Ciarán Power rode professionally from 2000 for a number of years, riding the Giro d'Italia in 2002 and getting inside the top 10 on two stages. The lure of the sport has proven too much and he returns to the domestic peloton next year in a bid to ride the Rás once more.
By Brian Canty
Two-time Olympian Ciarán Power has decided to dust down his wheels one last time and make a return to cycling in a bid to race the An Post Rás next May.
The Comeragh CC man had planned to race it last year while also raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute but the untimely passing of his mother forced him to withdraw.
But he’s back training for another crack at it in 2016 and will race sporadically in the early part of the season in a bid to get himself back in shape.
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Vying for slots on the five-man team are fellow club members Martin Cullinane, former Irish international David Halligan, Trevor Robinson, Paul Flynn, Robert Coffee and Noel O’Dwyer.
Power, who turns 40 in May, will most likely ride the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan and the Tour of Ulster in preparation, while the Des Hanlon Memorial and the Shay Elliott are also possible tune-up races.
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He has won the race twice in the past – in 1998 and 2002 – and has taken a staggering seven stages in it, despite not riding it in the years when he competed abroad, including at the Giro d’Italia.
So if anyone knows what it takes to get himself to the start-line, it’s Power.
“At the moment we have seven names for the five places on the team so my own place isn’t safe. The team will be selected on form,” he said.
The club will host a fundraising race in Waterford on December 6th, details of which can be found here.
We’ll have a longer interview with power about his plans shortly.
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