1982 ESKA MOTOBECANE JUNIOR TOUR (6 Day - 7 Stage Cycle Race)
Tuesday 20th to Sunday 25th July 1982
In 1978 JJ McCormack came up with the idea of running a stage race for juniors. The race was created in that year with six stages based around Dublin. The race was an instant success with Martin Earley winning the first event.
Here is a video of the 1982 (5th edition), which is posted in honour of it’s creator JJ McCormack.
With the 2025 Tour de France on now, would you believe none of the riders in the 'Tour' were born when this video was made back in 1982.
RACE OFFICIALS
Race Organiser: J.J. McCormack
Chief Commissaire: Maurice Bann Lavery
Commissaires: Ben McKenna, Jim McQuaid & Gene Mangan
Chief Official: Paddy Sullivan
Announcer: Brian Maher
Time Keepers: Donal O'Connell & John Aston
Lead Car: Rutland
Ambulance: Knights of Malta
Broom Wagon: Centro
Race Service: Oliver McQuaid, Billy Burke & Willie McGuire
Motorbike Marshall: Pat Feeney & Co.
Tags: Willie Devine
Video Camera: Peter Purfield
Motorbike Pilot: Tony Kelly
RACE RESULTS
1982 ESKA MOTOBECANE JUNIOR TOUR (6 Day - 7 Stage Cycle Race)
Tuesday 20th to Sunday 25th July 1982
Stage 1 - Start GPO, 2 laps Small Naul, Finish Ballymun (48 Miles)
Stage 1 Result
1 Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
2 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
3 Kevin Walsh - N.C.A.
4 John Wood - Wales
5 Colm Braham - ESKA Motobecane
6 John McGinley - Fingal Road Club
Race Leader: Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
KOH: Colm Braham - ESKA Motobecane
Stage 2 - Start Drogheda, 4 laps Tullyesker, Finish Drogheda (53 Miles)
Stage 2 Result
1 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
2 Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
3 Stephen Cole - Manulife
4 John Wood - Wales
5 Kevin Walsh - N.C.A.
6 Nigel Smith - B.C.F.
7 Jonathan Surgenor - Belfast
8 Colm Braham - ESKA Motobecane
2 Race Leaders: = Mike Kelly & John Brady
KOH Leader: Colm Braham - ESKA Motobecane
Stage 3 - Start Dublin to Finish Carlow (54 Miles)
Stage 3 Result
1 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
2 Kevin Walsh - N.C.A.
3 Jonathan Surgenor - Belfast
4 Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
5 John Wood - Wales
6 Stephen Cole - Manulife
7 Andy Merritt - Liverpool Century
8 Andy Wilson - Liverpool Century
Overall GC
1 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
2 Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
3 Kevin Walsh - N.C.A.
4 Jonathan Surgenor - Belfast
5 Stephen Cole - Manulife
Stage 4 - Start Kilbeggan to Finish Dublin (55 Miles)
Stage 4 Result
1 Joey McLoughlin - Merseyside CC
2 Aidan Harrison - ESKA Motobecane
3 Mike Kelly - Isle of Man
4 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
5 Stephen Cole - Manulife
6 Jonathan Surgenor - Belfast
7 Gerard Madden - Crowley Cycles
8 Stephen Rainey - N.I.C.F.
Stage 5 - Start Bray - Finish Bray (5 Mile TT)
Winner Paul Fahy Wicklow
New Race Leader Paul Fahy Wicklow
Stage 6 - Start Bray to Devil's glen then lap of Wicklow Finish Bray (58 Miles)
Stage 6 Result
1 Nigel Smith - B.C.F.
2 Jim McGowan - N.I.C.F.
3 Stephen Cole - Manulife
4 John McGinley - Fingal Road Club
5 Andy Merritt - Liverpool Century
6 Robert Orr - N.I.C.F.
7 Allister Martin - N.I.C.F.
8 Stephen Rainey - N.I.C.F.
Overall GC
1 = Aidan Harrison & Michael Ruane
3 Stephen Cole - Manulife
4 John Wood - Wales
5 Andy Merritt - Liverpool Century
6 Stephen Rainey - N.I.C.F.
7 John Brady - McNulty Ireland
8 Allister Martin - N.I.C.F.
Stage 7 - Start Dublin's Phoenix Park 15 laps of 2 mile (30 Miles)
Stage 7 Result
1 Robert Orr - N.I.C.F.
- Other results not found
Final Overall GC
1 Aidan Harrison - ESKA Motobecane 11h 16m 53s
2 Michael Ruane - Castlebar Wheelers 11h 16m 53s
3 Stephen Cole - Manulife 11h 17m 02s
Team Winners: N.I.C.F. - 33h 52m 02s
Riders: Stephen Rainey, Allister Martin, Robert Orr & Jim McGowan
Manager: Jack Watson
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FINAL DEDICATION
As you watch this video, you may notice there are many great volunteers with the race who have sadly passed away since this was filmed.
I hope making this video available will allow family and friends see the contributions they made to the sport all those years ago.
We Say 'A BIG THANK YOU'
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Background Music: Trio - 'Da Da Da' this was in the Irish charts at the time of the race in 1982