Marcus Christie crosses the line on the final stage of the Suir Valley Three-Day in August. It would be his last time racing a bike (Photo: Sean Rowe).
By Brian Canty
Marcus Christie has revealed how close friend and professional rider Philip Deignan advised him to walk away from cycling and pursue other interests in his life.
He will look back on a career that included representing Ireland at the World Road Championships and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games.
Even before taking advice from Deignan, 24-year-old Derry man Christie was pondering his future anyway after an indifferent performance at the National Championships in June where he finished 29th in the road race and 6th in the time-trial.
Christie, who only rode three crits and a road race with the American team he was contracted to this year, added he came to the decision to quit right after the nationals.
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“I had a drink with Philip one night and he told me what I needed to hear," he said.
"He’s a good mate and he helped me decide, though I knew myself the game was up,” recalled Christie.
“I just knew going to America this year was the last chance but I also knew coming back for the nationals I had no form.
“That was my last chances to do something because after 24 (years of age) it’s hard to do anything in cycling so I spoke to Philip and I had to accept it was over.
“I knew coming home I had no form but I did (the championships) because they were on so close to my house.
“I was telling my parents I was flying but I wasn’t. The race told its own story. I wasn’t myself.
"My training was cycling to friends in Donegal, staying there, messing around and cycling home. But it was more than what I was doing in America.”
Having signed for Indiana-based team Bissell-ABG-Giant at the end of last year Christie moved to the US, did a good pre-season and all looked rosy. It turned out to be anything but.
“I did a really good winter - if I had big races in December I would have been flying but I didn’t enjoy it.
“I didn’t really get racing and when you’re not racing you begin to doubt yourself.
“I did about three crits and one road race, there was nowhere to train and it was a massive mistake going over there.
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“I should have raced here and done what (Damien) Shaw done, I should've aimed for the Rás like him and that’s the one regret I have that I've never done it.
“I wish I had focused on that this year.”
He said he contemplated continuing for another year just so he could ride the race but acknowledged he could crash on the first day and be out of it.
“I need to focus on the future and get a degree behind me," he continued.
“I’m more than happy I gave it a go and I’ve been able to walk from it, but it is hard.
“I have a passion for it and it’s all I know, so it’s been hard to adapt to real life.
"I’ve learnt a lot in cycling and learnt it the hard way so it will stand to me whatever I do.”
He hasn’t wasted any time in deciding where his immediate future will take him, having resumed his sports coaching degree in University of Ulster, Jordanstown, while also taking up rowing.
“I’m not doing it for enjoyment,” he said in relation to his new sport.
“I’ll give it the time it needs and if I can do something in it I will, but it’s unknown at the minute.
“Cycling will always be a part of me and I wouldn’t say I’m quitting for good. I’m still only 24.”
Asked for his career highlight he said the opening day of the Etoile de Bességes last year where he finished sixth and wore the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification.
The lowest moment he said, was less than uplifting.
“Not knowing if I’d be able to walk again because of the damage I’d done to my Achilles.
“I’d lost a lot of races but I always get over them. But when you’re facing the prospect of maybe not walking again it’s a different story.”
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