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Ras 2011
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Why not ask some of the county riders instead of spouting endless speculation about what they or don't think of themselves.
You don't mean talk to them face to face do you ????
This is the internet and we don't usually interact like that
Seriously though, Plenty of the Guy's I met this year were working full time (some in high profile jobs) and has kids, mortgages, wives etc.0 -
There are a bunch of county riders that are basically full time cyclists (unemployment, former Pros etc...), there are also a hell of a lot that work part time of varying amounts. Me, I work 3-5 days per week depending if I'm abroad etc... And then the bulk that have a pretty normal work/family life that make it through by sheer determination - hats off to those guys.
My health wasn't the best this last while, but I don't think podiuming on a stage or Top 5 overall in the Ras is not possible for a county rider. It would have been my goals which I wouldn't have seen as unrealistic if I was in my top form. On stage 7, I was hoping we would stay away over the cat 1 climb as me sprinting from a bunch of 20 climbers is much nicer than a bunch of 60 with sprinters thrown in. I also messed up big time in stage 4 with 500m to go in the sprint... a lost top 5 chance for me. That's racing
Sean Kelly and others have talked about this many times, but I believe a later Ras would help the county riders a huge amount... Say, mid July - 2 weeks after Nationals...
For people working full time, putting the training in needed for a late May race in the winter is so difficult - it is bright now till 10... easier to fit the long rides in around work. You could see from day 5 on that the built up fatigue was setting in - county riders where VERY competitive for the first few days.
Another thing to consider is that in general the county teams don't ride as a team - for instance, no leadout trains for guys in races etc... like the Pro teams do - not because people are riding for themselves, just not organized enough... How many times have I seen a leadout of more than 1 rider in an Irish race for a sprinter? With the amount of bunch sprints we have... crazy...
Also, the county GC/Team stuff was very important but a top placing was gone after split on the second stage (yeah, I was devastated) - from there, you ride differently, your focus is more, 6 1 day races, less a continuation. On Stage 3 I was in a break of 6 for 80km (reeled in with 40k to go) - when we hit the Crag Cave climb, I wasn't in the position to contend for a win, so you don't kill yourself so you can be better the following day in the mountains (where I was in the lead group). If I was up on GC, it would have been different.0 -
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ryan_sherlock wrote: »There are a bunch of county riders that are basically full time cyclists (unemployment, former Pros etc...), there are also a hell of a lot that work part time of varying amounts. Me, I work 3-5 days per week depending if I'm abroad etc... And then the bulk that have a pretty normal work/family life that make it through by sheer determination - hats off to those guys.
My health wasn't the best this last while, but I don't think podiuming on a stage or Top 5 overall in the Ras is not possible for a county rider. It would have been my goals which I wouldn't have seen as unrealistic if I was in my top form. On stage 7, I was hoping we would stay away over the cat 1 climb as me sprinting from a bunch of 20 climbers is much nicer than a bunch of 60 with sprinters thrown in. I also messed up big time in stage 4 with 500m to go in the sprint... a lost top 5 chance for me. That's racing
Sean Kelly and others have talked about this many times, but I believe a later Ras would help the county riders a huge amount... Say, mid July - 2 weeks after Nationals...
For people working full time, putting the training in needed for a late May race in the winter is so difficult - it is bright now till 10... easier to fit the long rides in around work. You could see from day 5 on that the built up fatigue was setting in - county riders where VERY competitive for the first few days.
Another thing to consider is that in general the county teams don't ride as a team - for instance, no leadout trains for guys in races etc... like the Pro teams do - not because people are riding for themselves, just not organized enough... How many times have I seen a leadout of more than 1 rider in an Irish race for a sprinter? With the amount of bunch sprints we have... crazy...
Also, the county GC/Team stuff was very important but a top placing was gone after split on the second stage (yeah, I was devastated) - from there, you ride differently, your focus is more, 6 1 day races, less a continuation. On Stage 3 I was in a break of 6 for 80km (reeled in with 40k to go) - when we hit the Crag Cave climb, I wasn't in the position to contend for a win, so you don't kill yourself so you can be better the following day in the mountains (where I was in the lead group). If I was up on GC, it would have been different.
A very good post Ryan!.
I think a county rider can compete but you really need to be dedicated from the day you start winter training. Paddy Moriarty was a good example of a good rider who was working full time as an engineer and consistenly finished best domestic rider.
You have to accept the guys you are racing against have a couple of races similar to the ras in their legs already in that season so it is difficult. Added to the fact that it will be the first time you do a (real) long race you can guess how difficult it is.0 -
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