Irish cycling Olympians re-uniting for week-long 700km sportive

*Philip Cassidy, in the green of Ireland on the left, and his Irish team colleague Paul McCormack on international duty in the Nissan Classic in the 1980s (Photo: Phil O'Connor)*

Irish cycling Olympians from the 1980s – and one from a little further back – are reuniting this weekend in Ireland for a week-long charity cycle through the country.

The event, which has been organised by John McQuaid,
begins tomorrow at Mizen Head in Co Cork, with the riders then set to wind
their way up the country over six days.

They will arrive in Malin Head, Co Donegal, next Friday
with 723km in their legs and having raised thousands for Cycle Against Suicide.

All of the Irish team from the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul will be among the group, including McQuaid, Cormac McCann, Paul McCormack, Philip Cassidy and Stephen Spratt.

The Irish team at the Olympics in Seoul in 1988, left to right: Philip Cassidy (TTT) and Brian Connaughton (mechanic) with the three riders about to start the road race - Cormac McCann, Paul McCormack and John McQuaid - joined by liaison officer Billy Kennedy and manager Big Mo Foster

Also joining them will be Gary Thomson, who was on the Irish team – with Paul Kimmage and Martin Earley – at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Alan McCormack, an OIympian from the 1976 Games in Montréal, will also be riding this week in Ireland.

Brian Connaughton, a former Rás winner who was mechanic for the Irish team at the 1988 Games, is back in that role after 33 years as he will provide mechanical support to the riders this week. Former international rider Jimmy Lally is one of the elder statesmen among the group; taking in the full distance aged 77 years.

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However, aside from those riders who are well known in Irish road cycling, McQuaid said 100 cyclists were assembling for the event and he stressed that many of them never raced and were relatively new to the sport.

*Clockwise from top left: Gary Thompson with RTE commentator Jimmy Magee, Stephen Spratt and Alan McCormack, pictured by Phil O'Connor during the 1987 Worlds road race won by Stephen Roche*

“It’s a good group we’ve assembled and anyone and everyone has been welcomed,” he said. “Once you’ve prepared a bit, that’s the only background you need on this event. And the name of the game is raising money for charity and having a bit of craic along the way.”

All of the riders have raised a minimum €1,800 to cover their entry and also for Cycle Against Suicide, with a number of those taking part having gone well beyond that minimum sum.

Stephen Putnam, whose son Bailey tragically died from suicide in 2016, has come from Boston for the event to fundraise and he will be extended an especially warm Irish welcome.

Three others coming from the US – namely brothers Alan and Paul McCormack and Gary Thomson – have raised €20,000. Martin McCaffrey from Dash Container Café has also raised €20,000.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Cycle Against Suicide event could do so by following this link.