Ken Tobin is looking to build on the success of his first couple of seasons back in the domestic peloton by joining a new team for next year and also riding his first Rás. Seen here winning the criterium stage of the Suir Valley Three Day (Photo: Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
Ken Tobin enjoyed a great season in 2014, his second back racing after a 16 year hiatus. And now the former McNally Swords CC man is already three weeks back in training for 2015.
The 38-year-old former national junior champion made a seamless transition up through the ranks this season and capped it off with a brilliant stage win at the Suir Valley Three-Day.
“I felt I had a very consistent season,” said Tobin, who has joined the Celbridge-based Bikeworx team and with whom he will ride his debut An Post Rás next May.
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“I did 17 open races, was top eight 13 times, I got two wins, was runner-up twice and I was third twice as well,” he said of his season.
“It wasn’t as many wins as I hoped for but taking into consideration that my winter was hampered by a knee injury and sickness and that I only trained for the A3 distances I think I did okay.”
Having given up cycling before he got a chance to ride the Rás, Tobin said he has a sense of unfinished business with getting on the start line for the eight-day event.
Taking the Christy McManus Memorial in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, in June in his second season back after a break from racing of 19 years.
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“I sat down with my coach Aaron (Buggle) after the season and we spoke about my goals for 2015, and the one we both agreed on was the Rás,” he explained.
“I’m not getting any younger and its one of the few things missing from my cycling CV.
"I never got the opportunity in the 90s to do it. I only raced one full season as a senior in 1994 (winning 14 races - Ed) but prior to the Rás that year I was advised to wait until the following year to have a go at it.
"I quit cycling in March 1995 so it has eluded me. It’s a big commitment in training terms but also for my wife Natalie; I’ll be gone for eight days, and with two children that’s a big ask on my behalf.
“She thinks I’m mad of course, but I think she has warmed to the notion that this is something I need to do. I'll be killed for saying that!
“I have limited time to train between full-time work and family life. But I think if I really focus on getting the maximum from the time I do have, then I can get around the event, and I’ll be happy with that.”
Tobin said he had other goals but would stay quiet about them until he had the Rás under his belt.
Tobin (far left) on his way to winning the National Junior Road Race Championships in Cork in 1993 with Michael Woods from Carrick and Ruairi Mitchell of St Tiernan’s.
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