Former BMX kid and child of the Kelly-Roche era, Ian Cassidy hasn't looked back since getting a new bike for his 30th; pictured here by Karen M Edwards on his way to winning the A3 race at the Laragh Classic in Co Wicklow on Sunday.
By Brian Canty
Ian Cassidy made a winning debut in the A3 ranks yesterday when he took the Friends First sponsored Laragh Classic A3 race in Laragh, Co Wicklow.
The Fixx Coffee Rouleur man had only been promoted from A4 after he won the Charleville Two Day a week previous and now he has his sights set on progressing further.
"I was absolutely delighted with the win; it was a cracking course and very well run by St Tiernan's CC,” he said.
“It was a bit bonkers from the start actually; continuous attacking for the first lap and a half. It settled down a bit then; there were a few attacks but nothing was let go.
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“Then one of the juniors went off and was joined by Colin Crowley and they got a gap. I attacked on an incline then with Craig Arrigan (South Dublin CC) and we managed to bridge across."
That quartet worked well to get a gap but they had to; riding against such a big field all seemingly keen to salvage something from the season.
A very strong triathlete, Ian Cassidy won the time trial stage at the Charleville Two Day earlier this month and went on to take the race overall.
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"We all worked hard in the break and managed to get 40 seconds to the bunch,” Cassidy said of the breakaway’s progress.
“We just kept up the work-rate. It came down to Colin and myself with about six or so kilometres to go, I couldn't shake him. But thankfully I managed to hold him off at the end.
“He had a cracking ride. He's only recovered from fractured hips and an elbow and he also had a problem with his seat post; he's a real hard man."
Cassidy has also had his own obstacles to overcome.
"I had my tonsils out in January and spent the next month recovering,” he said.
“I was then training for the Challenge Roth triathlon from March to July and only started racing on the road in August and have loved just cycling. I haven't run or swam since the Roth.
"I’ve been cycling since I was a kid. I grew up in the BMX bandit years but followed Kelly, Roche, Early and Kimmage throughout their careers.
“I stopped cycling in my mid teens and played football till my late 20s, but I got a mountain bike for my 30th and have been on the bike since.
“It's a huge passion of mine and a few years ago I started a little business doing bike fits called Cyclefit Ireland and thankfully that's going well.”
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