The fastest sprinter in Ireland in his day, John Sheehan was arguably one of the very best riders the Irish domestic scene has ever produced. The Dubliner has long since retired from racing and is now living in the US where he has established a new business building custom bikes; the love for the sport clearly never leaving him.
In the video above we see Sheehan – and a host of other Irish riders from his era – in action on stage 4 of the 1989 Rás Tailteann. He also speaks to Gerard Cromwell about that stage more than two decades ago, about his career in Ireland, his impressions of the sport here now and the new life he has built for himself in America.
In a Rás dominated by the Soviet squad and won by Latvian Dainis Ozoles, domestic riders Paul and Darach McQuaid, Declan Lonergan, Brian Lenihan, Bernie McCormack, Joe Barr, Mick Walsh, Alistair Martin, Richard O’Gorman, Stephen Delaney, Frank Relf and John Sheehan all feature.
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In the video above of stage 4 from Tuam into Tipperary, the green-jerseyed Sheehan had made his way across to a three man front group containing Lenihan, British rider Terry Jackson and Kiwi Paul Miller. Later, alongside Barr, McCormack and Walsh, the lead septet looked set to stay clear until the foreign duo stopped riding and began to attack the break.
Never one to sugar-coat his feelings towards his fellow escapees, Sheehan soon told them what he thought of them.
“I remember that stage well,” says the former Irish international from his home in Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle.
“It was mainly because we were trying to give the Russians the slip. But the English guy (Terry Jackson) and the New Zealand rider (Paul Miller) wouldn't work with us in the break."
“Then they attacked and rode off up the road, which was a complete waste of time; we were never going to let them get away. When we caught them, I told them we should all ride and that I wouldn’t worry about the stage finish. They did a few turns but attacked again. That's when I got annoyed. We caught them again and I had a few choice words to say to them.”
When the pilot on the RTE TV motorcycle asked Sheehan if he was tired at that point he replied, “I certainly am,” before elaborating and giving his views on his fellow escapees:
“These are all stupid, they are. They don’t know how to ride their bikes. They think they’re in a one day race!”
Although Sheehan wore the green jersey of points leader on that year’s Rás, he didn’t manage a stage win in ‘89, with the Rás dominated by the moustachioed Ozoles and his Soviet squad.
“It was obvious to me that the Russians were so strong that they were just biding their time and could give the bunch the slip any time they felt like it,” says Sheehan.
“As predicted, we were joined shortly after our squabble by the Russian Ozoles for a few minutes before he showed the lot of us what being in good form must be like.”
“I think a group joined us after he left us and we raced to the finish. I think I finished fourth on the stage and was awarded the green jersey. It was a great Rás for me, even if I didn’t win a stage or the green jersey and the whole Abrakebabra team did amazing as well.
“Our sponsor was Graham Beere and he supported us really well and we wanted to show our appreciation.”
John Sheehan riding with the Irish national team in the 1986 Nissan International Classic
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A fearsome sprinter back in the day, Sheehan regularly galloped home at the head of affairs and with sidekick Julian Dalby regularly in tow, the duo dominated the lucrative domestic criterium and festival race scene in Ireland at the time.
“I wasn’t really suited to stage racing though,” admits Sheehan.
“Anything over five days and I was shagged. My friend Doctor Dalby has some logical reasoning for it. I was a little ‘on the big side’ he says.
“But I’ve so many memories of racing in Ireland that I could fill a book with them. Suffice to say that they were some of the finest moments in my life. Sometimes you don’t really appreciate what you have until it’s gone.”
“When I came to America, I didn't do much racing, as I was working full time, but I did a bit and had a few good wins. The racing just wasn’t the same. It was fast and furious, but the courses are not there, due to road traffic and insurances details. There just doesn't seem to be much quality racing on a local level here in the States. The travelling can be overwhelming.”
Although he won plenty of races during his career, the one that sticks out most is outsprinting Sean Kelly in his hometown of Carrick-On-Suir to win the legendary Christmas Hamper race back in the 90s when Kelly was still world number one.
“If I was to pick a moment it might be outsprinting Sean in the Hamper Race in 1990,” Sheehan says.
"That led to a fun evening here in Seattle when he came over for the bike show a few years back and I got him to sign the picture. That photo still turns a few heads now and then.”
“I must say I think it's great that we have so many great professionals flying the flag all around the world for us now. I hope that the young Irish riders can gain confidence from the fact that we can breed quality riders at home. That’s something that didn't exist in my time.”
“Somehow in my day we just thought that riders from other countries were born better. Fact is, I see amateur riders here in the states training harder than what some so called 'full time' riders did, or indeed do, now in Ireland. It's plain and simple, we are all born equal; it's how we perceive ourselves in the world that makes a difference.”
“I would have loved if there was a bigger track programme in Ireland in my day. I think I would have been more suited to that. I really enjoyed seeing Martyn Irvine win his world championship this year."
In Kirkland, Sheehan still gets out on his bike and even gets to see one of his breakaway companions from that Rás stage on a regular basis.
“Mick Walsh lives close to me here in Seattle, so I see him occasionally. He’s amazing and has won some ultra-distance events but I’m at my limit doing two and a half hours once or twice a week. Most of my time’s taken up with my new venture, Gerard Cycles USA Inc (www.kirklandcycle.com).”
“I’m building custom bikes for people and I also coach a number of riders locally and nationally. I’m enjoying it, as helping people seems to be an enjoyable experience to me.”
“I get home once a year for a couple of weeks or so and love visiting my old friends and spending a long, fun, calorie-filled afternoon at Romano’s Restaurant in Capel Street. I hope to get home for the Giro start next year. That sounds just like it’ll be a barrel of laughs.”
You can check out John’s new venture at www.kirklandcycle.com
A very formidable duo on their day, Julian Dalby (left) and John Sheehan pictured on a recent trip to Rio
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