A new RTÉ Radio 1 documentary, Green and Gold (click to listen), set for broadcast this weekend tells the story of one of Irish cycling’s most controversial days; the road race at the 1972 Olympic Games.
At the time there were three cycling federations in
Ireland. Two of them were recognised by the UCI; the six-county Northern
Ireland Cycling Federation and the 26-county Cumann Rothaíochta na hÉireann
(CRE)
The third organisation was the National Cycling
Association (NCA), which had a Republican ethos and believed in a 32-county
Ireland. However, as it was not recognised by the UCI its riders could not
represent Ireland.
But at the 1972 Games, an NCA group decided to travel
there from Ireland and tog out in Irish cycling kit in a bid to infiltrate the
race.
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Some of them tried to blend in with the peloton on the
start line. All but one of those were detected and took the chance to
distribute leaflets and speak to the media about their cause.
However, others were waiting on the roadside on the course and they jumped into the race for a period after it was already underway; one of their number even making a breakaway before he was brought to a halt by a German policeman on a motorbike.
The real Irish team in the race included Peter Doyle, Liam Horner, Kieron McQuaid and Noel Taggart.
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The new documentary – Green and Gold – tells the story of
a chaotic day; all played out against the backdrop of a terrorist event at the
Games.
The Palestinian terrorist group Black September took Israelis
hostage and by the time the incident was over 11 Israelis were dead.
RTÉ says of the documentary: “On the 7th of September
1972 an Irishman took the lead in the Olympic cycling road race in Munich. Only
he wasn't supposed to be there. This was the earthquake moment in Irish cycling
when a bitter civil war came to the surface on sport's biggest stage.”
There are contributions from Shay O'Hanlon, John
Mangan, Pat Healy, Mary Peters, Kieron McQuaid, Hennie Kuiper, Neil Teggart and
Matthew Teggart.
The documentary will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 today – Saturday, July 25th – at 1pm and again on Sunday at 7pm but you can listen to it here any time.
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