Roger Aiken in action on stage four of last year's An Post Rás. Despite having little or no racing in his legs prior to the event, he was the revelation of the race and will take a similar approach this year. (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Gerard Cromwell
With just under a month to go to the start of the An Post Rás, the typical Irish domestic rider aiming to be on the start of the eight day race will have at least a dozen one-day races in his legs. He will also have lined up for either the Tour of the North or Rás Mumhan last weekend and the Tour of Ulster this coming weekend.
Roger Aiken, however, is not your typical domestic rider.
The revelation of last year’s Rás, Aiken is readying himself for the race in pretty much the same fashion as he did last year; by simply ignoring the domestic scene and training alone in preparation.
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“I want to do a similar sort of build up to the Rás as I did last year, which wouldn’t have me racing a lot,” says the current national cyclo-cross champion.
“I want to come fresh into it and hit peak form for that week.”
Last year, Aiken only had the one-day John Beggs Memorial and the three-day Tour of Ulster under his belt before his incredible ride in the Rás.
He finished eighth overall, just 51 seconds behind race winner Marcin Bialoblocki and came close to stage victory twice in the process.
No stranger to the Rás, Aiken also finished second overall in 2008, behind Stephen Gallagher, when riding on the Irish team. And he won a stage in 2005. He admits that it’s the only race on the domestic calendar that really motivates him.
“I love doing the Rás,” enthuses the Banbridge rider.
“I can get really motivated for it, the big bunch, the speed, the good riders you’re racing with. I’ve been at this for a while. I haven’t raced much but I know my body pretty well.”
While the domestic peloton tackled the Easter stage races last weekend, Aiken was on the island of Mallorca with his wife. It’s part holiday, part training camp for him.
“I am getting some miles in the legs. I’ve been training hard and been on the bike consistently the last two years, with commuting in and out of work.
"I’m maybe lacking a bit of speed that you get in the Rás but I just go by feel and how good I can turn over a certain gear.
"I remember (two-time Rás winner) Philip Cassidy used to tell me didn’t use a heart rate monitor or a speedo. He just went on feel. That’s what I do. I can go as hard in training as you can in a race over here.”
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Once again, Aiken’s first real test will come at the Tour of Ulster this season, where he will ride the race for the Kinning Cycles team, before lining out with Louth for the Rás and then riding the European Mountain Bike championships in June.
“I don’t have much plans for the season,” he admits.
“I’m didn't do the Tour of the North. I'm riding the Tour of Ulster though, with Kinning Cycles. It's myself, Glenn Kinning, Gary Crory, Tommy Simmons of VC Glendale and Willie Larmour of East Antrim.
"There are long hilly stages in Ulster again this weekend, so it's ideal preparation for the Rás. The aim is to get a good work out there and if a result comes with that, then it's a bonus."
Winning the opening stage of the FBD Rás into Emyvale in 2005; Aiken has been best known for his off road riding in recent years but he is a special on the road too.
Riding the Rás on the Irish team in 2008; finishing in Lisdoonvarna on stage 3 won by Briton Chris Newton on a day when Mark Cassidy would take the yellow jersey.
Hard to believe it's nearly 10 years since he won that 2005 stage riding for the Louth team.
In his National Cyclocross Champion's kit last year battling through the mud to the Ulster crown in Cookstown (Photo: Vincent Bradley)
Again riding for Louth last year, Aiken lit up the race and had not respect for any reputations (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
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