Stephen Roche Grand Prix, Dundrum Wed 24th June

TinyExplosions

Yup, it's the yearly grand prix around his (grannies?) estate in Dundrum -went down last year, and well worth watching, even if Nicolas ran away with it!

DirkVoodoo

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yup, it's the yearly grand prix around his (grannies?) estate in Dundrum -went down last year, and well worth watching, even if Nicolas ran away with it!

Cool, might go for a watch. Where is the best viewing point?

Chips Lovell

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Cool, might go for a watch. Where is the best viewing point?

The middle of the leading bunch.

Mr. Skeffington

Are any of you guys riding it? Im just printing off the application form, think I will give it a go.

Raam

I gotta marshal a Swords race

Chips Lovell

I might. I'm crap at criteriums though. Or crap at cornering in a big tight bunch.

Caroline_ie

Last years was great - Nicolas Roche has an advantage that he has probably been training in this estate since he was on his fixie tricycle when i was 2 ( that and the fact that he is a pro ) -

Will probably go have a look though - i am also wondering will more irish pro be cycling it, it being so close to the National race?

Carpenter

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Yup, it's the yearly grand prix around his (grannies?) estate in Dundrum -went down last year, and well worth watching, even if Nicolas ran away with it!

Hi
Where is this estate

blorg

Caroline_ie wrote: »

Will probably go have a look though - i am also wondering will more irish pro be cycling it, it being so close to the National race?

If you are going to have a look, volunteer to marshall- Orwell are on the look out for marshalls for this.

blorg

Carpenter wrote: »

Hi
Where is this estate

IIRC this is the course, around Meadow Mount.

Carpenter

blorg wrote: »

IIRC this is the course, around Meadow Mount.

Hi
I know him very well and find it funny because he is not from there he is from Rosemount

zzzzzzzz

It's only Elites, As and Bs I think - so that's me out.

Probably take pics or marshall.

Always a great race.

Also, there'll national champs medals for 1 2 & 3 as it's the national crit champs this year

Chips Lovell

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

It's only Elites, As and Bs I think - so that's me out.

The Cycling Ireland calendar says its open for all. And that's the way it was run last year.

zzzzzzzz

el tonto wrote: »

The Cycling Ireland calendar says its open for all. And that's the way it was run last year.

I know yeah - the application says different though. I think it's because it's the national crit champs this year

Mr. Skeffington

Yep think ur right Aidan the National Championship events, National Road Race and Crit champs are only open to A's and B's. I think that the TT and Track Champs are open to C's.

Just posted the form and my €20 so hopefully it doesnt rain on the night, Crits are fun but not when wet!!

Might see some of yous there!

Hungrycol

Raam wrote: »

I gotta marshal a Swords race

I'll swap the 12th August with you if you want to go to this.

Chips Lovell

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

I know yeah - the application says different though. I think it's because it's the national crit champs this year

You're right. Didn't realise there was a form this year. Shame. Half the reason for doing it for me was to say I'd raced against a pro tour rider (if Nicloas is racing this year that is).

lukester

May toddle along to this, and introduce the nipper to bike racing.

smithslist

el tonto wrote: »

You're right. Didn't realise there was a form this year. Shame. Half the reason for doing it for me was to say I'd raced against a pro tour rider (if Nicloas is racing this year that is).

Its mainly because the popularity as it is in Dublin, this is the same reason for the national road race also, only for A's and B's.

Last year the national road championship was down in Cork and they were accepting all pre and on the day entries (A's, B's & C's) due to the fact that not many interested in goin to Cork to compete since they knew they wouldnt get up, since the pro's were doing it.

I rode the Roche crit last yr and it was hard, and young Nick was there doing his pedalling stuff and all that.

blorg

lukester wrote: »

May toddle along to this, and introduce the nipper to bike racing.

Is the nipper comfortable with riding in a tight bunch? The race will be very fast and cornery.

lukester

blorg wrote: »

Is the nipper comfortable with riding in a tight bunch? The race will be very fast and cornery.

He loves it. I'm the wuss.

kenmc

bump.
Saw Dave Tansey putting up posters around the area for this on Monday night, missed this thread cos I was on hols.
Anyone know what time it kicks off at? Wanna go watch but have to cook dinner first...

Caroline_ie

7:00 afaik
will go have a look myself.

kenmc

might seeya there so
edit: from cycling ireland website:

The event, part of the Dundrum Summer festival features a series of warm up races for youths with the main event, the Stephen Roche Grand Prix for the Irish Criterium Championships, set to get under way at 7.15pm.

lukester

Where's a good viewing point for this? I'm thinking finish line, but that will probably be mobbed.

