Race Diary of Cian Lynch,
Kildare Hire Equip Team

Race: FBD Milk Rás, Stage 4,  23rd May 2000
Oughterard to Listowel.

120 miles. Hard, as Lall would say. As if the 75 miles the previous day hadn’t done any damage, today was always going to be another typical Ras stage. The few pints last night, the hassle with the accommodation didn’t do me any good. We were rushing around at the start also, Jack Watson passed me sitting outside the Post Office, and passed some remark about the relaxed state in which I was.

From the gun again. Cass takes off up the road in a cloud of dust, and 28 others in tow. Beat up his arse. And I can assume that he was driving it like a good thing. With him were Aidan and Davey Smyth, along with Evans, Eugene Moriarty, Mr. Polka Telekom, Shane Baker, young Dave O’Loughlin and Julian Winn. The explosion behind was not going to come to much, as it was not until the climb at 55 miles that the group spilt. Kenneally took off with a few boys in tow, including Brian Lennon, Dave Peelo, Shane Prendergast, Andy Meehan, Lovatt, Tanner and Sully. Needless to say there were a couple of crashes along the way. The crash at 5 miles took a few out of the equation, as no. 26 had some difficulty with his headset. He snotted himself. Paddy Moriarty was held up, but managed to get back on.

So, whole Kenneally took the group away on the climb, I dug in and got swiftly shelled out. Thanking God, it was near enough to the top. Into the cars on the descent. And I cannot understand the lack of cop on as lads waste themselves trying to go around cars getting back on. Then gaps are being left, left, right and center. Anyways, keeping the head, I wheel back on. Now, this group is not going to go anywhere. With about 50 up the road, the bunch behind was spinning along happy as Larry, whoever the hell he is. Time to get out, besides the fact that everyone who thinks that he can drive a group is up there showing his face. A couple of groups take off, and soon I join up with the group ahead. The Telekom boys, well the rest of them, and Colm Bracken, Martin, the Carrick Cidona lads et al are there. Some unbelievable rides by the Telekom lads, and we are in and out of the gutter. At one stage, no. 18 is doing a turn, and my pal Ritchie Cahill is considering dropping it onto the 16 to stay in behind him. I am in third, and cannot understand what he is saying to me.

Martin is flying, and the Telekom boys just cannot work up and through. Time to do a bit and get to Adare where we pull back Griffin and a few others. Well, pull back is not a true term, they had been dropped out of the break. Up the road, we came across Kieran McMahon. He had punctured a couple of times and was pissed off. The cat 3 climbs up the road were standard enough, especially at the speed that we toddled up them. Smythy was telling me that he suffered like a dog, got dropped and back on at the climb. The boys must have been motoring. Aidan took 12^th on the stage. Dave thought that he had taken a top 15, but that was not to be.

We came in about 20 minutes down. Mel has taken the time to come down and visit us. Fair play. The boys are sitting like Gods in the car this evening when we finish. Mmmm. The County Team Overall has Naas Cahill leading, with the next team at 15 minutes. It is Tuesday. The race will take care of itself. So will the County Team prize.

Tomorrow’s stage is ONLY 106 miles. Denis has not arrived back from the hospital. He crashed early on, and was taken off to hospital. 

John Tanner was driving the Yellow Jersey group today, when he passed Mickey Robb making a call of nature in a ditch. “ That’ll cost you £50” commented Tanner. Nice one mate. Sarcastic too. See what mayhem tomorrow brings.

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