The 2014 Season Has Begun!

It's crazy to think the winter has passed & I am back in Belgium again! Where did the time go?! It seems like only yesterday I was finishing up my 2013 campaign & packing my bags to spend the winter at home. Now here I am in Zottegem again! I had a solid winter this year. Everything went as planned & I've worked harder than ever before so I am hoping I can show it this year. 

This year I am confident. When I look rationally at the season ahead & the winter I've had - all I need now is some luck. 

I left home on the 3rd of March to move back to Zottegem & get the 2014 racing season started with my team Terra Safety Shoes & the support of The Dave Rayner Fund.

Cousins in Belgium! 

Since being back I've clocked up 3 race days & have got some quality training done. I've (almost) adapted to my Belgian home again & being back with the boys is great fun! 

The last few weeks before I left home I was itching to race. On March 8th it was finally time to pin on the numbers again! This season I started off in France at the 151km Paris-Evreux Classic. A very welcomed change! First race day of the season is always exciting as well as a little nervy. Although your confident of the training you've put in, you never quite know how you will fair out. There was certainly some cobwebs that needed blowing out! I was pretty happy with my race. After roughly 6 months without such sensations it came as quite a shock to the system, to say the least! 

Lucky 13!

I was really in the hurt box for the first hour, my legs were nowhere to be found. However, after the first hour I started to come around & my body got back to normal. Although it was too late. The damage had been done. After a pretty fast but straightforward descent, we came to small village where a series of technical corners & roundabouts forced a split in the peloton. This split contained roughly 30 riders of which 2 of my team mates were present. My positioning was pretty poor at this particular point & I just missed out unfortunately. 

The parcour was very rolling, a little like home - so it suited me well. On some of the climbs we came pretty close to bringing back the gap but as the French Army had every member of their team in the split, they set a high pace which was impossible match. After 100km I unintentionally got a gap on - what was left of - the peloton. I pushed on & joined 4 riders ahead, one being my fellow Dave Rayner Funded rider & team mate Adam Lewis. For the next 40km or so we rode in no man's land between the front group & peloton to test the legs & try to salvage something from the day. Unfortunately we got caught 6km from the finish, & at this time there was only 30 guys left in the "peloton". With no result left to grab I just rolled in for 50th place. 

Paris-Evreux

After a solid weeks training Niuewrode 1.12B on the 16th March was next up. As it was the only 1.12B on that day, a big field was expected to take to the start line. 306 riders signed on as it turned out & 6 from the Dave Rayner Fund. I can only use one word to describe it - chaos! Luckily for me I snuck my way to the front row at the start, so I missed out on the carnage of the first few laps. 15 crashes in the first 15km apparently! I heard & saw a lot of them, even felt one & suffered some tyre burn on my leg. Ouch! 

There was a lot of "heart in mouth" moments. Especially at the finish! I tried a late attack at about 3km to go but got nowhere. When I got swallowed up I slotted back into the line & tried to get involved in the sprint! In doing so, I very nearly ended up crashing. I got sandwiched in the gutter after a squeeze in the peloton & ended up balancing on my front wheel in the gutter while me & my bike were at a 45degree angle. Somehow I managed to keep it upright. Guys crashed all around me but I survived the damage. I was blessed for once! This all happened at about 60km/h mind, so I lost all positioning. I was relieved to roll in for 73rd safe & sound. All in all, not a race that suited me but I was never in any trouble & got around with relative ease.

 Check out this video of Niuewrode - this just shows the craziness that is Belgian bike racing:

The following Sunday the 23rd I took to the start line in Mol for the 52nd edition of the 1.12IC Zuidkempense Pijl/GP Wilfried Peeters. I had a nice week building up to this race & although it wasn't a parcour that's suited to me I was still quite optimistic & excited. The race itself was 163km in length. We started in De Kaasboerin-Postel & raced roughly 20km before we reached the circuits in Mol where we would do 10 laps of 14km.

