This photo has been found of the staggering size of the bunch for Sean Kelly's last race as a pro. It was the Carrick-on-Suir Christmas hamper race in December 1994. Some 1,500 cyclists raced it (Photo with very many thanks to Phil O'Connor)
Sean Kelly last race as pro Carrick-on-Suir 1994
British photographer Phil O’Connor has unearthed this incredible photo he took at Sean Kelly’s last ever race as a pro.
It was the Christmas hamper race in Carrick-on-Suir in December, 1994. Around 1,500 riders turned out.
And while this photo by O’Connor captures a huge number of them; there are more still outside the shot.
Among those in attendance were Eddy Merckx, Laurent Fignon, Bernard Hinault, Roger DeVlaeminck, Claude Criquielion, Stephen Roche, Martin Earley, Acacio Da Silva and Paul Kimmage.
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Kelly had been riding for Catavana that year. And while he had finished up his foreign racing in autumn, the annual Christmas race was one he always rode in the off-season.
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So it seemed fitting this would be his swansong at home. The event was 60km on the day, but the racing really began just before the finishing circuits of Carrick-on-Suir.
Only the first section of riders was allowed onto the circuit for safety reasons. It meant there was an intense scatter as the town neared.
Everyone fought hard to make the cut to be allowed finish and so the pace ramped up and the field shattered.
On the final lap of the finishing circuit, Stephen Roche attacked in a bid to win solo.
But he was brought back and Sean Kelly would win in a sprint. He had a quality young lead-out man in the shape of Irish amateur Micheál Fitzgerald on the day.
Some of the pros and ex pros who turned out didn't ride what was the last race for Sean Kelly as a pro; Hinault included.
And while Merckx togged out, he quit after the neutralised section.
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