A neo-pro with US-based Novo Nordisk, Stephen Clancy has already gained invaluable experience in the US and European pelotons and is adjusting to both diabetes and being a full time athlete.
By Brian Canty
Twelve months ago he was preparing for Rás Clár on the domestic racing scene, but now Limerick rider Stephen Clancy is living something of a dream with the Novo Nordisk Pro-Continental racing team.
The 2011 Irish Cyclist of the Year admitted it’s a “high standard” and a “huge change” but he’s not complaining and is settling in well to the demands of the sport.
“It’s my first time racing at this high standard so it’s a huge change," he said.
"It’s a big difference being part of a huge setup like this. The team is fantastic though, and the support structure is unbelievable. The doctors, coaches, soigneurs and mechanics all really help in making sure all we have to worry about is riding our bikes.”
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“I’m living in the same apartment complex as two Australians, a New Zealander and an American team mate. The training and racing has been a fantastic experience so far.”
Clancy rode the Tour of the Gila, a UCI 2.2 event in New Mexico won by Philip Deignan last month. It was an eye-opener, but he knew what to expect.
“It was my first stage race of the year, so it was always going to be difficult, especially seeing as I’ve been doing NCC criteriums up until now. It was really the high altitude, heat and climbing that made it a tough few days and a great experience. “
Now living with diabetes, Clancy said the assistance the team had given him in managing the condition and not allowing it to impede him, as well as being in an environment where diabetes was not seen as a limiter, had made a huge difference to him.
He said the fact his Australian team mate Chris Williams had gone in the breakaway on the opening stage at the Tour of the Gila and taken the sprint points and points jersey was a tangible example of what can be achieved.
He was happy to finish in the bunch on stage 2 and to get through the next few stages including the TT and criterium.
The final stage up the aptly named Gila Monster climb was savage, Clancy said; with 2,800m of climbing in 160km.
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“Only the real strong men of the race managed to finish that stage inside the time limit. It was nice to see Philip Deignan seal the overall too. The experience I gained and the week of intensity over 2,000 metres should stand me in good stead.”
Clancy showed his potential when he notched a top 10 in the Wilmongton GP in recent weeks and is currently lying 10th overall in the USA crits overall standings. He got a last minute call up to race in the UCI 2.HC Bayern Rundfahrt race in Germany two weeks ago and that was another stinging test, against ProTour teams over five days.
His next races are the Tour of Korea, starting on Sunday and running until June 16th; after which he’ll return to Ireland for the Nationals. He then rides nine races in 10 days in Canada, followed by a mid-season training camp in Italy towards the end of next month.
His diabetes affects the pancreas in converting carbs into energy. But he said he’s learning more and more about the condition and genuinely believes the existence of his team, with a roster of riders who all have diabetes, is helping to raise awareness generally and to change lives.
“So far, so good,” he says of his career progression since his diagnosis last year.
“There are so many things to be thinking of to try and get the best out of your body at this level. We just have one extra thing on our minds than most people. It’s really so important to manage it properly and to perform at our best and not let it hold us back. You learn something new every day with diabetes, so it’s good to be able to see where you went wrong and improve on it the next time.”
“In the criteriums, it’s around 90 minutes of going 110 per cent, so not much chance to eat. So it’s important to get your food and insulin intake right beforehand. The same for racing at altitude, or travelling. All these little things affect how your body reacts to food or insulin so it’s important to learn from them and take all those factors into account.”
“The team gets plenty of attention for all the right reasons. Even down at the start line in the races you can get talking to other guys who always seem to be shocked by what we have to do to manage our diabetes.”
“The best part of it all though is when we bump into other people with diabetes on our travels. They always seem fascinated; whether they have heard of the team before or not, they’re always really interested and delighted to see us being able to do what we do.”
“There’s nothing better than meeting the young kids who have been diagnosed, and being able to give them something to look up to, and show them it really isn’t the end of the world. The children and their parents always seem to walk away happy to have seen an example of what is possible with this condition and that it won’t hold you back.”
Being on the road isn’t easy, and he admits there are times when he feels homesick.
“Yeah, it’s always going to be tough being so far away from home for such long periods So it’s a natural feeling to miss being around to see my family, friends and especially my girlfriend. It’s not easy missing almost every occasion. Things like Skype and Facebook make it a bit easier to keep in touch but it’s still not the same. It’s one of the downsides of following this path in life so any time I do get to spend at home is extra special.”