Caroline_ie

lukester wrote: »

Where's a good viewing point for this? I'm thinking finish line, but that will probably be mobbed.

that's where we were last year - it was not that crowded.

kenmc

wasn't last year. managed to get some good pics of the finish line

Muller_1

lukester wrote: »

Where's a good viewing point for this? I'm thinking finish line, but that will probably be mobbed.

It's a small circuit so you can walk around the route and find a good spot during the race

lukester

Good stuff, will aim for the finish line and see how crowded it is.

blorg

I am marshalling. Any other volunteers would be much appreciated I reckon, Orwell members in particular (cough cough) I am going along for 6pm or thereabouts.

sy

blorg wrote: »

I am marshalling. Any other volunteers would be much appreciated I reckon, Orwell members in particular (cough cough) I am going along for 6pm or thereabouts.

Didn't think you smoked aswell:)

stevie_b

lovely evening so popped down for a look,

stevie_b

Mr. Skeffington

They are really great photo's!

kenmc

My contributions:

drogdub

This lad did the workshop in Trinity last week as part of the bike week and a good job he did too

Dowee

Anyone know what sort of average speed this race would be done at? Just looking for a ballpark figure.

Hearvee

Not a regular around here but dropped by this evening to take a few shots.

Before the start.


They're off!




Nicholas Roche.


The leaders.

Mr. Skeffington

Here are my stats for the night: distance: 39.45km, total time 54:31, Avg Spd: 43.4km/h, Max Speed: 61.6km/hr

Raam

Mr. Skeffington wrote: »

Here are my stats for the night: distance: 39.45km, total time 54:31, Avg Spd: 43.4km/h, Max Speed: 61.6km/hr

Nice work, Mr Skef. How did you get on?

Dowee

Thanks Mr Skeffington

Mr. Skeffington

I think I was 14th or 15th will have to take a closer look at the pictures, I didnt get into the last corner in a good position so it was difficult to get up in the sprint then for the minor positions. If you were in the first 4 / 5 coming round that last bend you still had a chance to sprint for 6th place!

Raam

Mr. Skeffington wrote: »

I think I was 14th or 15th will have to take a closer look at the pictures, I didnt get into the last corner in a good position so it was difficult to get up in the sprint then for the minor positions. If you were in the first 4 / 5 coming round that last bend you still had a chance to sprint for 6th place!

Well done

blorg

That was some exciting race. Paul Healion made an early break with Simon Williams and Martin Irvine. Irvine dropped off as he was having problems with his pedals, I actually have photos of him with one foot hanging off for more than one lap (will dig out.) The two worked together amazingly effectively to hold off the bunch. Irvine got out in front in an intermediate bunch for a while which as far as I could make out Roche only joined later.

From where I was watching Roche seemed to be sticking in the bunch and maybe underestimated the gap the lead two had, contrary to last year when he just sailed off the front this year he looked like he was really trying when he finally tried to catch, but he had left it too late. Deserved win for Paul Healion but I would have to say that Irvine was looking mighty strong and could well have taken it had he not had the pedal problem.

The amount of pain on the faces of the racers was greater than I have ever seen before, it was classic stuff! Many congrats to Mr Skeffington who finished at the front of the bunch.

Report on Irishcycling

sy

Mr. Skeffington wrote: »

I think I was 14th or 15th.....

Well done and impressive stats! Clip of Monsieur Roche was on radio this morn and he was amazed with the average speed 44km/hr!

lukester

That was exciting, and humbling. Redefined my idea of what fast looks like. Serious effort being exerted- some very tortured grimaces.

I kept expecting Roche would turn on the gas in the last few laps and catch the break and breeze to a win, but it never happened. It looked to me as if the group of 3 he was in didn't want to work with him. From where I was standing each time they passed they were on his wheel, didn't seem to be taking turns.

Was pretty funny hearing some of the guys berate each other as they passed at around 60kmh, presumably over who did what in the last corner. Definitely heard 'You stupid fcuking thick'.

zzzzzzzz

Not a great corner to be on for photos, but here's what I got

kennyb3

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

Not a great corner to be on for photos, but here's what I got

anyone know who that is in photo 5? think i see him on my spins around balbriggan, rush, lusk area

RobFowl

kennyb3 wrote: »

anyone know who that is in photo 5? think i see him on my spins around balbriggan, rush, lusk area

Thats Stephan Halpin from Skerries. He rides for Swords but also Bioagrico a Belgian under 23 team. He rode the Ras this year for the Ireland under 23 team. Bit of controvery that he wasn't selected for the Irish team for the under 23 Europeans next week.

Chips Lovell

That's a very white skinsuit Martin Irvine was sporting.

RobFowl

el tonto wrote: »

That's a very white skinsuit Martin Irvine was sporting.

Not too sure if thats Euro or not !
Definately one for dry sunny conditions anyway.