Never a failure, always a lesson..

That's it. The season of 2013 has come to an end! Obviously as an athlete, your always going to want more from a season but I am proud of the progress I've made & lessons I've learnt. Looking back at the year I have to take the positives & use them for the future. I still don't feel as if I had a clear run, I hit the deck a few times too many & came down with illness at the worst possible time which was heartbreaking. All in all, I am now twice the rider I was at the beginning of the year & to me that is the most important thing. Never a failure, always a lesson..

Since & before my last blog my condition was on the rise, & Ronde van Oost Vlaanderen was a perfect race for form building. It was a brand new tour for the top u23's in Belgium & was 5 days in length. It wasn't a tour that particularly suited me as pretty much every day stage finished in a bunch sprint & that in itself meant there was a fair bit of carnage! It was by far the most stressful tour I've taken part in. We were constantly riding around at over 50km/h as it was so flat, & over the whole week there was hardly any breakaways & a lot of crashes! Luckily I escaped scathe free, but judging how many times I've crashed this year I'm amazed as to how! The peleton always carried too much momentum & speed so that really discouraged people to attack, so for me it was like a big motor pacing session every stage. A very nice 5 days with the team!

The days following the stage tour we had two more team races. One was a 1.12B very close to home in Balegem & the other was the Interclub Omloop Van de Grensstreek Wervik, a 172km amatuer semi classic in which we did 2 laps which included the Kemmelberg & Monteberg. Hard going after 6 days of racing in the legs, especially racing with fresh guys! Somehow I managed to suffer like never before & made it over all of the climbs to finish in the front group of 70 or so. I was completely dead, so couldn't even attempt a sprint or attack! 

After this 7 day block of racing I had an easy week before I jumped back into the deep end. I came off the week with some great legs which helped me in all of my races in the latter part of the season. 9 times out of 10 I was in the breakaway, & was highly involved in the thick of the action. I was riding the best I've ever been, both physically & tactically. I was reading the races very well & learned a lot of lessons. One being, I am definitely NOT a sprinter! It can be frustrating when you put yourself in the position to win time after time but come up against faster finishers! Something to work on for 2014. Lot's of fast guys in Belgium!

We were also riding in some of the Pro races since my last blog. Izegem, Muelbeke and Viane-Geraardsbergen. Muelbeke was a complete write off. Izegem was enjoyable & Viane was arguably one of my favourite/best days on the bike ever! It wasn't like your normal kermesse course. It had some cobbled sections, punchy climbs and longer rolling ones & with the course being 16km long it suited me a lot more. 50-60km or so into the 161km race a front group of 40 or so came together at the front. I had originally missed it but I attacked & after a 20km chase coming from 1.30mins behind, 6 of us eventually got to the front again. It was like a TTT with pro's, 1 from Vacansoleil another with IAM Pro Cycling, and some Norweigans. I was feeling great! As soon as we got across it split at the front again on the next climb. I was in the front luckily with only 1 other amatuer rider. I went on to finish in this group, I really suffered but still felt great. Something like 150 guys lined up and out of the 38 fnishers I was 35th, not the best result but I was happy to one of the 2 amatuers finishing.

After Viane, I only did one more race, 2 days later. I still hadn't recovered from such a strenuous effort I made in the Pro race so just cruised around in the bunch. After that I decided to wrap up the season. I racked up 65 race days in 2013 & my body was feeling it. I picked up some nice results, in all of which I probably deserved more. It can pay for being an honest rider sometimes. All experiences in which I am learning from however & I am very confident I can use these lessons in 2014.

As I mention 2014, I am pleased to say I have re-signed & will spend the season in Zottegem with my current team Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line, although the team name may be subject to change. After many disappointments this season past I hope to make up for them in 2014 & will be praying for a clear run! My best is still to come and I know it.
I am yet to sit down with my coach and properly discuss my goals & hopes for 2014 but I will be looking again at the UCI u23 Nations Cups (If I'm selected), The Ras & my team provide me with some great opportunities to ride some of the top competition 1.2's - I will hope to make an impact on some of those races. 

