Young riders can learn a lot from the fact full time students, rather than full time riders, were the strongest over Easter. One of those, Sean McKenna, is surely worthy of a trial with An Post-Chainreaction.
The Easter Bank Holiday Weekend races promised some great battles and didn't disappoint.
And after such a feast of racing, we always know much more about riders and the state of the home scene.
Here we reach ten of our own conclusions based on the events we covered during what has become domestic cycling's busiest and most intense weekend of racing.
There needs to be more national teams
The success of Sean McKenna and Michael O’Loughlin in winning Rás Mumhan and the Gorey Three Day was a boost for the Irish set-up. Granted, both would arguably have won the races riding in club colours. And it was perhaps disappointing for the others on the junior team that none got a Gorey stage win, especially since they have won plenty of races already this season. But the experience they are gaining in learning to properly ride as a team in a well supported environment is invaluable. It is especially useful for any of the riders harbouring hopes of racing full time. But the reality is that very few home-based top riders will get a chance to wear the green of Ireland because so few teams are selected to go abroad. The addition of even a small number of U23 or elite national teams drawn from the home scene to ride one-day races in the UK would be inexpensive and would offer a massive boost to domestic racing. Nobody begrudges the track squad or paracycling team the funding being invested in them – especially since both have been very successful. But there has emerged a system where a very small number of riders are now mopping up all of the performance funding. Yet there is very little for home-based U23 riders and nothing at all for home based elites. The elite domestic scene has always been, and will always be, the biggest sector of Irish cycling. It seems a shame to neglect it so badly when it comes to national selection, especially when a small amount of funding would right the situation. There is room to select a small number of Irish teams annually, not as a means of developing riders for pro cycling but as an end in itself; a recognition that those picked are the best at home. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
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College commitments and cycling can mix very well
When we recently interviewed Rás Mumhan treble stage winner Paidi O’Brien, he spoke about mixing college with cycling and becoming a father again in recent months. He suggested more young riders unable or uninterested in racing full time abroad should reconcile themselves to that fact early and then still pursue a successful domestic career. And he cited the success of another full-time student, Sean McKenna, as an example to those young riders. The Gorey Three Day winner, Michael O’Loughlin, is also now full time in college. And McKenna and O’Loughlin won this weekend while leading national teams. The fact they and O’Brien were so successful this weekend – with exams approaching – makes a compelling argument against riders opting out of the student life in favour of racing full time in their early U23 years, even for those hoping to become professionals.
Room for more Continental teams
The organisers of Kerry Group Rás Mumhan extended an invitation to ride the race to UK-based Continental team JLT-Condor. The squad, made up of emerging young riders, put in a good shift; taking two seconds and a third on stages, 2nd in the points classification and 9th overall. The Irish riders, even some of the youngest in the field, could compete with them and some had the measure of them. But their presence still brought glamour to the race and arguably made the Irish successes in the event of higher quality. It would be a mistake for the race to become a mini Rás, where only small numbers of Irish riders can truly compete for the top of the podium. But there’s no doubt the selection of a couple more Continental teams could further boost what is already a great event. (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
An Post-Chainreaction should offer McKenna a run
Sean McKenna rode on the Irish development team in last year’s Rás Mumhan only after injury to more established riders saw him drafted in. He then wore the yellow jersey, crashed and lost the lead. This time around he went into the race as leader of the national team after seven wins since the season began. And he duly won the final yellow jersey in Kerry. Still with two years left as an U23, his progress and rate of development have quickened in the last two years. If ever an Irish rider deserved a late summer trial, even if only to gain experience, with An Post-Chainreaction it’s the Aquablue man.
McCrystal can win a Rás stage
Scoring his third win in as many weekends, Bryan McCrystal looked in great shape in Kerry. His victory on the queen stage on Sunday was epic, especially considering he and McKenna were in the early breakaway yet survived to the finish. They were caught after the Coomanaspic by the best climbers in the field; defending champion Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) and Grant Ferguson (Scotland). But they then dropped them again. McCrystal’s ride, and performances like last year’s Des Hanlon Memorial win, show he is a very good climber for a big man. But this year’s strongman’s Rás route will really suit him. And it could well be the edition where he takes a stage win with a bit of luck that all riders need. (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Paidi O’Brien won’t be far behind
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With three wins from four stages at Rás Mumhan, Paidi O’Brien seems to be getting better with age. He does not ride the Rás next month because he has final year accountancy exams to get out of the way. But when they are done he should be free to return to the race next year. With his nose for a breakaway, the experience he gathered from years on the Continent and his turn of speed, he could get a Rás stage win; something he never managed when riding full time.
Dave Watson can be man of the season
Having gone on a very successful early season winning run, North Down CC man Dave Watson held his form for the Tour of the North and won the race overall. He started the final stage in the yellow jersey but equal on time with Ronan McLaughlin; the former An Post-Chainreaction rider who competed with Team ASEA at the weekend. Watson showed real class and confidence by getting up the road on that final stage. He was part of a five-man group that came home just ahead of a depleted peloton. And to cap a great weekend he won the sprint from the breakaway for the stage win. The 28-year-old from Bangor came back to the sport last year after a break of around six years. On the basis of his form so far, he can be one of the main men of this season.
Christopher McGlinchey has huge potential
Having scored a string of wins already this season and moved up from A4 to A2 in a matter of weeks, well known downhill rider turned road race Christopher McGlinchey is positioning himself for a potential call up to the Irish U23 squad. He won the time trial in the Tour of the North and took the yellow jersey. And while he would lose it the next day, the result underlines the horsepower of his road engine. Incredibly, McGlinchey nipped out of the road scene back to downhill racing just before the Tour of the North to win the opening round of the Vitus First Tracks Enduro Cup at Castlewellan. One or two more big wins on the road and the man who has just turned 21-years may be pulling on the green of Ireland.
Michael O’Loughlin looks like the real deal
With a time trial in the Gorey Three Day, it looked inevitable before the race even started that once junior rider Michael O’Loughlin did not lose big time on the opening stage he would be very tough to beat. And so it came to pass. He was 2nd in the opener and gained over a minute on everyone apart from stage victor Darragh O’Mahony (Munster). He then won the time trial and with the backing of a strong Irish junior team controlled stages 3 and 4. He already has plenty of experience from the U16 ranks up of racing abroad. It should be very interesting to see what O’Loughlin can do in the big overseas season goals, including the Nations Cup, Europeans and World Championships, where he was 8th in the time trial last year. (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Darragh O’Mahony is on the move
The O’Leary Stone Kanturk man had already enjoyed success before his Gorey stage win. He had been victorious in Dungarvan the week before and also took a number of other podium placings in previous weeks. But the manner of his stage win in Gorey – getting clear of others on the Irish team with the strongest rider in the race and beating him - represents a clear jump forward. He has not figured in the Irish set-up yet. But if he can simply hold his form and keep doing what he’s already done, his inclusion in that squad seems like a formality now.
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