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The roar that Cian O'Reilly let out as he crossed the finish line at the end of the John Reilly Perpetual Cup yesterday tells you what it means to him. He started racing as an A4 last year and took his first win as an A1 rider over the weekend. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Cian O’Reilly might be a relative newcomer to cycling, he might not stick to any structured training plan and he may be a runner at heart but he still managed to win an A1 race over the weekend.
The final year medical student riding for UCD-Fitzcycles.ie captured the John Reilly Perpetual Cup in Balscadden, Co. Dublin when he beat Matteo Cigala (Aqua Blue Academy) and Javan Nulty (North Down CC) at the end of the 50-kilometre handicapped race.
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He started in the scratch group but after they mopped up all riders up ahead, a breakaway slipped off the front for around 20 kilometres.
And when O’Reilly’s teammate Ian Richardson was present it allowed him a somewhat free ride.
“I just followed wheels and went across in one of the bridging groups,” he said.
“A group of 15, including the break, came back together with seven kilometres to go so I rolled past Eoin Morton (teammate) and asked him what the plan was.
“He told me to go right ahead and attack there so I did.”
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And that proved to be the race-winning move as he was solo for the last five kilometres.
“I didn't look back, I just went as hard as I could,” he added.
For O’Reilly it was a landmark win and his first as an A1.
“It’s a massive boost to get this win. I’ve had little luck so far this season and I knew I was in better form than my results showed.
“Having only moved into the sport last year everything is still very new so every win I’ve got has been brilliant.”
He won a race as an A4 last year and before that he was a runner of renown.
“I played every sport but focused on athletics during my teens.
“I represented Ireland for cross-country as a juvenile before falling out of the sport in university.”
Now studying to be a doctor in UCD he has his sights set on a maiden An Post Ras – but finishing pesky exams on the immediate horizon.
“Racing is all fun for me so I put zero pressure on myself. If I’m having a laugh before the race and later on then I am happy.
“The focus now is to get the exams wrapped up and get a good block in before the Ras which I’m hoping to ride for UCD-Fitzcycles.ie.”
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