We track down county rider on very end of this epic Rás line-out
He was last man in this epic line-out on Rás stage 6 into Donegal. But his story tells you the kind of engine you need to have to even stay in the race (Photo courtesy Gary McIlroy)
Every rider in the An Post Rás has a story. And more often than not the guys who are in the race to complete it, rather than hoping to be among the best, have the most interesting stories.
County man Jude Sands is no different. He’s the rider at the very end of this epic line-out during today’s stage 6 into Donegal.
The photo was taken by Gary McIlroy, an international UCI commissaire who is manning race radio on this Rás.
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Normally moments like are not recorded. And only the men grovelling in the gutter as they try to hold the wheel in front know what they’ve been through.
Sands hung on today. He would finish the stage in 142nd place, in a large group 34:21 down on the 30 men that arrived in Donegal to sprint it out for the stage win.
But while it may be easy to regard Sands as a middle of the pack rider, he is anything but.
Even a cursory look at his results, and indeed the men he finished with today, underlines what’s going on in these line-outs; the kind of engine you need even to sit there.
Sands is an A1 rider, among that group of a few hundred competing in the highest grade of racing on the home scene.
And he’s the type of rider who can win very tough races.
Earlier this year he took victory in the A1-A2 John Haldane Memorial. He was 3rd in the Wallace Caldwell and took a brace of fourth places in the Spires CC GP and the McCann Cup.
He’s far, far from an also ran. He’s the kind of rider you’d be glad to see alongside you when you’re trying to get clear in a breakaway.
And if you were approaching the finish with him, you’d need to think about how you were going to beat him.
When he, for example, came to the finish of the Bangor Crit last year alongside the then national criterium champion and top Irish climber Mark Dowling it was Sands who took victory.
Top, winning the John Haldane Memorial earlier this year. Winning the Bangor Criterium from national crit champion Mark Dowling last year (Photos by Toby Watson and David McVeigh-The Belgian Project)
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Riding for Down Newry on An Post Rás 2017, Sands finished today with some other quality riders.
Craig Rea (Antrim Phoenix), who took 4th in the Des Hanlon Memorial not too long ago and raced in Belgium for a period this year, was with him.
Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing) was also in the group today with Sands. The sprinter for the south east has more than held his own in breakaways on the Rás. And he’s won a string of excellent races down the years.
And David Hamilton was there to, riding for Derry EJB Car Sales this week. Hamilton is yet to win a race this year but has been getting up almost every weekend.
He took the Tour of the Mournes last year, just one of several A1 victories.
And alongside those Irish in the group of Sands today was US rider Jacob Sitler (CCB Velotooler).
He finished 2nd into Buncrana two days ago after riding away from all but the stage winner, Australian international Storer, on Mamore Gap.
Sands may be at the back of this line-out but there are plenty of riders already well out the back.
And his palmares, along with the quality of the guys around him in the group he’d end up, reflect the value of finishing this race.
To be a Man of the Rás, riding against the pros in an eight-day UCI race, is not within the reach of everyone.
But despite all the training and hard work, Sands has had a frustrating enough time even getting into the Rás peloton.
“Starting from a couple years ago, I’d been really wanting to ride the Ras,” he said.
“But I actually got very sick and anaemic so I couldn't ride in 2015 or last year. I supported my team mates who were doing it.
“So obviously this year I wanted to ride it and be at full health,” he said, adding team manager Barry Monaghan's guidance had been invaluable.
“The experience so far has been unbelievable. The speed, as you can clearly see in that line-out photo, is incredible.
“I’m told the averages so far are tipping records. The climbs in Donegal can only be described as savage on the Rás.
“It's been miles of suffering; day after day. And if I get to the finish in Skerries on Sunday I'll definitely do it all again.”
Sands also said his team of typical of Rás county line-ups, with a team of people working away in the background for no thanks or publicity.
“The Newry set-up has been great and I genuinely am very thankful. Barry has done this race loads of times and ridden so well, so when you have someone like him to guide you it’s unbeatable.
“Donal Cormican, Brendan O Hagan and Sarah McGowan have also been brilliant for us. And it’s only now that we have six days done and you’re feeling it that you really know the benefit of having great people around you.
“And we couldn’t do it without the sponsors; they got behind us and they really have made this possible.
"We’ve McKinley Contractors, Grounded, Whistledown Hotel, Green Bikes Newry and Cloughmor Extreme; all doing their bit for us and for Irish cycling.”
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