By Shane Stokes
Jamie Meehan looked mentally drained at the end of the Rás Tailteann on Sunday, sitting on the ground of the race’s podium trailer and staring into space.
He had put in an all-out bid to try to win overall, attacking on the final lap in a bid to overcome his five second deficit to race leader George Kimber (Isle of Man Cycling Club).
However speaking after the podium presentation, he revealed that despite superb performances in the event, he wasn’t sure beforehand that he would even finish the race.
“I wasn't really expecting to make it to the last day, to be honest,” he told Stickybottle.
“I had surgery two weeks ago in my hand. So just even to make it through the five days was a good achievement, let alone getting second in the process.”
Advertisement
Meehan has been competing this year with the AVC Aix-en-Provence Dole Continental team.
The 21 year old climber was tenth in the 1.2U Giro del Belvedere race on April 21 and one day later took 20th in the identically-ranked GP Palio del Recioto despite dislocating a finger and fracturing his hand.
Related News
Surgery before the Rás was far from the ideal buildup. “So anything really was a bonus,” he said.
He was disappointed Saturday to miss out on yellow, with Kimber suffering on the steep gradients under the pressure of Meehan and Dean Harvey when the Team Ireland riders went all out on the Wolftrap climb.
He went into the final stage determined to fight, but the flat profile was far from ideal.
“The tactic today was to try and find six seconds,” he said. “It was a pretty f**king hard day, but we tried.
“We got away in the last lap with about three quarters of a lap to go, and gave it everything. It's a bit of a flat circuit for a 57 kilo man. I got away, but he was able to come across. It ended up in a in a bunch gallop.”
Much as he wanted to win, the result is still huge for the 21 year old. He said he would fly back to France on Sunday evening prior to starting the 2.2-ranked Alpes Isère Tour on Wednesday. That race runs for five days and features a mountainous final stage which should suit Meehan well.
He’ll be back in Ireland in June with a big target in mind.
“Nationals is always a goal,” he said. “It's a bit of a flatter circuit this year, but yeah, it'll still be a goal.”
Longer term, a pro contract is a big objective. His Rás showing will be a real encouragement and is a promising sign.
