Ian Richardson is clearly not afraid of the hard work required to get into the condition to contend in the An Post Rás. It took up to 100 hours of training a month throughout the winter - but he got it done. We can only marvel at that kind of dedication (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Ian Richardson has revealed he clocked up between 90 and 100 hours a month from November through January in order to be in top condition for the An Post Rás.
The UCD-Fitzcycles.ie man was the best-placed Irish county rider at the end of the race last Sunday for the second year running and his next engagement is the Philadelphia Classic in the US this week.
Richardson believes it’s not a crazy amount of training and if people are committed, they can find the time.
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Naturally, he reckons Irish guys can be as good as anyone in the Ras going forward into the future.
“It boils down to how much time and what the quality of the training the riders are getting in is,” he said.
“The best guys aren’t that much better than myself and Eoin (Morton) in the Rás.
“They were a couple of minutes ahead of us but the majority of the pros in the Rás are probably on par with the best domestic guys.
“Some are even a little worse, it really comes down to the individual rider and who they get as their trainer.
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“Commitment and time are key but it’s definitely possible and we proved that,.
“Bryan McCrystal was up the road most days.
“The county riders are definitely capable of riding the Rás well and competing for stages and podium results, it’s not impossible,” he added.
Granted, it’s not easy, says Richardson and certain things help.
“I’m lucky that I’ve a family that support me; they never give me any hassle for the amount of time I take to train.
“I rarely have days off, maybe one or two a month but you fit it in and you make the time.
“It helps that everyone supports you in what you love; I’ve been racing five or six years now and my family have supported me from the start.
“Riding the bike 25-30 hours a week is what I’ve done.
“I had time off after my PhD (last August) but between November and December I was doing 90-100 hours a month.
“I started work in January and was doing 90 hours training (a month) then as well.
“Even with a job I was doing as much training as someone with a full-time (training) schedule. I’m still doing a 40-hour work week but I’m getting the training in.”
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