A delighted Simon Ryan hardly has the energy to salute the crowd after a 20km solo move from the breakaway at Rás Luimni (Photo: Gerry Murray)
By Brian Canty
Simon Ryan is celebrating the biggest win of his career to date and his first in three years at Rás Luimni.
Not since the Mego Racing Team man won the opening stage of the Corkman Three Day in Kanturk three years ago has he won a race, though he’s been runner-up on many occasions.
One man who has often beaten him to the line is last year’s Rás Luimni winner Páidí O’Brien. But Ryan got his own back today with a terrific solo victory in Caherconlish, Co Limerick.
“It’s a race I always done well in, it suits me,” said the Tipperary town native.
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“I felt good today and I wanted to do well; my own team were based in Limerick as well so it meant a lot to us,” he added.
There were attacks from the line today with Waterford Racing Team’s Keith Gater as well as Ryan being some of the first to fire off the front.
Eventual winner Simon Ryan, second from left, in the winning escape in Limerick (Photo: Gerry Murray)
“It was hard from the start,” recalled the winner.
“We got across to Ballyneety and it was still all together but when we turned left there was more attacking.
“After around two kilometres there was a drag and I attacked; Cathal Moynihan (Aquablue CC) and Sean Hahessy (Fitscience - despite being sick all week) were on my wheel and we got a gap and rode hard.
“It was lined out and that forced the split with 15 of us getting away.”
With most of the big teams represented it meant a brief halt to proceedings behind and before the break knew it they were gone.
Present in the move were; Moynihan, Sean Lacey and Greg Swinand (all Aquablue CC), Paddy Clarke, Mike Storan and Hahessy (all Fitscience), Ian Richardson (UCD CC), Ryan, John Hodge (Dungarvan CC), Stephen Murray (Strata3-Velorevolution), Gater as well as Michael Crowley and Páidí O’Brien (Osbourne Meats-McCarthy Cycles) and Conor Hennebry (Carrick Wheelers).
Last year's race winner, Páidí O’Brien just gets the better of Carrick's Conor Hennebry in the sprint for 2nd place (Photo: Gerry Murray)
“After the first lap we had two minutes of a gap because everyone was riding through,” said eventual winner Ryan.
“But halfway around the third lap, people stopped riding and started letting wheels go.”
Ryan took matters into his own hands and with Murray, Gater and Hodge, he went clear.
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“Murray and Gater attacked at Holycross so I went with it and led it going through there.
“We opened up a gap; there were a few splits behind so I kept going hard.
“John Hodge came up as well and forced the split; forced Aquablue to chase and that trimmed the break from 15 went to nine.”
Sean Lacey of Aquablue, in all blue kit, said he was unsure of his form coming into the season but was good enough for 5th place today (Photo: Gerry Murray)
Still not happy with the reduction in the escape, and clearly showing he is in very good form; Ryan went again with 20km to go.
“It was constant attacking but nothing was really sticking so 5km after Ballyneety it stalled and I attacked.
“I got a good gap initially because they all hesitated. I had 10 seconds straight away so I just got the power through the pedals.
“I thought it was a bit early because there was still 20km to go; I kept looking behind thinking someone would come across but no one did.”
Ryan’s margin was never more than 30 seconds on the remains of the breakaway, which meant he had to stay honest up front as the kilometres ticked down.
“On an effort like that you can’t go all out straight away or you’d blow up,” he said.
Big bunches were once again the order of the day in Caherconlish (Photo: Gerry Murray)
“At 4km to go I got the last time check of 24 seconds. I knew at 2.5km to go it was a bit more sheltered and I could keep the speed high.
“But I knew I’d lose 10 seconds on the drag up to the finish so I kept going. It was touch and go.
“I looked back at 300 metres to go; it was the first time I did that. I knew I had it and had enough time to celebrate it so I was absolutely delighted.
“It’s the best win of my career but I’ve been lucky," he said in reference to his recent run of good training.
“I’ve had a good winter; I haven’t been training too hard, nothing crazy, but very solid.
“The previous two years I’ve been injured, whereas this winter I’ve been building week after week and it’s made a difference.”
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