Winning never happens by accident; certainly not in cycling. But listening to Seán Lacey mull the ingredients that goes into his prolific cycling career is a lesson in common sense for any rider (Photo: Caroline Kerley)
A top bike rider on the home scene and a man who pulled on an Irish jersey probably more times than he can remember, Seán Lacey was one of the bigger winners again on the home scene this year.
A married father of two and maths lecturer in Cork Institute Technology, Lacey won the National Road Series this year.
He’d won it two years ago when it was revived after a five year break. And in its previous incarnation as the Subway Classic League; Lacey’s name was on the final edition back in 2010.
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Now aged 35 years, he’s not exactly the granddaddy of the Irish scene.
But he’s been around for such a long time at the top and won so many of the country’s biggest races, he’s one of the doyennes of the domestic road racing.
Asked what the secret was for not only continuing to race at such a high level, but also winning, Lacey laughs.
“I don’t know that there’s any secret. It’s just liking cycling; enjoying cycling. I still enjoy riding my bike.
“In cycling, and across all sports, there are more downs than ups. And you have to go through those downs.
“But it’s probably down to enjoying it; the cycling and the training. You live it to enjoy the highs.
“And to achieve those highs you have to train hard. People can see the results; but there is so much hard training behind those results.”
Top, winning the Munster championships this year, photo by Jamie Merriman. Middle, with team mate, and later manager, Tim Barry as Barry won Rás Mumhan in 2010. Claiming outright victory in Rás Mumhan back in 2011, photo by Pat Doherty.
Lacey is quick to credit the set-up in the Aqua Blue Academy team as crucial. But he points closer to home when he gets to talking about the support that any rider needs to keep going year after year.
“I wouldn’t be able to do that without the support of my wife Eilis and the two kids,” he says.
“With that time that goes into training, though I don’t do phenomenal hours a week because I don’t have unlimited time...
“But even doing 1½ hours a day, that even takes time away from the family.
“And to get out and do those sessions; you can’t do that without the support from home. And the only reason the results are there is because the sessions are done.”
Seán Lacey rises early; for Watt bike sessions in winter and road training in the bright summer mornings. He is no stranger to a 5.30am start.
A few years ago he told stickybottle of his training: “During the week I get maybe a 90-minute or two-hour window in the morning and I know I’ve to make the most of it.
“I find when you’re doing long miles you’re doing junk miles, so I’m all for quality over quality.”
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And his philosophy has not changed now; sticking with quality training over many hours in the saddle.
“I’d 35 now, I have one or two years in me yet,” he laughs. “I still have a few things I want to achieve.
“The hunger is there and the mental strength to train hard is there. And then once you have that; the races will come.
“There is a lot to be said of mental strength; that mind over body aspect. But the support is crucial as well.
“And since I started racing 15 years old I had it. Initially my parents were there, bringing me to all the races.
“And now Eilis sees me through all the ups and downs. And the kids now keep it all in context. If something doesn’t go well in cycling, even though it is not ideal in the grand scale of things it is small.
“To see your kids doing well; that is the main objective and it keeps everything else in perspective.”
From Tralee, Co Kerry, but now living in Cork; Lacey said he was delighted for himself and his team that he took the nationals series.
Mark Dowling was leading going into the final round in Laragh back in September. But behind him were the Aqua Blue Academy trio of Matteo Cigala, Marc O’Callaghan and Lacey.
If the Kerryman wanted to win he knew he really needed to get onto the podium. And once he could take 3rd, then Dowling would need to be at least sixth on the day to hold the lead.
In the end Lacey, O’Callaghan and Cigala rode as a team; putting everyone under pressure from the gun.
And though the racing split and regrouped several times, Lacey would forge clear of Dowling in a four-man chase group pursuing lone leader Philip Lavery of H&R Block Pro Cycling.
The Dubliner would hold out to take a strong win solo. Adam Stenson (Bikeworx Celbridge) would place 2nd, with Lacey next in 3rd.
Team mates Cigala and O’Callaghan would take 6th and 7th, ensuring Dowling could not retain his lead. In the end Dowling was 10th and last the series at the last to Dowling.
The manner of the team performance is something Lacey said pleased him greatly. But when asked how he prepared, his response is a lesson for any young rider.
Nothing was taken from granted. Homework was done, plans were set and the team rode to plan as a group.
“In that last round we won it by riding as a team,” he said.
"Mark Dowling is obviously well known to be a great climber. He backs that up a lot in races.
“He was the man to beat and we were on his training roads, so the thing was to make him chase us.
“I was working in UCD during that week and I went down to Laragh on Tuesday and Wednesday to do a few efforts on the different sides of the Wicklow Gap. I made sure I knew the route inside out.
“That was helpful. But on the day, we put together a plan with (manager) Frank Campbell and it played out perfectly. It wasn’t easy but we stuck to that plan and it worked.”
Campbell, a former national team manager, has come into the frame more at Aqua Blue Academy since former team principal Tim Barry has moved to the pro ranks.
He is now a sports director at the Aqua Blue Sport Continental team; his duties this year including the Vuelta where they squad won a fantastic stage.
“Tim keeps in touch and he’s always on the phone,” he says Lacey of the departed but not gone Barry.
“He stays involved the most that he can. But Frank was there for the national series races and the big stage races.
“It’s ironic; Frank managed me on junior Irish teams and U23 teams so it’s funny he’s back managing me again.
“But he really has that deep wealth of experience. The young generation probably don’t appreciate the manager they have in the car; Frank is a guy who is well, well on board.”
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