Dubai-based Irish women net huge prize money racing there
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Two Irish women have moved to Dubai and despite the harsher environment they are thriving in what is an established cycling scene there. Róisín Thomas, second from left, and Maire Claffey, below, were 2nd and 3rd in a recent race in the Middle East and netted some series prize money.
Two Irish women living in Dubai won serious prize money in a road race recently after finishing second and third in the Ride Ajman event.
Physiotherapists Roisín Thomas and Máire Claffey are from Mayo and Dublin respectively.
They moved to the Middle East after securing work there and decided to take part in the high-profile race.
Claffey (26) has ridden for UCD CC in the past and also helped out the Dunboyne teams at the An Post Rás.
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She has joined the Besport Wilier cycling team in Dubai. Alongside team mate Thomas (28), from Achill, she went into battle against a field of around 70 others.
Claffey at home in Ireland. Like Thomas she has moved to Dubai for work and has really thrown herself into the local cycling scene.
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While Thomas was beaten for first prize she walked away with just under €2,000 (AED 8,000) for 2nd while Claffey netted a tidy €1,200 (AED 5,000) for third.
In comparison, the winner of the An Post Rás last year earned €2,000 while the total prize fund there was €42,045.
“I was genuinely afraid I would die of heat stroke,” said Claffey of the temperatures in the high 30s.
“I made of my own heat acclimatisation training programme lasting about seven to 10 days pre-race.
“It involved four-hour heart-rate guided turbo sessions in the hottest part of the day with buckets of salts, water and factor 50 sun cream. It seemed to do the job.”
Thomas and a Dutch rider attacked and weren’t seen again. Claffey stayed in the bunch and waited for the sprint.
“I knew when they went it was a good move but I would struggle in a break in the heat. So I waved Róisín off instead,” recalled Claffey.
Thomas made her mark
Thomas was aggressive throughout and finally got clear after almost 40km of racing done.
She rode solo for close on 50km; second on the road all the way to the finish.
“Coming into the finish, a rider ahead of me took the last bend too hard," said Claffey.
"But I was lucky enough to get around her. I attacked hard, I got lucky and took the sprint for third.”
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