Tim Barry has been one of the strongest riders in the domestic peloton for well over a decade and says Irish riders should not be afraid to suffer as they try to get stronger in races. He believes pros visiting from the UK should be seen as targets to take on rather than riders to fear. (This photo and homepage photo by www.blackumbrella.ie)
Having won the Shay Elliott Memorial two years ago and many other major events on the Irish calendar in a long career, Tim Barry believes some Irish riders are intimidated by long, hard races. With the organisers of the Shay Elliott Memorial deciding not to invite UK pro teams to ride the race next year, Barry says those Irish riders who want short, easy races are deluding themselves in thinking they are really racing. He says they should see competing against pro teams as an opportunity to take them on and to improve as bike riders.
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Killing time as I sit here nursing the first injury of my triathlon career - the obligatory stress fracture – I came across an article detailing a few changes to the format of the true Irish classic “The Shay Elliott Memorial”.
The race is promoted by Bray Wheelers in memory of Ireland’s first wearer of the coveted Tour de France yellow jersey and also our first classic winner, Shay Elliott.
He blazed a trail across European cycling like a meteorite and sadly passed away aged just 36 years. He was the pioneer who led the way for all Irish riders who followed and tried to make it on the toughest stage of world cycling. Many have failed. Few have succeeded. But he was the first.
Fitting then that the toughest one day race on the domestic calendar is named in his memory.
Bray Wheelers chairman John Spain has explained in a piece on stickybottle today that the reasons for the changes to next year’s race are twofold.
The first is a clogged calendar as the Giro d’Italia is starting in Ireland on the weekend the race is normally held.
This change makes total sense as it will be a once in a life time chance for Irish cycling fans to see the Giro on our shores.
Incidentally, Shay was the first Irish man to win a stage in that race, so I don’t think he will be too upset looking down from the big line out in the sky to see his race moved to another weekend.
The second change to the format is that invitations won’t be extended to any UK pro teams next year, as has been the norm for a number of years now.
The reason for this is that “a lot of Irish riders weren’t happy about it so it will be restricted to Irish teams”.
I presume the bit they weren’t happy about was being beaten!
Bray Wheelers chairman John Spain also mentioned poor numbers in last year’s race as a factor in the decision to “try something different” next year.
Regarding the turnout; Bray Wheelers are suffering the same fate as other clubs around the country. If they put on a hard race over 100km, nobody turns up.
The majority of riders want easy circuits so they can swan around and finish in the bunch and delude themselves that they are actually racing.
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In last year’s Rás there were a lot of riders eliminated from the race and people complained it was too hard.
I was lucky myself one day to make the cut-off time after crashing mid stage. And while struggling to the finish with 40 other souls I looked around and didn’t recognise very many faces in the group.
At that time of year – mid May and over three months into the season - with all the Rás preparation races like Rás Mumhan, the Tour of Ulster, Des Hanlon Memorial and The Elliot completed, you should nearly know every Paddy in the Rás bunch. Sadly, the next day most of those guys I was with missed the time cut.
I don’t want to sound like an old foggy with a “they were harder in my day” attitude. But no matter what your aims are on the bike - be it to win, place or just finish; a good kicking never hurt anybody.
If you want to improve you have to test yourself and a race like the Elliott is the perfect place.
I can see the thinking behind the decision not to invite any UK pro teams. Many domestic riders are sick of getting beaten in the best one day race in the country and this change might encourage more to turn up if they feel they have a chance.
A few years ago I was dropped by two UK Rapha Condor riders on Glenmalure and after the race someone asked me was I pissed off to be beaten.
‘No’, I said, ‘they were better than me’. And I pedalled off leaving my questioner with a quizzical look on his face.
This attitude towards not inviting the “pros” is not new. When Davey O'Loughlin and Ciaran Power used to come home for stints from abroad some guys would complain about the “pros” taking our prize money.
What the short sighted didn’t see was that racing against these guys was an opportunity to take them on.
Okay, you will probably get beaten. But really push yourself and you will make yourself a better bike rider.
If we insulate ourselves wrapped in a cosy blanket of soft short races and make idols of the Facebook pros taking selfies while winning Stravas, this country won’t produce many more Shay Elliotts.
Hopefully Bray Wheelers - who always put on an absolutely brilliant event - get the turnout next season worthy of the man the race is named after and who led the way for Irish cyclist, undoubtedly getting a few kickings for himself along the way.
Keep up the great work Bray Wheelers.
TB
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