Defending vets' road race champion, Hugh Mulhearne has not raced much this year but hopes to make an impact on tomorrow's race. He sees Greg Swinand as the man to beat (Photo: Dave Coleman - Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
Reigning national veterans’ road race champion, Hugh Mulhearne believes tomorrow’s 2014 title decider is a battle for silver.
The Carrick Wheelers man won a thrilling race last year in Carlingford, Co Louth, where he pipped Greg Swinand to the line after the two had broken away from the day’s 10-man escape on the second last lap.
Mulhearne, a talented track rider with several national titles to his name, said Swinand is the man to beat this time around, though believes plenty of others have the potential to win.
“Greg is the man to beat but you can’t just follow him because there’s enough strong guys to attack and get up the road,” he explained.
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“There’s a few dark horses; there’s a lot of guys who have put themselves on the radar, lots of dark horses but you can’t watch everyone. You have to think everyone is racing for silver though because Greg is in unbelievable form all year.”
However, while many will have a game plan centred on watching Swinand, the winning move could get clear at any point leaving fancied riders stranded.
“You have to watch the Aquablue lads as well,” he said.
“Joe (Fenlon) was putting in those big-gear attacks up in Navan a few weeks back and he’s starting to come around. Keith Gater is very punchy and can get across gaps and get away himself. There’s lot of different scenarios.”
The Carrick man will have the backing of a superb team – arguably the best in the race - with Martin O’Loughlin and Rory Wyley among their seven-man roster.
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“We have the work done so we’ll turn up and give it a good go. Martin is going very well, it could be a case that he’ll be in a better position than me to win it, or even Rory.
“Rory can go all day; he’s going well and I can have a burst of power or do a bit of blocking behind. I personally don’t care who wins as long as the jersey stays in Carrick.”
On how he sees the race going, Mulhearne predicts a cagey affair.
“The outcome will depend on how it's raced. If it goes like the clappers from the gun and it’s a hard race I’ll have a good chance.
“But sometimes these races are very tactical and I’m not at my best there, Martin is far better there. He’ll know when to follow and when not to.
"I prefer more all-out efforts. Last year it was more a natural selection, flat out for 20 minutes of all-out attacking and the selection was made.
"But there was no tactics and that suited me. I don’t think it’ll be like that this year.
“I’m a bit unsure of the form because I haven’t raced as much this year and I’ve had a slightly different build-up. I’ve tried to be a bit more aerobic because I think it’ll be a lot more tactical this year.
“There could be times in the race when it’s gone ahead of me and I just want to be able to have that power to try and get up to it. Team work will be a big factor this year and we’re okay in that department.”
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