How one man went from anonymous Rás debut to win in 5 years
James Gullen marks his win in Skerries, having dropped back a la Chris Froome. His story of average Rás rider to winner over five years should be clung to by any up and coming Irish rider; it's a hard game but every dog has its day (Photo: Ryan Byrne - Inpho)
By Shane Stokes
It’s often said that the An Post Rás is a race where experience of its intricacies is vital, and James Gullen proved that on Sunday.
The British JLT Condor rider made his debut in the race five years ago and finished 48th.
With a best stage finish of 15th on day four, there was little indication that the-then 22 year old would go on to win the event.
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However his second participation in 2016 was much better. He won stage three into Dingle and finished ninth overall in Skerries, thus underlining his potential
Twelve months later he confirmed that promise; jumping from sixth to first overall on Thursday’s stage to Dungloe and then holding the yellow jersey until the race conclusion.
He is a rider of real quality, taking silver in the British time trial championships last year. He was beaten to the title by WorldTour man and Grand Tour TT stage winner Alex Dowsett (Movistar).
“It was a really great race,” said the winner, taking a huge career victory in Ireland.
“I am so happy to pull it off and such a relief to do it after all the work the lads did for me, and the stress of the last eight days.”
And while there were delays in his riding the race for a second time after his debut appearance, it was not for the lack of desire to get back into the Rás bunch.
“When I first did it in 2012, I loved it. I wanted to come back. But I didn’t get to come back for four years.
“I wasn’t on a team that either I got picked for, or that did it. So when I came back last year it was brilliant. I got a stage and I was ninth on GC.”
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Top, James Gullen celebrates winning the third stage of the An Post Rás into Dingle last year. And riding in yellow into Skerries yesterday. He was supported by a strong JLT-Condor team that included Irish rider Robert-Jon McCarthy. But Gullen wasn't afraid to hit the front and chase dangermen himself along the way (Photos: ShaneStokes & Inpho)
James Gullen said that he wanted to improve on that, but there was a small complication.
He wasn't the team’s number one rider, with Ian Bibby’s past results plus his victory this month in the Lincoln Grand Prix putting him first in the pecking order.
Fortunately, James Gullen would get his chance anyway. And when he did he converted it into winning the Rás, just five years after a pretty average debut.
“I wanted to improve on that [performance last year], but being in JLT where we have got such a strong team, I came here as support or backup option for if Ian Bibby had any problems.
“He did, so I had to rise to the challenge. It worked out well…”
Gullen was quick to point to the importance of the team mates in his victory.
They did a huge amount of chasing in defending his lead and without that, it is quite possible that another rider from another team would have won overall.
“I had to spend a lot of energy early on in the week before I was team leader,” he said, explaining how the pendulum swung from one direction to another.
“Then what goes around comes around. I did a lot of work for them, and then they did a lot of work for me at the end. It is brilliant.”
Unsurprisingly, James Gullen has particularly strong memories from Thursday’s stage to Dungloe.
“Myself and Ed [Laverack] got in the break that made the GC,” he said, thinking back to his favourite moment.
“Getting in that; working all day together to get into the lead. That was a really great day because of the scenery and the stage was brilliant.”
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