Went for a wee spin with Nico at the weekend ……here’s how it went!!
The national road race champs happened in Clonmel on Sunday last over 9 laps of a 19.4k circuit. The talk in the run up to the race was that the course wasn’t too difficult, and might not be hard enough to make a selection. Not sure who tested this route and thought it was easy…someone should give him a pro contract ASAP!
Two climbs out on the course, the second was a 500m out of the saddle power climb which would tear the legs off of you lap after lap. Then in through the town of Clonmel through a series of right hand bends, which gave the race a feel of a Belgian Kermesse. Through the finish was a great crowd lap after lap encouraging the pros on, and wondering why we other guys were so far back.
Lap one was savage fast. Matt Bramier made his intentions known early and attacked from the gun. He was pulled back a few times, but he continued to volley attacks until the elastic broke on the second climb. Thirteen strong riders went clear and got a minute lead in rapid time. Meanwhile, a lot of home-based riders were being spat out the back door. Roche sat back in the group not panicked. He tried a few moves on the flat, but the home based riders could match him here. Inevitably he attacked up the next climb, and OMG did he attack. Like a knife through butter he romped up the hill past all other attempted escapees. Very impressive, let’s hope he as a great TDF cos he is a really sound lad.
Nico made the juncture of 1min 40 sec in less than a lap. That was the last I seen of him til after the finish. As is always the case, the top twenty is coveted in the champs, so racing continued despite the break going clear. Lap 4 seen a group of 10 leave the peloton, including Colm Cassidy. I was stuck on the inside of the group and covering my bike in vomit from stem to jockey wheels, and missed this move. I got away in group of seven lads half a lap later but none of us had the legs to bridge the gap.
In the group behind, some too cool for school, packed the race to watch the finish. That left only about ten in the peloton in the end.
Over the last hill of the day, I threw my chain moving from small to big ring under pressure. Luckily, the bionic man (Travelled down from Athlone under his own steam to support me after winning the time trial champs 2 days before) was behind in the car. With a bionic leap he had my chain back on and pushed up the hill to the back of my group in supersonic speed – thanks Billy!
I rolled into the finish in an absolute body bag. How tough was the course? Just look at the finishing times and note how no big groups were left on the road.
Brammier won, edging out Nicholos Roche, with Philip Lavery an excellent third. Irvine unlucky his late solo attack failed, and rolled in fourth. Damien Shaw had a great ride to finish eight. Colm came home 15th.
A well run race over a savage tough course made for a great days racing. Thanks a million to Billy and Pat (the Mammy) for providing service in the car behind. I think 7 bottles and 8 gels went down the hatch.