By: Ian Cassidy
Well finally I’ve got caught to do a race report so here goes for my first one.
Greg has been telling me for ages about the cracking climbs in around Newry, so finally the sportive came about and that was good enough excuse to travel up and tackle the climbs north of the border. Plus there was the incentive of a KOM jersey for the winner of the said competition.
Anyway the KOM jersey was one dedicated to Fausto Coppi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fausto_Coppi
I won’t bore those who aren’t interested in who he was but feel free to educate yourself about him!
Anyway back to the report,
The sportive consisted of two distances an 85km Loop or a 155km Double Loop, the first loop had four good hard climbs and the second loop had another three to tackle.
After a nice Bacon and Egg breakfast headed up (not down to my northern brethren) the motorway, just over an hour later arrived to greet the rest of the group, fortunately news broke that Moody wasn’t there so the odds of winning the Jersey were increased a little.
We had a good group Greg,Jason,Vavo,Rory,Rasher,Matt,Niall,Fionnuala,Hugh,Connor,Brian and Bob.
After a bit of banter, toilet stop and the customary wait on BOB we got to set off, Auld Greg who had sucked poor Conor Reilly to be his domestique (helper) disappeared up the road on the sly to gain an early advantage. It was a good thing we kept an eye on him the sly dog. Anyway it was great to chat to Rasher, Vavo and Jason before the first climb began.
Here is the link to Greg’s descriptions of the parcour
http://www.cloverock.info/piranha/oldsite/news/all-news/1078-inaugural-piranha-qfish-out-of-waterq-cycle-sportive
And of course the contenders
http://www.cloverock.info/piranha/oldsite/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&;t=1534&sid=495506f4095100ff6371af8b5f81b2b1
And the Officials
Brendan Campbell “Commissaire” (lovely bloke unlike his grumpy brother)
Eoghan and Damian “the lads” (fair play two great lads)
The first climb Long Woman’s Grave
He was actually spot on on this one there was some good early jostling on this one for the initial KOM points, Jason made the initial kick for the top, fortunately i was able to respond and outkick him to take the points and get a bit of a cushion on Matt Jason Bob and Greg who looked to be up for the competition today. After that we descended ? well not really a decent more of a gradual incline to the TV tower.
The second climb TV Tower (southern approach)
The climb was hard from the start with your typical tv tower road (crap), Jason pushed the pace till the first switchback where Matt and Bob took off up the climb, luckily there was a false flat where i managed to bridge the gap and get on Matt’s wheel and recover into the wind and then push the pace to the top and increase my advantage over the other contenders. Brendan had cut out the last section to the TV Tower itself as the weather had turned nasty and windy The decent was a bit hairy initially wet and slippery then the gravel and gradient took over to keep you focused almost scared the sh1t out of myself at one point, and we had to climb it again after Slieve Gullion
The third climb Slieve Gullion
Well what can i say about this Climb “stunning” it starts steep and i had hoped to get a little gap to put some pressure on the lads but Matt and Bob had other ideas and glided past me on a corner and gapped me, i managed to crawl back to Bob’s wheel but Matt had a few bike lengths on us and the rest of the bunch had dropped off a little. Managed to get back to Matt on a flat section only to be gapped again on the next ramp (Steep Part) luckily for me there was another flat section where i was able to get back to Matt, I tried to go up the next ramp but Matt matched me again as we rounded the corner where the lads were at the 200mt to go Cone I managed to get a gap before we passed Brendan to the line, another few points in the bag but Matt was putting the hurt on. What a climb very steep in sections with a bit of recovery, such a pity the weather was crap the views looked amazing, on a clear day it would be stunning. As for the decent, (for me a decent goes downward and is usually fast) after a couple of switchbacks we hit another ramp only to repeat this twice more. The fun part was flying over a wet cattle grid at over 65KPH another check of the pants there! Bloody Northies bless don’t know what a decent is. After a few rolling KM’s we hit.