I have some thanks to make for the 2013 season. I would like to thank my family who continue to support me through my cycling career, thanks for helping me follow my dreams! My trade team Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line for giving me some great opportunities throughout the year & to my team-mates for looking after me through some difficult times. Everyone at Team DMG VisitNenagh.ie for taking me on your team for the An Post Ras & making me feel right at home - sorry my illness held me back! To Brian Nugent & all involved in the Irish National Team set-up, thanks for everything in 2013. I love wearing the green of my country and hope to do it more justice in the future! To FFWD wheels, thanks for hooking me up with some amazing wheels. Paul at Fermoy Bike Shop, a big thanks for helping me with nutritional products. Hope I didn't leave anyone out!

That's it now. I am near the end of my break. I will start training again slowly next week. Stay tuned over the next few months to see what I am up to. Thank you for reading!

Eoin

On The Upward Spiral!

If there's one thing I've learnt from being in Belgium this season, it's that - most of the time cycling doesn't go your way. It's a roller-coaster of emotions, and seems to have a terrible habit of kicking you in the face just when your thinking things are starting to get better... I've had to overcome many disappointments this year but I am using them as my motivation. My fuel to the fire!

In the company of Niko Eeckhout & Jens Kuekilare in Roeselare

I've been on the upward spiral in July and August (so far). Less crashes (Only 2), more results and higher morale. I could almost smell the flowers while in Holland where I came very close to my first real chance of winning this season. Bagged some top tens in the kermesses. Really can't believe how fast this season is moving on, time flies when your having fun eh!? 

In early July my Dad and brothers were staying with us here in Belgium for a few weeks. It was nice to have the boys around, brought a bit of normality to our sometimes monk-like lifestyle. A very nice distraction! Whilst they were here I raced GP Jempi Monsere (Pro Race) in Roeselare and in Knesselare where I placed 9th after a race-long breakaway. I attacked early in the finale to try and get the win but misjudged how strong my breakaway companions were and ended up leading them out for the sprint. Regardless I was very happy with how my condition was leading into the "Tweedaagse Venhuizen" which I had coming up with the Irish National Team that weekend.

On Friday the 12th July, I met the Irish boys in Amsterdam and we travelled to Venhuizen to set up before the 2 days of racing we had coming up. The race was the usual Dutch style - a constant fight to stay at the front and either in one long line or a complete road block. One word sums it up - chaos!

Stage 1 was a 10km TTT, which was a first experience for us all! Safe to say - not an event that I enjoyed very much, especially when your doing it on a road bike with no TT equipment. I averaged an abnormal 188bpm for the 12-13minutes. PAIN! After such a hard effort we finished with no result. We had a circuit race that evening which proved to have a very attritional format. I finished up in much whittled down peleton in 36th place. 

On Stage 3 I was so gutted to miss a golden opportunity of a podium, or even a win! The 160km stage saw a break of roughly 20 get away with 50km to go and establish a gap of close to 2 minutes, although within the last lap we had them in our sights. I seized the opportunity to make my move and jumped from the peleton with 7km to go. I bridged with one of the Vacansoleil u23's who was 2nd on GC, and made it to the front of the race with only 3km to go. I stayed quiet up front and jump kept following the wheels, I have never been so confident in my ability before! I set myself up perfectly for the final corner and next thing I knew I was picking myself up from the asphalt.
My tubular rolled with 300m to go and left me with nothing from the day but a stiff body and road rash! With all the adrenaline pumping, I gave the Dutch fans a show! I put my bike over my shoulder cyclo-cross style and ran to the line! I didn't make it to the line before the peleton but received the biggest cheer of the weekend. As I crashed within 3km to the finish I was awarded the same time as the winner. Big thanks to Cycling Ireland for such a nice weekend!
When it rains it really does pour. That evening after the stage I found out my grandfather had passed away. Never the news your wanting to hear. RIP Grandad, I'll do you proud!

