Competing at A4 level just a few years back, Ali Macaulay won A1 races this year and represented Ireland, all while juggling a job and exams (Photo: Toby Watson)
By Brian Canty
A debut Rás under his belt, two domestic wins, qualifying as a solicitor and a gaining a Masters in business management; it’s been quite a year for Antrim rider Ali Macaulay.
The 25-year-old Phoenix CC man underlined his form in 2014 when he claimed a fabulous victory from Eoin Morton (UCD CC) in the Waller Cup in April.
He followed that up with another victory in the Brendan Campbell Memorial in July, beating a number of "hitters", as he calls the more established men in the bunch.
He would also make the breakaway at the National Road Championships in June that stayed out front for almost the entire race.
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“I’m pleased with how it went for me,” he said of the just concluded domestic campaign.
“It was really only my second season at the top level of Irish racing so I’m still learning with every race. I still have a lot to learn.”
Edging out Eoin Morton of UCD CC for the win in Bohermeen, Co Meath, in April to take home the Waller Cup trophy (Photo: Amy Norah-Farrell)
He added his season started relatively slowly as he was juggling his racing and training with his job and also studying towards his exams.
"I know some people will disagree with me, but my education always comes first,” said Macaulay.
“So once I had the exams out of the way, I could concentrate on training and racing and then the results started coming.”
He would go to the An Post Rás in May, though with exams falling around that time of year he had other things on his mind in the lead in to the race.
“I originally didn’t think I could do it due to the exams,” he said.
“But luckily enough they finished on the Friday before the start; not ideal preparation. And on top of that I got sick during my week of exams, so again not ideal.
“Going into the race my plan was to just try and hang on for the first half of the week and then see what happens.
"As the week went on I tried getting into one of the breaks, but unfortunately that never materialised.
In the winning escape, second from left, at the National Road Championships in Westmeath in June (Photo: George Doyle)
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“I learnt a lot from the week and I think most county riders need to be realistic about the Rás.
“We’re up against full-time pros who don’t have to wake up at 6.30am for work on Monday morning.
"In saying that, a top five is definitely not out of the question for some of the local lads; you just need to target specific stages I think.”
While he ultimately did not feature in the top 10 at the nationals in Westmeath, making the day-long winning breakaway was a great ride.
And he would gain selection onto the Irish team for the World University Championships in Poland in July.
“I just started the race like I do any race; being aggressive and hoping to make the move,” he said the event ultimately carved up by Ryan Mullen and Sean Downey of the An Post-Chainreaction team.
"I think people get overwhelmed when they see the likes of Dan Martin lining out.
“But the way I look at it is; if you have the chance to play against the likes of Ronaldo or Messi you wouldn’t be pulling out of tackles.
“In fact I’d be trying my utmost to kick them off the park and that’s the attitude I adopt.”
Strong men in the ascendency: Macaulay (right) finishes the Shay Elliott Memorial back in April alongside Marc Potts; both riding for a Cycling Ulster selection. They were 6th and 7th and Macaulay would win in Bohermeen the next day (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
He added he was very happy with how the race, the biggest one-day event on the home scene, played out for him.
“I think I was one of the last men across to the break, if not the very last,” he recalled.
“So I was delighted to get into it. Unfortunately the legs came off on the last lap.
“But it was still a good day out and I left knowing I’d done my utmost. I was well pleased.”
He is looking to take his cycling more seriously in 2015, but up to a point.
“As much as I love to dream, I’m very much a realist,” he said.
“I’m 25 with a full-time job, so my chances of racing abroad are well past me.
"The racing here in Ireland does me well, I can jump in the car and be at most races within three hours.”
With the Irish team at the World University Championships in Poland in July. Left to right: Danny Bruton, Macaulay, Marc Potts, Sean McKenna and team manager Ronan McLaughlin, formerly of An Post-Chainreaction (Photo with thanks to Dany Blondeel)
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