Conquering the Rás aged 41: One man’s emotional final battle
The Rás means different things to different people. And when you’re 41, coming back to the race and you’ve crashed and suffered; finishing in Skerries is a very big deal (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Having last ridden the Rás back in 2012 aged 36 years, Donegal man Sean McFadden knew time was running out to return to try and tame the beast again.
Now aged 41 years and a father of four - two boys and two girls - McFadden took to the start line last Sunday week in Dublin Castle.
There were times when he wanted out but his desire to make the grade and get through the event was too strong.
He rolled into Skerries on Sunday a Man of the Rás; coming over the line with the Donegal flag raised and more than a little emotional.
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His delight with getting the flag raised and also receiving what he says is his last ever Rás finisher’s medal is palpable.
McFadden did an insightful blog on his race each day. We’ve selected two instalments for you; Sunday’s final stage and Thursday’s battle into Dungloe which he reckoned was the hardest of the race.
Sun, Stage 8: Ardee - Skerries (129.4km)
And so it ends. Around 3.30 pm on Sunday, after 3¼ hours in the saddle, I crossed the finish line of the 2017 An Post Rás as a member of the Donegal Voodoo Performance Team.
The stage was 130km and the pace was sharp from the drop of the flag in Ardee. We averaged 51km for the first hour.
The objective for the final stage was simple; hang on to the bunch for as long as possible to get into Skerries without any problems.
So I had to ride my bike like I stole it. And I did.
I was riding so hard today I didn't actually know where I was. Realising I had reached Skerries meant the pressure was off, in some respects.
On the last of three 15km circuits, which consisted of the famous Blackhills, I managed to get the Donegal flag from the team van about 2km from the finish. I tucked into my back pocket.
Every turn of the wheel thereafter was a joy, as I savoured the final minutes of the beast they call the Rás.
As I pelted down the home straight I pulled out the flag and raised it above my head as I crossed the finish line.
It was an emotional moment.
This was the place I had set out to get to eight days ago. After a roller-coaster eight days, during which I saw the good, the bad and the ugly, I had achieved my goal.
There is no better feeling than triumphing in the face of adversity.
I knew when I decided to enter the Rás at the start of the year that it wasn't going to be easy. But I didn't think it would be as challenging as it was.
After day two, I genuinely thought I might have bitten off more than I could chew, such was the pace early doors.
The gap between the pro riders and county riders appears to be getting wider.
My last Rás was back in 2012, and while five years wiser, I'm also five years older. Father Time has the ability to slow us all down.
Looks like it’s my turn now.
Two bad spills on Thursday in Rathmullan and Gweedore almost put the show off the road. But I persevered.
Climbing off was an option in my darker moments, but I was never going to stop of my own accord.
And when I rode up Skerries Main Street earlier today, every turn of the pedals over the 1,200km which is the Rás, was worth it.
That my wife, Irene, and sons, Ruairi and David, were at the finish made it all that more special.
I am dedicating my Rás medal to the family of the late Danny Murray from Letterkenny. Danny sadly passed away earlier this week.
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He was a great cycling man and someone who was always so supportive and helpful to me in my early days of cycling.
Danny was foremost in my thoughts this morning as I got ready to ride. I'm sure he was looking down on me today...
The messages of support and good wishes I was inundated with are much appreciated.
My support crew and fellow riders also played their part in making the last week an adventure I will never forget.
Life is for living. Today I earned my third Rás medal. It is the one I cherish most. At 41, it is also my last.
I am what I wanted to be today.
I am a Man of the Rás.
Over and out.
Thurs, Stage 5: Buncrana – Dungloe (181.2km)
Of all my days in the saddle, today was the toughest. By a long shot.
The high temperatures combined with the hard route to make it extremely tough early over the longest stage of the Rás - we covered 181 km today.
Throw in two bad offs, which resulted in a dodgy collar bone, a grazed hip, a cut elbow, cut fingers and a scrapped face, and it didn't make for the best of days at the office.
Yet, that's what the Rás is all about. No other event asks the questions of the mind and body like the Rás.
We left Buncrana this morning at 11am and we hit the outskirts of Letterkenny around 12 noon.
I was up with the leaders as we whizzed around the Pole Star Roundabout where a huge crowd of local support had gathered.
My wife, Irene, was there with local schoolchildren, and my best moment today came when I saw my son, Ruairi, on the footpath with a banner saying 'Go Daddy'. It's another moment in time I will forever cherish.
But there was plenty of trouble ahead.
I was about 60 km into the race near Rathmullan when I had to take evasive action and head for the hedge.
A team car tried to pass me and another car was coming the opposite way. I had no choice but to ditch her.
It really could not have happened at a worse time, as I was in a good position and in a good place.
I thought my collar bone was broken, but I got back up and battled on over Knockalla and eventually got into a group again as we headed into Carrigart.
I genuinely thought my Rás was over when I came off a second time close to the An Chuirt Hotel in Gweedore.
I lost concentration momentarily, hit the cats eyes and down I went. I was dazed and didn't know where my bike was for a time.
But I got up and at it and pushed hard for home, as I knew I hadn't a lot of time to spare to get in before the cut off.
I managed to get into a group of around 20 riders and hung on until the finish at the top of Dungloe Main Street in glorious sunshine.
It was nice to see Joe Doherty and his daughter, Helen, waiting for me at the finish.
Special thanks to the staff at the chemist in Dungloe who patched me up with the help of Louise Acorn.
On the team front, it was another good day, with Dermot finishing 25th, Conn 42nd, Colin 131st and myself 157th.
We are currently 11th out of 25 teams.
Tomorrow sees us departing Dungloe at 11am. We will ride to Glenties before heading to Killybegs via the famous Glengesh climb, with the finish in Donegal Town.
Glengesh will draw every ounce of energy within tomorrow afternoon.
But that's what it going to take to finish this Sunday afternoon in Skerries what I started last Sunday morning in Dublin Castle.
Day six awaits. I'm ready and willing.
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