When she lines out in Rás na mBan on Wednesday, Marine Lenehan will be riding her first stage race in what is her first season as a racing cyclist. She’s a complete newcomer to the sport yet, such are her results this year, she can’t be counted out for a big showing in the event.
Still only six months into her cycling career - having only switched to the sport in February - she has won a medal at a road national championships, won the European Gran Fondo Championships and claimed silver at the Worlds.
As she now takes another big step, this time in a stage race competing against an international field, she spoke to Shane Stokes about her targets, her superb debut season, what her future might hold and the Irish cyclists advising her.
Advertisement
By Shane Stokes
It’s been quite the year for Marine Lenehan. The former hurdler and triathlete started focussing on cycling in February. In June she became European Grand Fondo champion. In early August she was the silver medallist in the Fondo world championships. Then, on August 22nd, she took the silver medal in the national criterium championships.
That’s a staggering sequence of results, and one which she wasn’t expecting. “I’ve always been quite competitive,” the 25 year old tells Stickybottle. “And I’ve always loved sports, in the way that I love to push myself to my limits and to give it my all. So in that regard, I’m not surprised.
“But to be so good on the bike in such a short of time…yes, I’m kind of surprised at that. I do give it a lot of time and effort. But still, it’s very surprising to get where I am today in a short period of time.”
Lenehan laughs when she answers, as she often does during the interview. She comes across as down to earth but also someone who loves what she does; she may have drifted into cycling, but is now passionate about the sport.
“Obviously I was doing some cycling from doing triathlon. I was out cycling on a ride with [her partner] Matteo Cigala, and he kind of noticed that I wasn’t too bad at cycling, and asked if I wanted to give it a try. And then I got contacted by the Dan Morrissey team, and I started from there.
“I just love it. It just kind of appeared out of nowhere. But it feels like I found myself on the bike. Something just clicked. I’m surprising myself every day.”
Two countries, three sports
Now living in Wicklow Town, Lenehan was born to an Irish father and French mother. She lived in Ireland until five or six years of age and then moved to France for two decades. Her mother is from Normandy and the family were mostly based there, with Lenehan moving back to Ireland last November.
She’s long been into sport, with athletics her early passion.
“I was doing 100 metres hurdles from like, 10 years old to roughly about 20 years old,” she explains. “I was racing at national level. My best result was getting to the final of the hurdles in the national championships. I didn’t place, but I got to the final.
“I stopped sports for about a year and a half, and then I got back into triathlon for about a year and a half. I wasn’t really taking that up as full competition, it was more a way of staying fit and enjoying myself. I did do a few events in the south of France and in Switzerland, but it wasn’t really (focused on) competition. And then I just started cycling in February.”
Lenehan has been helped by Cigala and also by Greg Swinand, who is part of her Dan Morrissey-Primór by Pissei team. She credits both of them with helping her this year. “They guide me through everything,” she says. “It’s really great. Without the two of them I probably wouldn’t be where I am today, since I’m so new and fresh.”
What has helped with her development has been by her work; she is part of the cycling holidays run by Cigala and, in addition to being a nutritionist and massage therapist, she clocks up plenty of kilometres as a tour guide.
She’s become steeped in the sport, is having adventures in overseas locations, and is thriving while doing so.
That helps explain her enthusiasm, which in turn has boosted her performances. Taking gold in the European championships in this first racing season plus second in the worlds is a staggering achievement, after all, and something very few would be able to achieve.
Related News
Asked which of those results is she most proud of, she opts for the Europeans.
“It’s because the race didn’t really suit me…my body is more that of a sprinter rather than a climber. And there was over 3000 meters of elevation that day, so I started the race not thinking I was going to get gold. So being able to get that medal just felt magical to me.”
Of course the worlds was also a storming result. She and Emily Proud reached the line together, with the Briton winning a close sprint. Lenehan says had been put into difficulty when a number of riders attacked in the feeding zone on the third climb, and had to dig deep to get back to them.
“It meant I had no legs left for the finish,” she explains. “But I did my very best. When I look back at the race, I got loads of PBs that day. It’s always easy when you look back at the race and said, ‘okay, I could have done this, I could have done that. But at the end, I did my very best. There’s always next year.”
Before then there’s another rainbow jersey competition on the horizon. She’ll be riding various gravel races this autumn, including the European championships, and is hoping to qualify for the gravel worlds.
"I'm always open to new opportunities"
When the Rás na mBan peloton rolls out from Kilkenny on Wednesday afternoon, Lenehan will take the next step in her evolution as a bike rider. Competing in a stage race with a good international field will boost her experience and is something she is looking forward to.
Still, although she is a newcomer to stage racing, she will go in with a big ambition. “I would certainly like to win a stage anyway. I would be happy with that. As for GC, we will see,” she says.
Are there particular days that stand out as opportunities?
“Looking at the route, obviously the last day with the small TT and the criterium,” she answers. “I guess those two stages would suit me.
“Day three, which is with the most climbing, also, looks very, very interesting because they’re kind of short, punchy climbs. So I’m looking forward to that one too.”
If the race goes well, it will further boost her confidence and put her on the radar of the competing teams. It would also underline her qualities to Cycling Ireland. The federation has recruited to national programmes with cross-sport talent ID programmes in the past, with various riders getting drawn into cycling that way and going on to big things.
Lenehan hasn’t heard from Cycling Ireland in this regard but seems open to it. She’s also open to racing in the velodrome if that is an option.
“To be honest, I’ve never raced on a track. So I can’t actually say if I like it, or not. But I’m always open to new opportunities. I would always say I’d give it a try.”
Whatever the pathway, she wants to improve as much as she can as a bike rider. “I would like to go professional one day, if that’s ever achievable. But I guess that’s the long term goal.”
Her momentum thus far has been impressive and her enthusiasm is clear.
“Every day I’m discovering new things and learning. I’m getting I guess a crash course in cycling. A very quick course!” she laughs.
“I’m so excited about next season. I really feel that I found my sport. I mean, when I was doing hurdles and athletics, I really enjoyed it. But there’s something different here with cycling that really enjoy. It’s almost like I’m racing with my heart every time. I just love it so much.”
