Liam Dolan breaking the Ironman Irish record in Copenhagen last year; the Dundalk man now has his sights fixed on cycling success.
By Brian Canty
Dundalk native Liam Dolan is one rider who concluded the 2014 racing season with his stock having very much risen. And the Cuchulainn CC man is hoping for more of the same next year.
Though he didn’t actually win a race - he was second twice and third in another -he rode consistently and very strongly.
“I know now I can win an A1 race now with a bit of luck,” he said.
Dolan regards the madness of Kerry Group Rás Mumhan as one highlight of the year. But a month later he would suffer bad luck at the An Post Rás when he was forced to pull out through sickness.
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“The Rás felt like it was over before it had begun,” he lamented.
“The first three days had gone well, then I remember that night waking up about midnight and having diarrhoea.
“I was a bit worried but I thought it would pass. Then it continued all night and I even collapsed the following morning before breakfast."
Liam Dolan, leading, had a very strong year on the bike but has a massive pedigree as a triathlete behind him (Photo with thanks to Marian Lamb, Cycling Ulster)
He added while he started stage 4 he knew he was doomed.
“I hung on for 50km, but once I blew up that was it. I couldn't even hang onto the grupetto and with 130km to go I knew there was no way could I make it.
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“The few days I was there it just struck me as madness. I remember stage 2 in the rain and there was just crashes everywhere; the first two hours were spent avoiding crashes and chasing back on.”
He said he was looking forward to going back to Rás Mumhan next Easter.
“It went well this year bar the last day, but I think I rode the entire weekend afraid. Afraid of getting dropped rather than trying to actually get up the road. In saying that, the race was nuts every day.
"The first half hour in the massive bunch was mental. I remember going out to Killarney the first day at 50kph and a bottle rolled right towards me. I just prayed,” he laughed.
Dolan is a big powerful athlete and has competed on the triathlon scene around the world. He's looking to turn consistency into wins on the domestic cycling scene next year. Seen here on the podium of the Abu Dhabi Long Course in March, 2013.
His consistency saw him rewarded with a slot on the Leinster team for the Suir Valley Three Day, which was won by his team mate Mark Dowling.
Dolan, who is also a keen triathlete and holds an Irish record for the Ironman - 8 hours 45 minutes in Copenhagen. He only took up the sport 10 years ago and says the contrast between tri and cycling is quite stark.
“In triathlon I was always watched and when you didn't perform it was noticed,” he explained.
"In bike racing no one knows who I am. I’m just some big donkey on the front of the bunch. Bike racing is so much more straight forward; turn up on the day; race, go home.
"In triathlon you enter a year in advance, pack half the house and be away all day. Bike training is harder but triathlon training is more exhausting. You get home from a 200km spin knowing you have to run 8km; it’s bloody tough.”
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