The fourth climb TV Tower (northern approach)
I knew this was a Matt style climb were grace beats power hands down, That Bob lad once again pushed the pace with Matt, I sat behind Greg and Jason, the road was gravelly and the incline made it harder, Matt and Bob got a gap of 50m fairly quickly, i managed to drop Greg and Jason and get up to Bob, I tried to chase Matt on an flat section but he had way to much for me and sailed off to the summit to take the KOM points, luckily i held on for second to limit the damage. After we climbed up to the TV Tower itself and Brendan had made the correct decision as it was windy up there myself and Jason gave Greg his moment to be first to the top 😉 The decent was a bit of a rollercoaster, bumpy and gravelly another check your pants moment.
We then stopped in Warrenpoint for a coffee break. I was devastated to learn there was no CARROT CAKE GREG after it being my only request but the soup and coffee warmed me up a little, luckily i had a change of clothes as i was soaked through. Here the group split and six of us Matt,Jason,Bob,Greg,Hugh and myself headed to climb five while the sensible ones headed back to Newry. The highlight was meeting Etienne for the first time, the little dude will be a heartbreaker and Amilee looked great motherhood really suits her! Anyway back to the action.
The fifth climb Reed Hall
I knew i would have to increase my gap as only ten points separated Matt and I and the next two climbs would suit him more. This was a gradual incline where i sat on the front and gradually increased the tempo to put a little hurt into the groups legs, it worked but then Jason kicked so i let a small gap go, hoping i could take Jason close to the line and put further points between Matt and I but i let it get too big and couldn’t close the gap, but fortunately BOB piped Matt on the line to increase my cushion. We descended down towards climb number six.
The sixth climb Spelga Dam
This was a hard climb, Jason drove the pace high leading into the climb with Matt taking turns to put the hurt on, after the early ramps of the climb we hit a couple of switchbacks were Matt increased the tempo dropping Greg and Bob and putting me under pressure, I lost the wheel on the second one and both Matt and Jason disappeared up the climb (I was cheering for Jason) but Matt did what he does best and sailed up the climb to take all the KOM points Jason took second while I held off Bob to take Third and Greg took fifth. Now the gap in the KOM points was down to six! The views off Spelga Dam were very special but the decent was pure class, hitting 80+KPH into a crosswind was such a rush and not a car in sight until an ASDA van overtook us while we were travelling at approx 70+KPH, didn’t need to check my pants after that as we all were smiling from a great decent. We had a bit of a trek to the sixth climb hats off to Jason and Bob for driving us most of the way there. Matt took a good turn on the front (the physiological warfare had begun) i was suffering at this stage telling myself to HTFU and did a turn on the front to get us to the CLIMB
The Seventh Climb “The DECIDER” Kilbroney
This was it the final battle winner takes all! And what a way to decide it, the lower part was steep with neither Matt or I giving an inch, Bob came through and took a good few bike lengths Matt followed and i got cramps in both legs but managed to hold Matt’s wheel, i dug deep and managed to push past Matt and get up to Bob luckily i gave it a big effort and put a few bike lengths between myself Bob and Matt. It’s hard to describe how steep it was and after nearly 140km it hurt like f**k but the last 200m seemed like an eternity i allowed myself to look back relieved to have a gap but the pain shooting through my legs wouldn’t allow me any respite. I rounded the last corner to see Brendan Eoghan and Damian with about 150MT to go, I couldn’t let the thoughts of “Ah just get off and walk” win and managed to claw my way to the finish line and win the KOM. Thanks Brendan,Eoghan and Damien for the encouragement. Bob took second Matt third Jason forth (to hold off Bob by four points overall) and Greg fifth, To compare this climb i normally climb Howth (sutton side) which is 3.7km in approx 7.30-8mins this took me 9.07min for 1.75KM for KILLERBRONEY. What a way to finish completely spent only a few KM to Newry. The few KM to Newry was over 10km into a headwind we took turns at the front to get us to the finish, that almost hurt as much as the climbs.
What an epic day a huge thank you to Greg, Brendan Eoghan and Damien for all your hard work support and organisation
Well done to Rasher, Vavo,Rory,Fionnula,Niall,Brian Conor and to Hugh hats off well done.
Matt,Jason,Bob and Greg thanks for the battle, Warriors all.
If you enjoyed this and want it to be a yearly event help by donating to the Newry Hospice
http://www.justgiving.com/sahs/donate
Thank you
I hope i didn’t bore you too much
Casso
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