When I got back from Ireland after the funeral, I was more motivated than ever to get stuck into training and racing again. I've been racing frequently and have earned myself some nice results. A few top 10's with a nice 6th place in Deinze, along with numerous top 20's. I've been putting myself in the right positions and making smarter decisions that are helping me get some solid results. I'm really enjoying my racing and I'm really starting to get the hang of the style, so fingers crossed this run will continue for the remainder of the season!

I start a 5 day stage tour tomorrow, Wednesday. "Ronde van Oost Vlaanderen" a new u23 tour which is supposed to be the biggest u23 race the country has to offer.  Stages 4 and 5 are local to us so I am excited to race on familiar roads. Looking forward to a good week with the Terra boys!

Here's to the final stretch of the season! Let's make it a good one...

Thanks for reading, Eoin

Ups, Downs, Spills & Thrills!

The last month or so has, yet again, been crazy. A roller-coaster of emotions. A lot of good times, but a lot of bad ones. Again. It would be nice if things could just come together for once, I'm seeing constant self improvements but no reward, yet! But hey, I guess it's part of life and learning... 

There's quite a lot to report on so I'll just briefly run over how the last months have gone. On the weekend of the 10th-12th May, I got the call up to ride Tour du Loiret 3 day stage race in France. My preparation wasn't best as I spent a few days bed bound on the lead up with illness. It just about cleared up for the start of the tour. As a team we had a really strong presence in the race and with 3 guys in the breakaway on the first stage we were poised for a good GC result. 

Can't miss the yellow hemlets!

The last stage was one I won't forget. Armee de Terre were leading the GC and we wanted a sprint, so once the breakaway went away after roughly 30km, Joel & I rode the front with 2 of the Armee riders to control the race and slowly but surely reel the breakaway back in. 124km later at 6km to go I was zapped, but my job was done. The breakaway had been caught, unfortunately Tom had some mechanical issues but all in all I was happy that I had a consistent race, it was a real experience - I was 24th overall. Turns out we had a nice finish to the tour with 2nd overall. 

The Loiret crew. Thanks Andrew, Ingrid, Chris & Marek for all your hard work.

I got back to Belgium after Loiret and I was very confident I would be as close to 100% for the An Post Ras as possible. After a massage with my coach on Tuesday morning I was riding home, all was going well until I hit the deck. "Boom!" I was a victim of some brand new road paint. I rode an hour back to the house all bloodied up, shook and incredibly disappointed. Things could only get better, right!? Turns out I was wrong, things went from bad to worse. Luggage handlers at Brussels airport were on strike so I had to miss my flight, stay in Brussels overnight and fly from Charleroi the next morning at 6am. Inconvenient!

Yet more was to come. At Charleroi airport I started to feel sick and ended up spending the hour before my flight puking in the toilets. It continued on the plane, and when I got home diarrhea joined in and accompanied the puking right up to and through my Ras experience.

Team VisitNenagh.ie DMG

I am still convinced to this day - that someone or something, somewhere did not want me to take to the start line in Dunboyne! But I was there and that was the main thing. I had good legs and they got me through the first 2 days without too much trouble but after Stage 2 disaster struck, hard! It was physically impossible to eat that evening and I was puking through the night. After seeing the race doctor I was diagnosed with Gastroenteritis. The morning of Stage 3 I woke up feeling terrible.

Stage 3 of the Ras was the single hardest day I've ever had to spend on my bike so far. From the start I was struggling, it was the worst feeling in the world. I was watching the race play out from the rear end of the peleton knowing I should be up there in the business end of things mixing it up. It was certainly not what I planned to do! After 2 hours or so I found myself slipping further and further back until I was eventually on my own waiting for the grupetto. It was so hard to take. I've never felt so disheartened and disappointed during a bike race.
The next day I felt better - better for a normal day without a UCI event. I was wiped out. After 40km on stage 4 I had to make the smart, but heartbreaking, decision to abandon the race. The rest of my season could have been in jeopardy - it was time to call it a day. 