The weather was not on our side unfortunately. It certainly wasn't warm - 5 degrees or so & not long before the start we started to get a little rain, which later turned to a lot of rain as well as some hail stone showers. We were treated to all 4 seasons in one day! Being from Ireland, you would have thought I'd be accustomed to such foul conditions but as it turns out - I suffered with it like never before. 

The race was fast from the word go as expected. Some nerves in the first 10km caused a high speed crash in which I got caught behind. After making it back to the front of the race things seemed to settle down. 

However as the rain & spray of the peleton kept getting worse I started to really feel the conditions taking their toll. My legs were fine, but I couldn't stop shivering. I didn't have enough clothes on & I couldn't feel my hands or feet. At one point my jaw was getting cramp jittering with the cold. It was so grim. I felt like pulling the plug many many times & grabbing a nice hot shower but something kept me going - the sense of satisfaction I would have afterwards. Every time we went over 55km/h I struggled. I was statue-like & my legs felt like they were seizing up. So the few times I got myself to the front & tried to do something I realised it wasn't happening. Not today! Most of the time the race was too fast to even attack. For such harsh conditions we still had an average speed on 43.5km/h.  

That pretty much sums up my day. There was 15 guys ahead who contested the win. I didn't contest the sprint so I finished mid-way in the second group for 71st. My race number was also 71 for that day! Karma! 

Link to the Zuidkempense Pijl/GP Wilfried Peeters website: http://www.zuidkempensepijl.be/zkp/

My Strava file from the race: http://www.strava.com/activities/123549057/overview

Luck hasn't been on my side so far & a nice result has evaded me, but I'm not worried. I've only raced 3 times & it's a long season! I'm now training hard again to finish off the spring/classics part of the season with some strong performances. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!

Life Behind Bars

8am - that horrible sounding iPhone alarm awakens me from my beauty sleep. Another day of training lies ahead. As I lay there, silently praying for my body to feel recovered from the previous days efforts - I am listening to the familiar sound of wind and rain almost plummeting through my bedroom window. A regular morning if you live in Ireland! First the little devilish thoughts or excuses seem to form an orderly queue. Too wet! Too cold? Too windy! Too tired? Go back to bed for another hour or so. And so on, and so on…

Then comes the positivity. Who’s queue is a lot shorter and seems to speak so much more sense. “It’s not that bad, just get on with it” ; “Man up” ; or my personal favourite “Time for a cement milkshake, harden up!“ After all, I’m going to have to race in the rain too! 

I’ve learnt to ignore the devilish thoughts to the point where they rarely enter my mind. The one thing I always ask myself is - “why did you set that alarm in the first place?” I must admit it’s not a very pleasant feeling waking up to such weather conditions or achy muscles, but it never seems to stop me getting myself out of the bed and getting to work. Sometimes you’ve got to ask yourself - “What do I want now?” ; or more importantly - “What do I want most?”. 

As I rode over the Vee today, on some of my favourite roads to ride my bike - with the much welcomed winter sun on my back, I yet again realised how lucky I am! I’m in a position in which I've come to realise - I've put myself in, through working hard. There is no shortcuts in cycling, or life to that matter - and there’s no doubt I've worked, suffered and sacrificed a lot to be given the opportunity to ride my bike full time. I don't take anything for granted and I am willing to put in the training required.

I always say - if only you could hear some of the stuff I talk to myself about while I am out pedalling around the countryside - you'd think I was insane! I am lucky not to have too many problems in life, at least nothing major. But if I did I am sure they would be resolved while riding my bike. I do all my thinking behind the bars, staring at that little Garmin screen whilst pushing the pedals a little harder, is where I make all my decisions. I pour all my thoughts onto the road ahead of me, and ride over them. 

The freedom that cycling provides is incredible. While I am out riding my bike for 3,4 maybe 5 hours a day - you do a lot of thinking. Not just useless thoughts either, it’s mostly logical pondering’s on life. Thinking about things that may never cross your mind while sitting at home. It’s like taking a detox from the world. Suddenly, from that moment you roll out of your door - it’s just you, your bike and the roads. 

