The late Pat Coyle had a huge passion for cycling and he was one of the real driving forces behind the sport in the Midlands during his life. He died competing in the Tour of Flanders sportive in April this year and last month, he won the award for 'Best Club Coach of the Year' at the Cycling Ireland awards. He was a close friend of Paralympic gold medallist Mark Rohan.
By Brian Canty
The late Pat Coyle was a deserving winner of the best club coach of the year at the Cycling Ireland awards last month and one of those who knew him best has said the legacy he’s left is immense.
Coyle was just 56 years old when he died in April during at the Tour of Flanders Sportive in Belgium.
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And while his passing was felt by many who knew him –the legacy he’s left is being felt by many, many more.
“Everyone in the club was delighted to see Pat win the award,” said Gordon Brett, himself a long-time Shannonside CC club member who has held roles as PRO and Chairman of the Athlone-based club.
“It‘s a major honour but it‘s so sad he is not with us to savour it. I know this means so much to his wife Angela and the three boys.
“It was fully-deserved but also a great tribute to the man because as a coach he was just as happy helping a beginner as he was working with our A1 riders, which is why he was popular with everyone.”
Amongst his many achievements while involved, Coyle helped grow the interest for cycling in the area and this year they hosted the inaugural Shannonside GP, a race that took place three months after Coyle’s tragic death.
The Tour of the Heartlands is a charity event run every May while the club also compete in IVCA races and Cycling Ireland events, not to mind the rapidly growing Midlands Interclub Cycling league.
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Pat gives a pre training pep talk to some of the riders four years ago; former pro Morgan Fox also says a few words.
“He was a strong rider in the club, especially in his younger days," added Gordon Brett.
“In my first year cycling I broke my chain on a spin and as we had no chain breaker Pat and Anthony Reilly pushed me all the way to Terryglass where we got one. It summed him up - nobody was left behind.
“He also had a great sense of humour and was as knowledgeable about cycling as anybody in the country. He was the ‘go-to’ guy when you had a question about training, gear or equipment.”
Winning the coach of the year award was a testament to the work he did when he took up the role of full-time coach three years ago.
“Our winter training is much better structured nowadays since Pat took over and his work is being continued by the likes of like Jim Maguire, Anthony Reilly and Keith and Morgan Fox.
The latter was one of Coyle’s great protegés and he rode professionally for a number of years while being mentored by Pat.
“Morgan had great time for Pat and I’m sure he’ll tell you what an impact he had on his career,” said Brett.
Three months after his passing the club hosted the inaugural Shannonside GP where the winner, Daire Feeley (iTap) won the trophy named in honour of Pat.
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