A MASSIVE thank you to all at Team DMG-VisitNenagh.ie for looking after me so well through the Ras. Such a pity I couldn't give the race my best shot. There was blood, sweat and even tears - I gave my all and it was incredibly disappointing to leave the race - I owe ye guys a lot for the support you showed me through the race. Top guys!

After my disastrous Ras and awful run of bad luck I took 5 days off to recover and gather my thoughts before I flew back to Belgium and got straight back into the thick of things. My first ride after my break was the Gullegem Pro kermesse where Phillipe Gilbert and Tom Boonen (To name a few) took to the start. Then was the Heistse Pijl a few days later, another Pro race with top names such as Boonen and his OPQS team. Due to the circumstances of the previous weeks these races didn't go well for me - or as well as I would have liked. 

It was time to change things. I'd been to see my coach Luc as soon as I got back and we started building up to where I am now. I did 3-4 solid weeks of training including kermesse races and the national championships. The races have been good, my condition is increasing all the time, all I am missing now is some really nice results.

After a very rough and difficult first half of the year - I now plan to get back racing frequently coming off a month of quality training. I've managed to keep myself on the straight and narrow and I'm optimistic to make things change! In the coming months we have a number of Tours to aim for, and I will even be pulling on the green jersey of Ireland again. Fingers crossed for a good second half...

Robbie & I in Ghent. Belgium brings us together!

Thanks for reading.

Eoin

Pre Ras & Nation's Cups...

Wow. May already!? Just over a week or so until the An Post Ras. Where has the time gone? Since my last update I’ve had some more bad luck, mishaps & even managed to sit on the tarmac again! However, shit happens - you live, you learn & you move on...

Being honest my season so far hasn’t been as good as I would have liked or wanted it to be & it’s really gutting after putting in so much hard graft this winter - however I still have shown a lot of positives, I’m feeling a lot stronger & I’m determined to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. My best is still far away...

Firstly, the Nations Cups! I was very happy and excited to get the call up for the u23 Irish national team for 3 u23 UCI Nations Cups events which between the 6th & 13th of April. We did the Ronde van Vlaanderen in Belgium, then La Cote Picardie in France & finally we travelled to Holland for the ZLM Tour. To prepare I did some kermesse’s just for race kilometres. No better way to build form in my opinion! As soon as I was called I made that period my big early season goal & worked towards that period fully.

I was pretty happy with how Flanders went for me - I wasn’t on a good day at all & although the race didn’t really get going until after 100km, I was still suffering. 

There was a bout of illness getting passed around our Terra team house in Zottegem a few days before I left & I am certain I had caught it, but only mildly. It was fantastic to use my local knowledge to negotiate my way through the peleton, to know most of the roads & bergs made things a lot easier. It was an advantage that eliminated a lot of stress.

Giving Conor a hand in u23 Flanders. Far left!

I did my best for our leader on the day, Conor Dunne, & helped keep him out of trouble before the Molenberg which was the crucial part of the race. That came after 109km & I then made it to the finishing circuits with the smaller front group of 50-60 guys from 140 starters, before getting dropped with 15-20km to go in the 170km race - on the monumental climb of the Eikenberg. I then decided to call it a day instead of riding the last lap solo, to try and limit my losses & recover properly for Picardie which started a few days later. In hindsight I would have ridden the last lap! Bloody hindsight...

Flanders Bentjes! 

De Ronde!

Not much to report on Picardie. I was super motivated & was given the protected rider role along with strong man Ryan Mullen. All I had to do was try and conserve as much energy as possible until the finishing circuits & do my best to be involved when the real race kicked off. 5km into the race, I was slightly concussed & sitting in the van. I had my second crash of the year. Still a bit of a mystery to me about how it actually happened - but it got really cosy in the middle of the peleton and after a the squeeze & sound of brakes screeching I suddenly felt a big push on my back, then I smashed into the kerb & face-planted into some gravel. Wouldn’t fancy it again. Race over. I was gutted! 