I mostly train on my own - and for a number of reasons. It's how I seem to work best (when there’s specific work to do!). There's nobody to distract me from the task at hand - and while I'm out on the roads pushing on the pedals, nobody can come into my bubble and disrupt my thoughts. In saying that, I love to train with my brothers, friends and team mates. There’s only a certain amount of time in which you can talk to yourself of course! 

You become in tune with yourself through the sport. It gets to the point where you become so aware of every little implication that life brings. There’s a certain selfishness involved at times. There may be days where you have to say “no” to people asking you to go out, or to go shopping. Even on recovery days - remembering the days purpose! Recovering, staying off your feet. There’s no doubt it can be difficult, but the sense of satisfaction is incredible. Indescribable. That feeling on a race days evening where every step of the staircase is burning like crazy. We are strange creatures us cyclists. 

Cycling is such a complex sport though; and there’s so much more to cycling than just riding your bike. Cycling teaches you about life. It teaches you discipline, sacrifice, dedication, focus. How your body works and responds. How your body adapts to such physical exertions. It teaches you about the world. Different cultures. It shows that when you work hard for something you can make it happen, and most importantly - it teaches you about the up’s and down’s; the high’s and low’s that life will throw in your face! 

However hard it may be - I wouldn’t change anything for the world! I love what I do. I love life behind bars.

Twitter: @Eoin_McCarthy 

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Happy New Year Everyone! 2014 is here! After a somewhat "mixed" 2013, I can only hope 2014 will treat me a little better. Reflecting and being positive on 2013 - I feel I've had a successful and productive year. I've learnt a hell of a lot from the past 12 months - and not only on the racing scene! As well as being a stronger and smarter bike rider - I am now a much stronger individual. I've shown perseverance through all the tough times I entailed early season and showed that, if I was going to quit - it would have already happened. I'm still pedalling - and better than ever...

Here's my 2013 in numbers:

683 - Hour's spent riding.
21, 995 - Kilometres ridden, training & racing.
136,640 - Metres of Elevation Gain
322 - Activites
434 - Personal Records
65 - Race days
5 - International Caps
7 - Crashes

My Favourite Picture from the 2013 season. Izegem Pro Kermesse

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The line has been drawn. It's 2014 now - so time to look ahead. That's why your eyes are on the front of your ceann, to look forward! Been quiet as of late as I've been enjoying my down time after a hectic season, as well as doing the one thing that this blog is all about - riding my bike!

Since getting home from Belgium in October I've been thoroughly enjoying my time at home in Fermoy. It may be a cliche thing, but there really is no place like it! I've been spending quality time with family and friends and just plain enjoying myself! I've even been to Norway to visit one of my best friends which was a fantastic trip. For around a month I tried to live a somewhat normal lifestyle for a guy my age. Enjoyed some nights on the town, indulged a little, went shopping, just the normal things. The month was perfect timing. I was re-charged, eager and hungry to get cracking with my preparation for 2014.

Everything (touch wood) is going to plan so far. Looking forward to another year with the Terra crew - let's make it one to remember! I will return to Belgium in early March to get my season underway! I have a lot of aims for the 2014 season which I won't go into too much detail on just yet.

Speaking of 2014 - I will have the great honour of being supported by The Dave Rayner Fund. The fund has been set up in memory of the late Dave Rayner. The aim of the fund is to assist ambitious riders living and racing abroad, like Dave, to make a successful pro career. I will give my best to justify their belief in me, and hope to obtain some top results to make them and everyone else around me proud. Link to website - http://www.daveraynerfund.co.uk/

Next up for me, in 10 days time - for 10 days, is a training camp in Mallorca, Spain. Looking forward to getting away to some fairer weather conditions, and new training roads. Hope to make the most of it!

I hope to post a less informative blog in the coming weeks. I have a few things written up, just need to make them perfect! Stay tuned for more...

Thanks for reading,
Eoin

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.