Reigning Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix champion John Degenkolb hung out with a group of Irish amateurs in Calpe, Spain, just hours before his horrific training crash. Above, with birthday boy and former Rás winner Brian Connaughton.
By Brian Canty
The night before the horror crash in Spain that has threatened to derail John Degenkolb’s season, the German classics specialist was in jovial mood, taking time from his schedule to meet a group of Irish cyclists from Dunboyne CC.
Former Rás winner and bike game businessman Brian Connaughton was in Calpe, southern Spain, with a group of fellow Irish riders getting some warm weather training into their legs.
And when the Irish amateurs decided to organise a cake for Connaughton's birthday, Degenkolb was floating around the hotel and joined them for a while.
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Little did they know the popular German and five of his team mates would be wiped out the following morning.
Degenkolb was left hoping he would not lose his index finger severed in the collision, which his agent said he was lucky to survive.
One of the Irish riders present on Friday evening was Ciarán Hallinan of Dunboyne CC.
The scene of the crash outside Calpe where a car hit six riders from Giant Alpecin WorldTour team who were training in the area.
Hallinan said Degenkolb had plenty of time for everyone and that all the Irish riders who met him were shocked when the German and his team mates were hit by a car out training the following morning.
Hallinan said it was Connaughton who first got chatting to the reigning Paris-Roubaix and Milan San Remo champion.
“Brian was telling him that they had one thing in common; they’d won stages in the Rás,” recalled Hallinan.
“And he didn’t stop there. He was able to recall the details of Degenkolb’s ride in the Rás the year he did it and was telling him how impressively he’d ridden for someone who was so young at the time.”
Degenkolb rode the Rás in 2010 when he was 9th overall and won two stages.
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Degenkolb, then of Thuringer Energie Germany, outsprinting Matt Cronshaw from Great Britain to take the final stage of the FBD Rás in 2010.
Hallinan said the conversation went on for some time and that he pointed out to Degenkolb that Connaughton had won the Rás overall back in 1969.
“Even though he was with a few teammates at the time, he gave us a warm welcome and he certainly made Brian's birthday.
“He was very approachable and pleasant. He spoke very good English. And from the perspective of all of the Irish who were there; we couldn’t have been more impressed with his manner.
“So to hear what happened to him the following day; it really was shocking. Obviously we’d all wish him a speedy recovery because the peloton wouldn’t be the same without him.”
As well as his hand injury, Degenkolb also injury his thigh but released a statement in which he sounded in a good frame of mind.
“In light of the many get-well wishes and messages I wanted to get in touch. I am doing well under the circumstances,” he said.
“I had a full anaesthesia so that the wounds on my thigh, underarm and lips could be stitched.
“Now I am in an ambulance on the way to Valencia, where my left index finger should be fixed in a larger hospital.
“It is only hanging on by a thread. I can’t remember much about the accident. I wish all the other guys the best too. I will be back in touch.”
Former Rás winner and multiple stage victor in Ireland's biggest race, Brian Connaughton in his pomp.
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