Mel Spath takes the national title in Clonmel ahead of Siobhan Horgan and Olivia Dillon (Photo: Barry Sutton www.irishcyclingphotos.com )
No stranger to domestic and international MTB success, Mel Spath came to Ireland twelve years ago from her native Germany and having recently declared for Ireland, has focussed more on road racing of late.
She went to the National Championships in Clonmel last weekend well prepared and hopeful of a result. She emerged as the National Road Race Champion and also took a silver medal from the time trial. In this dispatch on her road race win, she outlines how she took the title and how proud she is to have the champion’s jersey to represent both Ireland and the cycling community that has supported her so much.
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After my silver medal at the National TT Champs, I had already achieved my aim and could go into the road race relaxed. I still consider road racing a bit more of a lottery; you not only have to be fit and strong, but you also have to be able to take the right decision at the right time, making use of opportunities as they arise.
The course was seven laps of a 12.5km loop (total 88km), about 6km of a bumpy/hilly road on the way out along the Suir, over a bridge, then a pretty flat and fast way back to the town along the river with the finish on the middle of the bridge. The weather was blustery with a headwind on the way out and there were some strong showers.
I was hoping for a hard race and I wasn’t disappointed. The first lap was a bit like a warm-up lap until Orla Hendron started the first attack in style and got into an early breakaway with an ever improving Amy Brice and Roisin Kennedy. Then, Olivia Dillon and Siobhan Horgan started up the fireworks on the hills on the second lap, where we caught the early breakaway.
I made sure the damage the attacks created stuck; driving the pace over the crest of the second hill and down to the bridge and around the corner.
A few people got dropped every lap, but we didn't get a good rhythm going to stay away in the beginning and more and more of the people we had dropped were able to get back on through the cavalcade. At one stage I attacked and got a gap going around the corners of the far bridge, hoping to have a few strong riders coming across to me. But nobody followed and it was too early for any solo effort, so I sat back up. Then, a few more laps down, with increasing rain, the bunch was whittled down to eight people after the last hill and we got a good enough rhythm going, working well enough together to not be caught again by the main bunch.
Then, on the penultimate lap, the pace on the climbs again was ferocious, with a very active Olivia, so that half of our group got dropped. It was only four of us left: the three TT medallists Olivia, Siobhan and me and Lydia Boylan - a track sprint specialist that lives in London. That was almost the perfect group. I had hoped to be in a three women breakaway with Siobhan and Olivia; having Lydia in the mix made it even more exciting.
Going into the last lap, I thought there was a chance of the four of us staying together until the end and that it may come down to a sprint. So I had a good look at the finishing area, to be prepared for a sprint if it came to it and decided if it came down to it, the 200m sign would be a good place to go.
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I also thought that I would be happy enough if it came down to a sprint. Four people is a small enough group to keep an overview of who is doing what. And I thought I should have a good chance of getting at least into the medals. I also didn't think I could get away from the other girls before that, so my plan was to stay conservative for the last few km, follow whatever move went and hope to still be there with them at the finish.
The four of us worked fairly well together into the last lap, with Olivia trying to get away a few times, but we didn't let her go. Olivia attacked with about 3km to go, but we were on her wheel. Then she tried again at 1km to go, which is about 600m before the last corner onto the bridge. But again we didn't let her get away. We rode around the left-hand corner onto the wide bridge and the three girls went onto the right side of the road, but I stayed on the left.
I had thought one of the girls would attack out of the corner, with 400m to go and wanted to be on the shorter route. But nobody went and I found myself alone on the left. I kept travelling the same speed, on my side of the road, waiting for one of them to start sprinting to the line. But when the 200m sign came up and they still hadn't started their sprint, I decided I might as well go myself and sprinted like a possessed mad cow, head bopping, eyes crossing, hoping I can keep it up before someone comes around me. I knew I had won when I crossed the line.
I still find it hard to believe that I won. I am very happy that I was given that opportunity and that I was able to see it as such.
Thank you to my PhD supervisor who has supported me in my cycling endeavours from the start. Thanks also to all the people in Cycling Ireland who have supported me in the process of declaring to ride for Ireland. I have lived in Ireland for the past twelve years - it is such an honour for me to be able to wear the Irish Champion’s jersey and I'll wear it with pride both in Ireland and internationally. I may have been born in Germany, but my cycling is 100% Irish born!
I'd like to thank the race organization and Clonmel CC for putting on such a well organized, great and very safe event, my husband and coach Ryan for everything and my friend, bike mechanic, masseur, soigneur, organizer and mental supporter Stewart Carr (yes, all in one person!), who tirelessly helps out at races, making sure that I have a world class set up. Also I’m very grateful for continued support of Cycleways/Specialized and my nutrition sponsor ZipVit.
I am so overwhelmed by the support of the Irish Cycling community. I have never before felt so many people being happy for me at winning this race - this completely reassures me that my decision to declare for Ireland was right.
Cheers
Mel
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