After a few days of stiffness & light training rides - I still wasn’t feeling the best. Crashing definitely does take it out of you both physically and mentally. Unfortuntely I then had to sit out of the ZLM Tour while the others tackled the race. I was so upset with how my campaign had went but it was time to move on. I had a great 10 days with a fantastic bunch of guys. Thanks again to Brian, Dave & Adrian for looking after us so well - also a big thanks to my team-mates Ryan, Conor, Conor, Jack, Cormac & Daniel. I had a fantastic time!

A few days after the Nations Cups, I went home for a few days to see family and have a mental break before coming back to my base in Belgium. It's always great to get home but I was also eager to get back & get racing again. Since then I have ridden 4 kermesse races & done some top quality training. I have no real results to brag about as of yet, unfortunately. In almost all of my races I have been between 30th-40th place on average. I still can’t quite crack the kermesse racing style. I am strong enough to be in the top end of the results but mostly it’s just a matter of luck. Something that hasn’t really been on my side this year. It’s a massive gamble in every race! Sometimes I feel as if I'd have a better chance at winning the lottery!
This year, however, I feel I am a lot stronger & more active so I’m sure it will all come good - still a long way to go. 

Next I plan to do my own mini-stage tour of kermesses to put the finishing touches on my An Post Ras preparations. It’s hard to tell how the form will be - but I won’t ever be fully satisfied either way! 

The weather in Belgium has been immense in the past weeks so let’s hope that hangs around until next Wednesday the 15th before I fly back home. I am over the moon to be finally lining up in the Ras. Growing up I always followed the race and now I finally get to be a part of it. 
Really looking forward to getting racing on Irish roads again and this time with the Visit Nenagh-DMG team. I am very grateful to be given the chance to ride for such a good group of guys & want to thank Rene van Dam for making it possible. Fingers crossed for good weather & a great 8 days of racing! 

Stay tuned!

Eoin

P.s. Think I may have jinxed the weather. It's now pissing it down with thunder & lightning. Oh well. 

Early Season Belgium!

My first month or so in Belgium has passed & it's safe to say - there is a lot to report on! Unfortunately for me I've had more low's than high's. Destroyed personal belongings, cancelled race days & not too many results to brag about - but my condition is coming along nicely, I'm feeling strong, & the next few weeks look to be some of the most exciting of my career to date. You got to take the bad with the good I guess! Let the good times roll...

Vollezele Kermesse

It was fantastic to get that "race" feeling back in my legs. My first few races were so fun, to get stuck back into some proper competitive racing to blow out the cobwebs after (what felt like) the longest winter without that adrenaline rush!

I've clocked up 7 race days. On the kermesse scene I've raced at Vollezele, Brugge-Sint Kruis, Bellegem, Anzegem & Pollare. Then I rode the Kattekoers UCI 1.2 & the Pro Kermesse at Wanzele. All the kermesse races have gone good. No real results for me as of yet unfortunately, mostly just top 50's - but made some impact on pretty much every race I've done which is promising. Once the fields get smaller, the weather picks up & winter warriors start to prepare for 2014 again - the results should start to flow, I hope! In particular, the 165km pro kermesse at Wanzele is the race I enjoyed the most so far this season. I placed 53rd out of 240 starters.

On the non-racing front things haven't gone so smoothly for me since getting here. On the drive home after I crashed at the Kattekoers my car broke down. The gearbox and engine decided to pack up & it will cost too much to fix. That was a big blow! Thanks for the good times, and thanks for (just about!) getting us home that evening Astra! The next morning things weren't looking up either. Examining and cleaning the muck from my bike after the crash - I realised that the frame was cracked, and just to top it all off - due to the snow, the roof in my room started to leak. It really was a "character building" few days! I really have to thank my house/team mates & team management for helping me out with my car and bike. Thanks guys - much appreciated! Tough times don't last, but tough people do...

Some shots from the Brugge-Sint Kruis kermesse. Big field!

Since my run of bad luck in the past weeks, I've been taking less risks in the kermesse races & just using them primarily to train and prepare for the next few weeks.

I am very happy & excited to announce I will be lining up to start the biggest race of my career to date this Saturday (6th of April) at the UCI u23 Nation's Cups event - The Tour of Flanders.

