Video: Top Irish rider’s cycling-themed birthday cake is best ever
Is this the best cycling birthday cake ever? To be honest we've no idea, but it's bloody brilliant.
It's an unusual subject for us to write about, but when we saw this cake we just couldn't let it pass.
Irish international rider and former An Post-Chainreaction man Ronan McLaughlin has just turned 30-years-old.
And his girlfriend Rachel pulled out all the stops with this brilliant cake that has just about everything.
McLaughlin is from Donegal and he famously went on the attack solo for almost a full stage in his home county only to be caught on the finishing straight.
His favourite training ride is around the Inishowen 100 - that's 100 miles around the peninsula with plenty of climbs along the way; 2,000 metres on his favoured route.
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Rachel clearly knows her cycling. The cake consists of a steep mountain road with signposts to all the main climbs and towns around McLaughlin's training route.
Included is Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly point, his mother's home town of Carndonagh and his dad's home town of Buncrana - which is also a Rás finish town this year.
It's also 'An Post green' and they've perched Woody on top, a cartoon figure McLaughlin bears an uncanny resemblance to.
Woody is dressed in an Ireland cycling jersey; a nod to the fact McLaughlin has ridden for Ireland lots of times, including in the elite road race at the World Championships.
Mamore Gap is also in there; probably the toughest climb in the country and also on the Rás route this year.
There's even a king of the mountains sign, white lines in the middle of the road and Woody's hat even comes off; what more could you want?
McLaughlin told stickybottle he was delighted when the cake was produced during a birthday gathering at the weekend.
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"It was my fiancé Rachel came up with the whole idea and surprised me," he said.
"The Inishowen peninsula ride is my favourite training route of anywhere I've been. I love it.
"I used to do it up to six times a week when I was at my best. So the cake is a joint theme including with my favourite route and this year’s Rás in mind."
Rachel, step forward and take a bow; great stuff!
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This is how you feel during the Rás; chewed up among the ruins!
The level of detail is excellent.
The hat even comes off!
Good local knowledge and the dreaded Mamore gets a mention!
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