Eoin Morton’s training routine, attitude to taking on pro riders
Eoin Morton never stops winter training. And he explains why Irish riders should have no fear of Continental teams in the Rás (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Having won of the stage of the Rás last year, as well as a string of other races, and claimed his first victory of 2017 last weekend, Eoin Morton is very much one of the big names of Irish domestic bike racing right now.
And while it will come as no surprise that the UCD CC-Fitzcycles.ie man works hard when he trains, some may be surprised that he does not ease up on his ‘winter training’ load once the racing season starts.
There is no tapering or holding back to be fresh for key events.
Instead, a heavy load is maintained with a focus on making sure his recovery is as effective as possible so he can sustain his routine.
“The only thing that changes is the intensity,” he told stickybottle of his training during the racing season.
“The hours remain the same, the intensity just increases; the hours are always going to be high.”
Morton is trained by that same coach as his team mates Ian Richardson and the winner of last weekend’s Cycleways Cup in Navan Louis Carnec.
“He has us doing a lot of hours and then that intensity ramps up during the season.”
The Irish team for the Philly Classic in the US last year, left to right: Damien Shaw, Ian Richardson, Eddie Dunbar, Eoin Morton and Daire Feeley.
Morton explained he would do “about 20” hours training per week.
“It might vary a little bit with racing, but that’s the average,” he said the year-round routine.
“Basically when you are racing; Monday to Friday I’d do an hour to work and 2-2½ on the way home. And then whatever the races are at the weekend.”
Morton works in Irish Water in Dublin city centre and lives in Bray, Co Wicklow; cycling into the office directly each morning and going a circuitous route on the way home.
“It’s about 25k so I leave about eight and get in for nine and then in the evening I leave the office at 5 or 5.30 and get home for about 8 o’clock or so; maybe 8.30.”
Asked when he eased that routine back to taper for races, he said: “I don’t. As an example, I won the Monday stage of the Rás last year; that was obviously stage 2.
“And on the previous Friday I was training at the back of the motorbike; and (did that) Wednesday, Thursday Friday.
“I had an easyish day on Saturday and then the Rás started on Sunday. It would be fairly intense. I don’t ask questions, I just get the training plan and work.”
“A lot of us do a huge amount of miles, that’s our big thing. Then you have to focus on your recovery, of course.
“But come stage 6 in the Rás, the UCD lads will all be fresh and awake and having a bit of banter.
“But when you look across the table, loads of the other county riders are out for the count. That’s the difference in the training.”
Winning at the An Post Rás 2016 after a long breakaway with fellow ‘county rider’ Bryan McCrystal.
However, while paced training behind a motorbike was a feature of Morton’s training, he said was not doing that yet and wouldn’t start until the evenings got brighter.
“It would be great to do it now,” he said, adding he could only do if at present if he was full-time.
“But getting out of work with the lights in the bike and heading towards Sally Gap, it would be crazy to do any pacing; doing it in the dark would be lethal.”
Racing big British teams, his next goals
Asked about his goals in the weeks and months ahead he said he was hopeful of a good Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, for a change.
“I’ve never done well at Rás Mumhan, it would be one race that I’d like to do well at,” he offered.
“But things will probably happen for me in the exact same way they always do, I never seem to have good legs there.
“Maybe I should be a little bit more optimistic than I normally would be; we’ll see.”
After Rás Mumhan at Easter, the Tour of Ulster would be the next major even followed by the Rás at the end of May.
And having represented Ireland in the US and UK last year, Morton is hoping to pull on an Irish jersey again.
“I’d love to get away with the Irish team. I think they have some invites to UK races, so hopefully that will happen.”
Having won a stage of the Rás and also taken the green jersey at the Beaumont GP in England last year, Morton is right to fancy his chances of winning something in an Ireland jersey or at least competing to win.
“To be honest, we should have no fear of those lads at all; they’re still amateurs,” he said of the British Continental-level teams.
“At the Rás they’re called professionals but they’re not professionals at all, they’re amateur riders. It’s not until ProConti that you’re considered a professional, where it actually becomes financial sense.”
And after a 20km solo breakaway to win at Rás Naomh Finian in Clonard, Co Meath, on Saturday, he looks in rude health but is hopeful of more.
“The form is good enough at the moment, but it’s not outstanding or anything.”