I will be taking part in the grueling 180km race as part of the Irish u23 National Team and will also ride 2 more Nation's Cup events in the following days - La Cote de Picardie in France (10th) & the ZLM Tour (13th) in Holland. I am really chuffed to be able to ride races of such a caliber and I am sure it will be a fantastic experience.

After my spell with the National team I plan to pop home for a few days before coming back to Belgium & build towards some Stage Races I have coming up in May. 

Thanks to Paul at the Fermoy Bike Shop for his HIGH5 & Herbalife nutritional support & Glenn at the Kilworth Wellness Centre for helping with the use of his knowledge in nutrition & how to use the Herbalife range to get the most out of my body. 

A BIG thank you to FFWD Wheels for providing my with a sweet set of their F4R's for the upcoming season and in particular the u23 Ronde van Vlaanderen.  

Stay tuned for an update after the Nation's Cups.

Thanks for reading!

E

Touched Down In Belgium!

Goedendag! 

It's that time again. Optimistic for the year ahead - I have touched down in Belgium for the 2013 race season! 

It’s been a whirlwind week but I am finally getting comfortable here at my new base just outside Zottegem; the home of my team - “Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line”. 

The journey was a killer. I had to catch a 17 hour boat from Rosslare to Cherbourg which was full of overseas truckers and French students. With no internet and only a cookbook for company - it got pretty tedious. The boat trip was then followed by a very “costly” 6 hour trek through France and into Belgium. Must have spent close to 40 euro on toll’s. I was raging! 

Warm welcome in France!

I eventually got here, starving and tired, completing a journey that felt like it was never going to end, to meet the very friendly and welcoming team management and team/house mates at Terra HQ. It took a few days to get over the fatigue of the journey and to find my way around the new house and get my routine back. With some new kit and toys, I got out on a few rides and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal again. Just about!  

I start my 2013 campaign tomorrow (3rd March) at “Vollezele” and I will take to the line in my first “Pro Kermesse” next Wednesday at “Wanzele-Lede”. Straight into the gutter then! 

No messing about. Here we go!

Stay tuned for regular updates,

Eoin

Gran Canaria Camp Pt.2

Brrr... It’s over. I am back in the land where the shiny thing in the sky known as “The Sun” does not exist... Ireland! 

There’s only one word I can only describe the last month in Gran Canaria with - amazing! I guess it’s the last time for a while that I’ll get to wear shorts & jersey on my training rides. Every bit of cycling kit I have will be pulled on in Ireland and early season Belgium! 

Again, I was staying in Puerto Mogan with my Grandfather I am truly blessed to have such facilities. The 4 weeks training-wise were of real quality, all went smoothly and efficiently and will hopefully set the foundations for a successful and happy 2013 racing season. I got to train on the same roads as and even with some of the top professionals in the world, in, arguably, the best place in the world for training. 

I spent one of my bigger training days with Team “Saxo-Tinkoff”, rode with the likes of Bjarne Riis, Nicolas Roche, Roman Kreuziger, Michael Rogers, etc. etc. (See pics).

Fabian Cancellara also spent a lot of his winter training on the same roads as myself. I am certainly no “wieler-tourist” but it was still pretty cool to see training as a pro from an outside view. I’ve taken a lot from just riding with these guys, especially from Bjarne Riis. Always love learning! 

I am back in Ireland now putting in the final touches on my training and spending precious time with family at home before I depart for Belgium on February 23rd to start my season with “Terra Footwear-Bicycle Line”. This year I will be based in Zottegem, a mere 20km from my first Belgian home of Oudenaarde. So I can easily pop “home” whenever I feel the need of a coffee at the Ronde van Vlaanderen Museum or the Adrien Brouwer. 

Really optimistic for 2013 and can’t wait to get stuck in. Everything has gone to plan thus far (touch wood), so let’s hope I can keep the ball rolling and have a fantastic season. 

For anyone interested here is a link to my Strava account where I upload and analyze my training files - all my training done in Gran Canaria in January are uploaded: http://app.strava.com/athletes/1480753

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

Eoin