a lot of tired legs around. Another groupetto takes leave of the bunch, on a section of open, exposed road. Aidan, Brian and Beany are in that move. With 10 miles to go, I decided to take off in the hope that I might be joined, and with a bit of a push, get across to the stragglers just up the road. John Nolan of Navan joins me, and we do bit and bit, until joined by Jonathon Reidy and a team-mate of his from Newbridge. In the road, and we can see a group of 4 ahead, and just ahead again, the group with Crowley and co. Try as we might, we didn’t manage to get up to the lads. We did however stay away from the bunch. Some small glory.

A bit of hassle with the accommodation and we settle in to our B&B at last. With tomorrow’s stage at 120 miles, and a couple of climbs thrown in for the crack (thanks Dermot!) it is going to be a “Men of the Ras” day alright. Julian Winn took the stage, and I assume the yellow jersey is safe. Mick Mulcahy has been taken to Galway Regional, so our thoughts will be with Mick tonight. Stage winner in the Tour of Ulster a couple of weeks ago, he has been going well the last while. Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery, on behalf of the other, Men of the Ras.

IrishCycling.Com: Would like to thank Cian for his excellent report