Former Rás winner and ex-international Tommy Evans outlines his views on Irish 'super teams' at home and whether some young riders going abroad to race are being realistic.
In a new series on stickybottle called ‘Ask the Question’, we ask well known riders and those working in the sport for their view on a big question of the day.
We're beginning with Rás winner and former international rider Tommy Evans, who is now coaching some of the country's best triathletes.
In this piece, he discusses whether super teams - like Asea, Aquablue and plenty of others before them - have undue control over the domestic racing scene to the detriment of the sport here.
Chris Reilly takes the applause of supporters and his teammates Bryan McCrystal, left, and Damien Shaw right, after winning the Dan O’Donovan Memorial in Fermoy, Co Cork back in August. The trio attacked from the break of five in the latter half of the race and stayed away to the finish. Can anyone, aside from Aquablue challenge them in 2016? (Photo: John Coleman–DC Images)
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By Brian Canty
“Super teams like ASEA and Aquablue have their plusses and minuses,” said Evans.
“Yes, they win a lot of races but they don’t win them all. And Mark Dowling showed they can be beaten on any day.
“I think a rider like Damien Shaw, whether he was with ASEA or not, would win anyway. But the issue is whether other fellas in his team are prevented from racing.
“Roger (Aiken) and (Bryan) McCrystal can win on their own merits and besides them, ASEA have a lot of other good guys who can all win.
“But when Shaw goes up the road they shut down the racing behind. Look at Roger Aiken this year. On paper it looked like a good idea joining the team.
"But because Shaw and McCrystal are so aggressive and go up the road early, he got no chances this year to win big – save for a few days like the Tour of Ulster.
“But generally, Shaw and McCrystal will go all day so it becomes almost like a game within the team; who can get up the road first.
“I think the concept of ‘super’ teams would be a good concept if it was more club-orientated where they’re teaching the kids how to race.
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“But most of the teams are domestic older guys and there’s not much nurturing going on," added Evans in comments made before a group of young riders was added to the ranks of Aquablue for next year.
“Look at the Nicolas Roche Performance Team. That is a great idea because it’s teaching them to race together and it brings them on.
“Maybe they’d beat Aquablue if they stuck together but inevitably they go to the bigger teams when they come calling.
“It’s a good school for young lads racing here and having Shaw and McCrystal hammering them every week is no bad thing either.
"But there aren’t any young kids on these teams. But my suggestion is maybe there should be a limit to the amount of the riders on these teams?
“Maybe if you’re not associated to a club you should be limited to five riders because when you’ve eight riders in a race – like ASEA and Aquablue have - you get two guys in the break and it’s game over.
“The boys behind can mess it up, preventing others from racing."
Evans also had some advice for riders heading to Belgium and France to race.
“There’s a lot of dreaming going on and some of these risers are not living in the real world,” he said.
“A lot go off to compete abroad but I’d say unless you can dominate at home – or at least win a Sunday race - stay at home.
“Our racing style at home is unique, it’s not bad, so if you can tolerate it here and win - you can do it abroad as well.”
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