McLaughlin is focused on duathlons as much as cycling and says he is happy away from the pressures of full time racing (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
Former An Post Chainreaction rider Ronan McLaughlin says his desire to win a stage of the An Post Rás is as strong as ever.
But he admits with work and coaching commitments he is unsure how much he will race next year.
For the first time since 2007, the Donegal man last year rode the Rás with a team other than the Belgian-based Irish squad; spearheading a line-up from his native Donegal.
“At the moment I'm very busy with work and coaching so the only training I really do is the 20-minute commute to and from work,” he explained.
“I'll race some cyclocross and local 5k runs over the winter; I love the ‘cross and I won the first round of the winter 5k series so I'll alternate between those two.
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"I have ambitions of racing duathlons in March and April and then the plan is to ride the Rás. After that, who knows?” he added.
While very happy working, McLaughlin still loves competing; seen here in recent duathlon mode.
McLaughlin raced at home this year and enjoyed the more relaxed approach compared to the constant quest for peak form while in Belgium.
“It was nice just not having to stress about being in form for such and such a race, worrying about getting the right training in, or taking races very, very seriously,” he said.
“It was nice just to turn up to races I fancied and race hard from start to finish.
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“Obviously it’s not the best tactic but that's what I enjoy. It was a big change from what I was used to.
“There was some races I missed and during the good weather in the summer there were a few days I'd have loved to have been out powering around the Inishowen 100 route.
“But I've never once thought; ‘oh I wish I was a (full-time) cyclist again’.”
Riding the Worlds for Ireland back in 2012 was the high point of McLaughlin's international duty (Photo: Toby Watson)
Asked about the best thing from this season he said: “Probably just leading a normal life, and enjoying all that.
“Obviously I was going to have to do the Rás on a different team for the first time since 2007 and only the second time I'd done it outside of An Post.
“So I'm hugely proud of the Donegal team I put together for not only the Rás but some other races too.
“The project is still ongoing and I have some big plans for it for 2015, which obviously include the Rás and some other not so obvious ideas.
“I can't say much at the minute but I will say the 2015 team, if it all comes together, will definitely be a first of its kind.
"I'd need to get my serious head on again to have a proper go at it though,” he said of riding the Rás again fully prepared and in peak condition.
“But as for any Irish cyclist, a Rás stage win would be a dream come true.”
Shattered after spending most of stage 4 of the 2012 Rás up the road on his own into Bundoran only to be overhauled on the finishing straight (Photo by Sportsfile)
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