Keith Gater has returned to racing in recent years after bad crash injuries and is now a national road champ; a victory he says brought him the day of his life (Photo with thanks to Adamstown Cycling Team)
By Brian Canty
Newly crowned national vets’ champion, Keith Gater said today’s win was “easily” the biggest of his career after he blitzed the field for a stunning solo victory in Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath.
The Aquablue man forged his way into the day’s five-man break alongside Hugh Mulhearne and Rory Wyley (both Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers) as well as John Madden (Dig Deep-Inspired Coaching) and Paul Kennedy (VeloRevolution).
But after the latter two became distanced around the midway point he pressed on with Wyley and Mulhearne.
And on the last lap Gater jumped clear of them and held on to the line.
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“It was awesome, I’m absolutely thrilled; just absolutely brilliant,” he said after.
“The crowd was deafening, it was a great atmosphere but when I came around the last bend it was just incredible; easily the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life.”
Having prepared specifically for the championships he said he would hang up his wheels and refocus his attention on “catching up with work”.
Gater watches the two Carrick men ahead of him after this strong trio had forged ahead, with only the order of the medals to be decided (Photo with thanks to Adamstown Cycling Team)
Gater knew he would be a marked man today but said his plan was to be aggressive.
“I just raced the way I always do. If I have legs I’ll always race from the front, that’s where the action is and today just worked out perfectly for me really.”
When the breakaway was going clear, he said he felt a lot of riders were tired and so it felt like the right time to try and get clear.
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“The race was after getting a bit hard at one point and at the top of the drag by the feed-zone Wyley tipped off the front and I looked around and saw fellas were gassed so I went with it.
“Rory, Hugh, Paul Kennedy, Madden and Chris Troy (Ballina CC) were there. The gap went out pretty quickly because the bunch were looking at each other. I looked back and I couldn’t see anyone so it was great because that was the break for the day.
“But Chris got dropped and I was surprised at that because he was trucking on the flat. But the hills caught him; we were only trying to keep the gap out but we still had five.”
After Troy was distanced, there followed a concerted effort by everyone in the escape for a full lap to really establish their advantage.
Greg Swinand missed the boat today and though he would fight all the way to the line and was eventually 4th, there was simply too much horsepower up the road (Photo with thanks to Adamstown Cycling Team)
“The time checks were brilliant today and we could pace ourselves well off that,” said the eventual gold medal man.
“Madden and Kennedy got dropped and at that point I was more worried about Hugh than Rory. Rory put on a good pace on the climbs but I was confident I could come over the top of him. I thought Hugh would come with me when I attacked but once I got the gap it was head down all the way.”
That move came just after the bell, a not too dissimilar spot where Ryan Mullen (An Post-Chainreaction) hit out from the escape in the elite race in June to win on the same course.
“I was fully committed, I wanted to get rid of at least one of them,” said Gater.
“But when I looked back and saw they were both gone I just put the head down, it was head down all the way. I never had more than 35 seconds but once I had that gap, I knew they were after doing as much as me so it was a matter of keeping the pedals turning.
“I was happy I got rid of the two boys because if Greg got back on terms with them it would have got messy but I was confident enough when I was away. So to do the last few kilometres knowing I was going to win was just so special and I’ll never forget it.”
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